Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
The letter is the outline of the pillow, and the outline decides what it touches. U wraps both sides of you, C and J hug one side, V props you up, and a straight pillow goes between your knees or along your back.
- Skip the shape question if regular pillows still work.
- Pick by problem: bed space, turning over, or one sore spot.
- Check inches, because one letter comes in many sizes.
Why do pregnancy pillow names feel like a code?
Because sellers name pillows by their outline from above, not by what they do for you in bed. Once you can picture each letter lying on a mattress, the names start to make sense.
11:40 p.m.
I was 22 weeks, lying on my side with my phone an inch from my face, and I had four tabs open. A U. A C. Something called a J. Something called a V that looked like a boomerang.
Dev was asleep next to me. I kept zooming into photos of women smiling on huge white pillows, and I could not tell which one was for my problem. My problem was simple. My back ached when I lay on my side, and the pillow between my knees ended up on the floor by morning.
I closed all four tabs and went to sleep without buying anything. Then I opened them again the next night.
- If you have looked at the same three letters for a week and still feel unsure...
- If you are not sure whether your bed can even fit a U...
- If you only hurt in one spot and wonder why every pillow wraps your whole body...
You are not missing something obvious. The letters describe a shape, not a solution.
“U shape or C shape is best?”YouTube comment
“I don’t flip my C shape. I just switch sides”YouTube comment
What do the pregnancy pillow shapes look like?
Picture each letter lying flat on your bed with you inside or beside it. Here is the whole key in one table, with the question that tells you which guide to read next.
| Shape | What it looks like | What it touches | Bed space | Read next if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | A long horseshoe, open at the feet | Head, bump, back and knees, both sides | Most of one half of a queen | You turn a lot and have room |
| C | One long curve along one side | Head, bump or back, knees, one side | Less than a U | You stay on one side |
| J | A long straight piece with a hook at one end | Head and front, sometimes knees | Narrow | You want a body pillow with neck support |
| V | A boomerang shape, much smaller | Upper back, neck, or under the bump | Small | You sit up to read or feed |
| Straight | A long rectangle you hug | Knees and front, or along your back | Narrow but long | You mainly need your knees apart |
| Wedge | A small triangle or half-moon | One spot: bump or back | Very little | Only one spot hurts |
| Two wedges joined | Two small wedges on a strap | Bump and back at once | Fits on your half | Bed space is your limit |
Sizes vary a lot inside one letter. A full U pillow is often about 59 to 63 inches long and 28 to 31 inches wide, while some J and C pillows are sold in shorter lengths. Always read the inches, not the letter.
What is a U-shaped pregnancy pillow?
A U pillow is a long horseshoe that runs down both sides of your body, joined above your head. You lie in the middle, so there is support in front and behind whichever way you face.
- Good at: turning over without moving the pillow, since both sides are already there.
- Watch for: width. At 28 to 31 inches it can fill your whole half of a queen bed.
- Also notice: you are surrounded, which some people love and some find hot or hard to climb out of.
Torn between a U and a C? Our C vs U guide walks through that choice in detail.
What is a C-shaped pregnancy pillow?
A C pillow is one long curve that wraps one side of you. The top holds your head, the middle sits under your bump or behind your back, and the bottom curve tucks between your knees.
- Good at: covering head, bump and knees in one piece, with an open side for getting out of bed.
- Watch for: turning over. You either flip the pillow across or turn inside the curve and use the other side of it.
- Also notice: it still takes real width, just less than a U.
What is a J-shaped pregnancy pillow?
A J pillow is usually a long straight body pillow with a hook at the top for your head and neck. Some sellers use the name for a shorter, lopsided U instead, so look at the photo from above before you trust the letter.
- Good at: hugging in front of you with your neck supported, in a narrow footprint.
- Watch for: your back. A J usually leaves it open, so you may still want a pillow behind you.
What is a V-shaped pillow for?
A V pillow is a small boomerang. It is mostly for sitting up: propped behind your upper back and neck while you read, rest or feed a baby later. Some people tuck it under the bump when lying on their side.
- Good at: sitting up in bed, and it packs small.
- Watch for: it is not a full-body pillow. It will not reach your knees or your lower back while you sleep.
What is a straight body pillow?
A straight pillow is a long rectangle you hug, with your top knee resting over it so your legs stay apart. It is the simplest shape and the easiest to reuse after pregnancy.
- Good at: knee support and something to hold, in a narrow strip of bed.
- Watch for: turning over. You lift it across your bump to the other side every time, which gets harder in the third trimester.
“Lol I’m 27wks and rolling over definitely takes so much effort”YouTube comment
Deciding between something long and something small? See wedge vs body pillow.
Where do wedge pillows fit in?
Wedges have no letter because they are not long. A single wedge is a small triangle or half-moon that props one spot, usually under the bump or behind the lower back.
A newer shape joins two wedges with a strap, one for the bump and one for the back, so both spots are covered without a long pillow. Neither kind goes between your knees, so you keep a regular pillow there, which is the setup the NHS suggests for side sleeping.
Which pregnancy pillow shape should you look at next?
Let your problem pick the shape, then read the guide for that choice. Answer these in order and stop at the first yes.
- Do regular pillows still stay put and let you sleep? Then you may not need a shape at all. Read do you need a pregnancy pillow.
- Do you share a full or queen bed? Measure before you pick a letter. Read pregnancy pillow for a small bed.
- Do you turn over many times a night and have room? Compare the big two in C vs U.
- Does only one spot hurt? Read wedge vs body pillow.
- Ready to order? Run the buying checklist first.
Brooke stopped at question two. Her half of their queen was 30 inches, and the U she had in her cart was 30 inches by itself. That one answer closed three of her four tabs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a C and a U pregnancy pillow?
A U wraps both sides of your body, so it supports you whichever way you face but takes more bed width. A C wraps one side and leaves the other open, so it is smaller but you flip it or turn inside it when you change sides.
What does a J-shaped pregnancy pillow look like?
Usually a long straight body pillow with a hook at the top for your head. Some sellers use the name for a shorter U, so check the photo from above and the measurements.
What is a V-shaped pillow used for?
Mostly for sitting up: propping your upper back and neck while you read, rest or feed a baby. It is small, so it does not reach your knees or lower back while you sleep.
Which pregnancy pillow shape takes the least bed space?
A single wedge, then two wedges joined by a strap, then a straight or J pillow. A full U takes the most, often 28 to 31 inches wide.
Do I need a special shape, or will a regular pillow do?
Regular pillows can do the job. The NHS suggests supporting your bump with pillows and putting one between your knees. A shaped pillow helps when loose pillows keep moving apart at night.
Where the Relvay 3-Piece fits among the shapes
Relvay does not make a C, U, J, V or straight body pillow. The 3-Piece is the last row of the table: two wedges joined by a strap. If you want a long pillow to hug, or one piece that also holds your head, it is not that, and one of the shapes above will suit you better.
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 a long pillow to hug or rest your head on.
- You want one piece that also sits between your knees.
- Regular pillows already stay put for you.
Made for you if
- Your bump and lower back are the spots that need help.
- Your half of a full or queen bed is the limit.
- You are happy to keep a regular pillow between your knees.
Brooke's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
