Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Pilling on a removable cover is usually a comfort issue; replace the cover when it irritates you or wears thin. Stop using the pillow if the layer that holds the filling is worn through, a seam on the insert opens, or filling escapes.
- Pills only: feel problem, cover can stay.
- Thin or see-through cover: replace the cover.
- Filling layer worn: stop and contact the maker.
The cover that started scratching at night
Covers wear fastest exactly where your body presses and moves: between the knees, under the hip, under the bump. In late pregnancy that is a lot of hours in the same few spots.
Week 33, 1:50 a.m.
Penelope noticed it with her legs first. The part of the pillow between her knees had gone rough and nubbly, and every time she shifted it caught on her skin. She switched on the lamp and ran her hand along it. Little balls of fluff everywhere. And near the hip, a smooth, shiny patch where she could almost see the white layer underneath.
"I could live with fuzzy," she said. "Thin made me nervous. I did not know what was under there or if it was about to split."
"quickly loosened seams"Amazon review of a pregnancy pillow, not a Relvay product
Fuzz and thinning look similar at 2 a.m. They mean very different things.
Is it pilling, thinning or a hole?
Look in daylight and press the fabric flat. Pills sit on top of fabric that is still whole. Thinning means the fabric itself is losing fibres. A hole means the layer has failed.
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Small balls of fibre, fabric still opaque | Surface wear from rubbing | Keep using; replace the cover if it bothers your skin |
| Shiny, smooth or see-through patch on the cover | The cover fabric is wearing thin | Plan a replacement cover |
| Small hole or split in the removable cover | The cover has failed | Replace the cover; check the insert under it |
| Wear, hole or open seam on the inner layer around the filling | The part that holds the filling is failing | Stop using it and contact the maker |
Photograph each spot flat in daylight with a coin or ruler for scale, and again a week later from the same angle. That shows whether it is changing.
Which layer is actually worn?
Most pregnancy pillows have two layers: a removable outer cover and an inner casing sewn shut around the filling. Some have only one. Which layer is worn decides whether a new cover fixes it.
- Unzip and remove the cover. If there is no zip, your pillow may be a single layer, and wear on it is wear on the filling casing.
- Hold the cover up to a window. Mark thin spots with a safety pin on the outside so you can find them again.
- Look at the insert under the same spots. Rub a hand over it, check its seams and look for fibres or beads on the surface.
- Write down which layer has which damage, with photos. That is your map for the maker.
A new cover fixes a worn cover. It does not fix a worn insert hiding under it.
When should you stop using the pillow?
Stop when the filling is no longer fully held in. Until then, wear on the outer cover is about comfort and looks.
- Filling visible through a hole or worn patch on the insert.
- Filling escaping: fibres, foam crumbs or beads on the sheets.
- Seam on the insert opening, even a little.
- Insert fabric see-through in the same spot where you lean every night.
What not to do: cut loose threads close to a seam, shave or scrape pills off a thinning patch, or sew a patch onto the layer that holds the filling. Each can open the fabric further. A fabric shaver is a tool for whole, sturdy fabric, not for a spot that is already going thin.
Why does a pregnancy pillow cover pill so fast?
Friction. Pilling happens when broken fibres tangle into small balls, and a pregnancy pillow gets rubbed by legs, sheets and the washing machine every day.
Speed Queen, a laundry machine maker, notes that cotton and polyester blends are more prone to pilling and suggests turning items inside out, washing on a gentle cycle and air drying to cut friction. If your cover's tag allows those settings, they can slow new pilling. They will not reverse thinning that has already started.
How do you order the right replacement cover?
Buy the cover the maker sells for your exact model, or send them your model and measurements first. Similar-looking pillows from the same brand can still differ in size.
- Model name and tag photo from the insert, not only the old cover.
- Measurements of the insert laid flat: length, width at the widest point, thickness.
- Order number if you still have it.
- Photos of the worn spots on both layers, so the maker can tell you if the insert is fine to keep.
Doomoo, for example, sells a cover made for its Comfy Big pillow and warns that its similar-looking Buddy and Softy models have different dimensions. For fitting a cover from another seller, see buying a replacement cover that actually fits. If the old one stopped fitting after a wash rather than wearing out, that is a different problem.
Is pilling a warranty claim? Usually not on its own, since it is surface wear. Early thinning or an insert seam opening is worth asking about, with your dated photos.
Frequently asked questions
Is pilling on a pregnancy pillow cover normal?
Yes, some pilling is common where the cover rubs most, like between the knees. If the fabric underneath is still whole and opaque, it is a comfort issue, not a failure.
When is a pillow cover worn out?
When it is shiny, see-through or has holes in the spots you lean on. At that point it is time for a replacement cover for your model.
Can I shave the pills off my pillow cover?
Not on a patch that is already thinning, and not close to seams. Shaving removes fibres, and a thin spot can tear. Replacing the cover is safer if it bothers you.
Can I use the pillow if the inner layer is worn?
Stop using it if the layer holding the filling is worn through, a seam is opening or filling is escaping. Photograph it and contact the maker.
Will any cover fit my pregnancy pillow?
Not reliably. Covers are cut for specific models, and similar pillows from one brand can differ in size. Order by model name and check measurements.
If you are replacing the whole pillow
Relvay does not sell spare covers for other brands' pillows, so we cannot be the replacement cover in this story. If your pillow is worn out and you are replacing it anyway, we make the 3-Piece: two wedges and a strap. Its cover is listed as removable and washable. Like any cover, it will show wear where you rub it most.
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.
Penelope's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers whose pillow covers wore out. Names and details are changed.
