Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Pick Hugs Plus only if you already know one spot needs extra height or firmness, like your bump, lower back or neck when sitting. If the long pillow alone fills the gaps, standard Hugs does the same main job with one less piece to wash and store.
- Same core: one long polyester-filled pillow.
- Plus adds: a small removable cushion on a loop.
- Decider: do you stack extra pillows now?
What is the difference between Koala Hugs and Hugs Plus?
Both are the same long Koala Babycare pillow. Hugs Plus adds a removable support cushion with its own cover, held on the long pillow by a loop. Koala's own page says that cushion "isn't included in the Hugs standard version."
That is the whole difference that matters for sleep. Everything else on the product pages, like feeding positions and tummy time after birth, is the same long pillow used another way, and it is not what this guide is about.
| Koala Hugs | Koala Hugs Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Main pillow | One long pillow, about 190 x 28 cm (about 75 x 11 in) per a Spanish review | The same long pillow |
| Extra cushion | None | Removable support cushion with its own case, slides on by a loop |
| Fill | Polyester fiber | 100% polyester (Koala) |
| Outer case | Cotton (review) | 97% organic cotton, 3% elastane on Koala's page; a retailer lists 100% cotton |
| Care | Check the label | Case 30°C (86°F), pillow 60°C (140°F), tumble dry low (Koala) |
| Price seen | Not found on Oct 8, 2026 | €74.99 on koalababycare.com (sold out), €54.99 at babyartikel.de |
| Returns | 30 days and a 2-year warranty, per Koala's page. Check your country. |
One warning before you trust any table, including ours: Koala's own comparison chart lists a different price and a different number of uses than the rest of the same page. Read the exact product name on the box you are buying.
What does the removable support pad actually do?
It is a small extra cushion you can put where the long pillow is too thin: under your bump, behind your lower back, or behind your neck when you sit up. Koala lists those three adult spots.
The pad is not magic. It is height in one place. The long pillow does the big job of running along your body. The pad tops up one gap.
1:05 a.m.
Jade was 27 weeks and already owned a long pillow. It ran the length of her body fine, but her bump still sagged forward into a gap, so every night she wedged a folded throw pillow under it. By one in the morning the throw pillow was on the floor and she was patting the sheet in the dark looking for it. Theo, half asleep, asked if she had lost her phone again.
"Yeah I had to layer like three more pillows on top of the pregnancy pillow just to get comfortable"YouTube comment on a pregnancy pillow video (not about Koala)
If that sounds like your bed, the pad is aimed at you. It is built to do the job of the throw pillow, and the loop is meant to keep it from wandering off the way a loose pillow does.
An extra pad is worth paying for only when you are already adding something by hand.
How does the Hugs Plus loop work?
The support cushion has a loop. Koala's FAQ says you slide the long pillow through that loop until it sits in the centre. When you do not need it, two fabric straps hold it on the long pillow for storage.
That tells you three things before you buy:
- Position. The loop goes around the long pillow, so the pad sits along it. Think about whether the centre of your pillow is where your bump or back actually is.
- Moving it. To change spots, you slide it along the pillow. That is easy in daylight and fiddly at 2 a.m. with a bump.
- Neck use. Koala describes the neck spot for sitting, not for lying down. It is for reading or feeding upright, not a head pillow.
We have not tested the loop ourselves. If you can, look at photos of the pad in place on a real bed before you order.
Does Hugs Plus mean more washing and storing?
Yes, a little. Plus gives you one more case to wash and one more piece to keep track of. The good news is that Koala says both the case and the pillow itself can go in the machine.
- Long pillow case: machine wash at 30°C (86°F).
- Long pillow insert: machine wash at 60°C (140°F), tumble dry on low, per Koala.
- Pad: has its own case, so that is a second load item. Check the pad's own label.
- Drying time: a long fiber pillow can take a while to dry fully. Plan a night without it, or have a backup.
- Storing: the straps keep the pad on the pillow, so it does not need its own shelf.
For a general walk-through of covers and inserts, see how to wash a pregnancy pillow.
Koala Hugs or Hugs Plus: which should you buy?
Buy standard Hugs if the long pillow alone is enough and you have room for about 75 inches of pillow. Buy Hugs Plus if you know you will be stuffing something under your bump or behind your back anyway, and the price gap where you shop is small.
- I already add a folded pillow or towel under my bump: Plus.
- My back needs more than the long pillow gives: Plus.
- I want the fewest pieces in the bed: Hugs.
- I am on the short side or in a full bed: think about the length of either first.
- I am in the US: check that the seller ships here and what returns cost before you pick a version.
Koala is a European brand and prices we found are in euros. If you are weighing a long pillow against a smaller set in general, our guide to adjustable vs. full-body pregnancy pillows covers that choice.
Jade's fix in the end was not a fancier long pillow. It was something that held her bump and her back at the same time, so she stopped hunting for the throw pillow. On Saturday she slept past eight. Theo brought her toast in bed and told her she had not moved all night.
Frequently asked questions
Is Koala Hugs Plus the same pillow as Koala Hugs?
The long pillow is the same. Hugs Plus adds a removable support cushion with its own cover that slides onto the long pillow by a loop. Koala says standard Hugs does not include it.
Where does the Hugs Plus support cushion go?
Koala lists under the bump, behind the back when lying down, and behind the neck when sitting. It slides along the long pillow on its loop, and two straps hold it on when you are not using it.
Can you wash the Koala Hugs Plus pillow?
Koala says the case washes at 30°C (86°F) and the pillow itself at 60°C (140°F), with a low tumble dry. The pad has its own case. Follow the label on the one you receive.
How long is the Koala Hugs pillow?
A Spanish review lists it at about 190 x 28 cm, roughly 75 x 11 inches, and warns it can feel long for shorter people or small beds. Koala's page we read did not list dimensions.
Can you buy Koala Hugs in the US?
Koala Babycare is a European brand and the prices we found were in euros. Check that your seller ships to the US and what returns cost before ordering.
If what you really need is bump and back at once
Relvay does not make the Koala Hugs or Hugs Plus, and if a long pillow with a pad fits your bed, that is a fine choice. The Relvay 3-Piece is a different idea: two crescent wedges for bump and back, joined by a flat strap under you, with a small oval cushion on the strap. It is for people like Jade who keep adding a pillow under their bump and want both sides held without a 75-inch pillow.
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.
Probably not for you if
- You want one long pillow to hug from chest to knees.
- You want a pillow you will also use for feeding later.
- The Koala price where you live is lower and it ships to you.
Worth a look if
- Your problem is a gap under the bump or behind your back.
- You share a full or queen bed in the US.
- You want 90 days to try it, and you will keep a regular pillow between your knees.
Jade's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
