Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Not for certain. Tommy's suggests a pillow behind your back to make lying flat less comfortable, says it will not keep you off your back for certain, and says regular pillows work as well as pregnancy pillows for this.
- What a pillow can do: make side sleeping comfortable.
- What reviews show: one person's nights, not a test.
- What matters most: going to sleep on your side.
Can a pregnancy pillow stop you from lying on your back?
A pillow behind your back can make lying flat less comfortable, so you may shift back to your side sooner. It cannot guarantee you stay off your back all night, and we found no independent study showing any pregnancy pillow does.
9:40 p.m.
I was 26 weeks, on the couch, with eleven tabs open. Every single listing had some version of the same line. Keeps you on your side. Stops you rolling over. Peace of mind.
I had just read the side sleeping advice for the first time and I was scared of doing it wrong in my sleep. So that line was the only thing I was really shopping for. I almost bought the most expensive one because it said it the loudest.
When a product sells the one thing you are most anxious about, slow down and ask what it can actually show.
What does the guidance say about pillows and back sleeping?
UK guidance from 28 weeks is to go to sleep on your side. Tommy's suggests pillows behind you to make back lying more uncomfortable, and is clear this is not a guarantee.
Three points from Tommy's are worth holding onto:
- It is about falling asleep. The advice is to go to sleep on your side at night, after waking and for naps. That is the position you tend to hold longest.
- Pillows help, but not for certain. A pillow behind you can make lying on your back less comfortable. It will not keep you off it for certain.
- Any pillow can do this job. Tommy's says regular pillows and pregnancy pillows are equally effective here.
If you find yourself on your back during the night, the advice is calm: settle onto your side and go back to sleep. Our guide accidentally sleeping on your back while pregnant walks through that moment step by step.
What can a review or a listing actually prove?
A review tells you how one person felt about their own nights. A listing tells you what a seller wants you to believe. Neither measures where your body was while you slept.
"keep me from rolling onto my back"
Customer review on a pregnancy pillow brand's review page"I never ended up on my back!"
Amazon review of a pregnancy pillowThose reviewers may be right about their own nights. But nobody was filming them, and nobody counted the nights they did not notice. Use the table to sort what you read.
| What you read | What it can show | What it cannot show |
|---|---|---|
| "So comfortable on my side" | Side sleeping felt better for that person | Where they were at 3 a.m. |
| "I never ended up on my back" | They did not notice being on their back | Time on their back while asleep |
| "Keeps you on your side" on a listing | The shape is designed to sit behind you | That it works all night, for every body |
| "Recommended by midwives" | Some professional liked it, if a name is given | A measured effect on sleep position |
| A study with method, numbers and named authors | What was measured, in whom, and how | Your pregnancy, unless the people tested were like you |
Comfort is a real reason to buy a pillow. A guarantee about your sleeping body is not something any listing can give you.
Does our own pillow keep you off your back?
We do not claim it does. Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow, and we have no test showing it keeps anyone off their back through the night.
What any side support can do is make lying on your side comfortable enough that you fall asleep there and settle back there after you wake. That is the part the guidance asks for, and it is a comfort job, not a guarantee.
If a seller does claim a pillow keeps you off your back, ask them one question: what did you measure, in how many people, and can I read it? A real answer has a method. A slogan does not.
Should you try to make it impossible to move?
No. The goal is comfortable side sleeping, not a setup that stops you moving. You need to be able to turn, get up to pee and change position when something aches.
Do not tie, strap or pin yourself in place with anything, and be wary of any product that says it holds your body still. If staying on your side feels impossible, that is worth raising with your midwife or OB-GYN, because there is usually a reason, like hip pain or heartburn, that can be looked at.
Phoebe closed the eleven tabs. She tried two firm bed pillows tucked behind her back and one between her knees for a week. She still noticed being on her back now and then, rolled over, and slept. At her next visit her midwife said that was exactly the plan.
What should you ask before buying a pillow for this reason?
Ask whether it makes side sleeping comfortable for your body and your bed, and treat any promise about your sleeping position as marketing unless it comes with a method.
- Have I tried regular pillows behind my back for a few nights first?
- Does this pillow support my bump, my back and my knees, or only one of those?
- Can I still get up to pee and turn over without a fight?
- Will it fit my side of the bed?
- Is the return window long enough to sleep on it for a few weeks?
- If it claims to keep me off my back, what evidence did the seller give?
Our pregnancy pillow buying checklist covers fit, size and return terms in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Do pregnancy pillows stop you from rolling over?
Not for certain. A pillow behind your back can make lying flat less comfortable, so you may shift back sooner. Tommy's says regular pillows work as well as pregnancy pillows for this.
What is the best pillow to keep me on my side?
The one that makes side sleeping comfortable for your body and bed. Start with regular pillows behind your back, under your bump and between your knees, and buy only if they keep falling apart.
Is there research showing a pregnancy pillow keeps you off your back?
We did not find an independent study showing that any pregnancy pillow keeps people off their back all night. If a seller claims it, ask what they measured and how.
Should I use a wedge or something firm so I cannot roll?
Do not try to make movement impossible. You need to turn and get up at night. Comfortable side support is the goal, and your midwife or OB-GYN can help if side sleeping feels impossible.
What should I do if I still find myself on my back?
Settle onto your side and go back to sleep. It is common, and the guidance focuses on the position you fall asleep in.
If you decide a pregnancy pillow is worth it for comfort, our pregnancy pillow buying checklist helps you pick one that fits your body and your bed.
Phoebe's story is a composite based on public posts and reviews from pregnant shoppers. Names and details are changed.
