Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
They adjust in different ways. The Frida Mom Adjustable Keep-Cool pillow adjusts by shape: you bend and twist one long pillow. The bbhugme adjusts shape and firmness: two sliding Pebbles squeeze the beads tighter or looser.
- Pick Frida if you mainly want to change shape.
- Pick bbhugme if firmness matters most.
- Check first: length against your height.
Why does adjustable mean two different things here?
Because the word covers two separate controls: the shape the pillow makes around you, and how firm it feels. Frida's listing talks about shape. bbhugme's own pages talk about shape and firmness.
Week 23, a Sunday afternoon
Lauren had two browser tabs open and a sticky note on her laptop that said "adjustable???" Both pillows were long, both were full of small beads, and both promised to grow with her. Her sister swore by one. A coworker swore by the other.
"I kept reading the word and it never told me what I would actually do with my hands," she said. "Do I bend it? Do I let filling out? Is there a strap?" So she stopped reading the marketing and went looking for the instructions instead. That is what this page does for you.
Adjustable is a promise. The instructions tell you what it really means.
How does the Frida Mom Adjustable Keep-Cool pillow adjust?
You adjust it by bending. It is one long, flexible pillow that the maker says can be twisted into a C, I, L or U shape, with a stretchy fabric on one side and a non-stretch fabric on the other.
- What you move: the whole pillow. You twist, bend and fold it around your body.
- Size as listed: about 52 to 54 inches long and 9 to 10 inches wide.
- Inside: polystyrene foam beads, in a pillow-inside-a-pillow build according to one independent review.
- Cover: 46% nylon, 46% polyester, 7% spandex as listed. Removable and machine washable.
- Firmness: we did not find a firmness control in the listings we read. The firmness is what the bead fill gives you.
Mattress Clarity, which tested one, liked how easy it was to shape and pack away, and noted it may not work well for taller people because it is not very long. That fits the numbers: a 54 inch pillow folded into a U leaves much less length on each side than a full-size U.
How does the bbhugme pregnancy pillow adjust?
You adjust it with two Pebbles. The cover is pulled over the inner pillow, the spare fabric at each end is threaded through a silicone Pebble, and sliding the Pebbles in makes the pillow firmer while sliding them out makes it softer.
- Shape: bbhugme says the microbead fill lets you shape the pillow however feels comfortable, rather than a fixed C, J, U or I.
- Firmness: per bbhugme, "For more firmness, tighten the Pebbles." Loosening them lowers the volume and the firmness.
- Inside: ultra-fine EPS microbeads in an inner pillow with a double zipper that bbhugme says you should not open.
- Size: bbhugme's care page does not list it. Mattress Clarity lists 59 by 7.5 inches.
One note on versions: Mattress Clarity describes the inside as BioFoam beads plus silicone pebbles, while bbhugme's current page says EPS microbeads. Listings change over time. If you buy used or from a reseller, check the label on the one in front of you.
What do you actually do differently with each one?
With Frida you reshape the pillow each time you want different support. With bbhugme you reshape it too, but you can also set how firm it is and leave it there.
| Frida Adjustable Keep-Cool | bbhugme Pregnancy Pillow | |
|---|---|---|
| What you move | The whole pillow, by bending | The pillow, plus two Pebbles at the ends |
| Firmness control | Not found in listings | Yes, Pebbles in or out |
| Shapes named by maker | C, I, L, U | Any shape, not fixed |
| Length as listed | 52 to 54 in | 59 in (Mattress Clarity) |
| Cover care | Removable, machine washable | Machine wash 40°C (104°F), hang dry, no tumble dry |
| Inner pillow care | Spot clean (review site) | Spot clean only, never in washer or dryer |
| Small parts | None listed | Pebbles, dishwasher safe |
One of these is a shape you hold. The other is a shape plus a setting you keep.
Which adjustable claims should you check before buying?
Check any claim that describes a result rather than a part. Parts you can see on the product page. Results like cooling or pressure relief need evidence the listing usually does not show.
| Claim you will see | What it really describes | What to ask or check |
|---|---|---|
| "Four pillows in one" (Frida) | Four shapes from one pillow | Is it long enough for a U at your height? |
| "Keep-Cool" fill (Frida) | Frida says the micro-bead fill lets heat pass through | Was this measured, and against what? Ask the maker. |
| "As firm or as soft as you need" (bbhugme) | A range set by the Pebbles | How firm is the firmest setting? Look for a video of it in use. |
| Pressure-relieving comfort (bbhugme) | How the beads mold to you | A feeling, not a test result. Use the return window. |
| Grows with your pregnancy (both) | You can change the setup over time | Return window length: one review site lists 30 days for each. |
None of this means either claim is false. It means the proof sits with the seller, and a short, specific question gets you a better answer than the box.
Which one fits your situation?
Choose by your main problem, not the brand name. Height, firmness and whether you need something between your knees decide it.
- If you are tall and want a full U around you, check the length first. Both are shorter than a typical full-size U pillow.
- If a pillow always feels too squashy by morning, a firmness control is the feature to pay for.
- If you mostly want something to hug and fold, shape alone may be enough.
- If you wake up rebuilding pillows because they drift, ask whether the shape holds once you move, not just when you set it.
Lauren ended up writing her two real questions on the sticky note: how firm, and how long. Those two answers did more than any review.
Ongoing hip, pelvic or back pain is something to raise with your midwife, OB-GYN or a pelvic health physical therapist. A pillow is for comfort.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bbhugme pillow adjustable in firmness?
Yes, according to bbhugme. You slide two silicone Pebbles toward the middle for a firmer pillow and outward for a softer one.
Can you change how firm the Frida Keep-Cool pillow is?
We did not find a firmness control in the listings we read. Frida describes it as adjustable in shape: you twist it into a C, I, L or U.
Which is longer, Frida Keep-Cool or bbhugme?
As listed, Frida is about 52 to 54 inches long. Mattress Clarity lists the bbhugme at 59 inches. Both are shorter than a typical full-size U pillow, so taller people should check.
Can you machine wash either pillow?
You can machine wash the covers. bbhugme says the inner pillow is spot clean only and must not go in a washer or dryer. For Frida, a review site says to spot clean the inner pillow. Follow the label on yours.
Does a bead-filled pillow keep you cool?
Frida says its micro-bead fill lets heat pass through. We did not see test data for that. If heat is your main problem, ask the maker what was measured.
If you want bump and back support instead of one long pillow
Relvay does not make a long bead pillow like either of these, so we are not a like-for-like alternative. If what you really need is something under the bump and behind the back that stays on your half of the bed, our two-wedge set is the closest thing we make. If you want one pillow to hug or a firmness dial, choose one of the two above.
Two wedges for bump and back, joined by a flat strap, about as wide as your torso. Keep a regular pillow between your knees. $79.99, 90-day returns.
Lauren's story is a composite based on public posts from pregnant shoppers comparing pillows. Names and details are changed.
