Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
First find out which zipper failed. If it is the outer cover and the insert underneath is fully closed, it is a cover problem: free a stuck zipper gently or order a model-matched cover. If filling can escape, stop using that pillow and contact the maker.
- Outer cover only: keep using it, fix or replace the cover.
- Insert or fill zipper: do not repair it yourself.
- Loose filling showing: stop and bag it.
What should you check when a pregnancy pillow zipper breaks?
Check which layer the zipper belongs to, then whether the insert is still sealed. That answer decides everything else.
- Stop pulling. Set the pillow flat on the bed in good light.
- Identify the layer. Is this zipper on the soft outer cover you wash? Or on an inner liner, the layer that holds the filling? Some pillows have both. Check the label or the maker's guide: some, like bbhugme, tell owners not to open an inner zipper at all.
- Open the outer cover if you can and look at the insert. Run your hand along every seam and any inner zipper.
- Look for loose filling. Fibre tufts, beads or foam crumbs outside the insert, in the cover or on the sheet.
- Name the fault. Stuck slider, teeth split behind the slider, slider off the track, missing pull tab, or fabric torn beside the zipper.
- Photograph it, including the label and order number, before you try anything.
Why does it matter which zipper broke?
Because the outer cover only holds fabric, while an inner zipper holds the filling. A broken outer zipper is a comfort and laundry issue. An open inner layer can let loose filling out into your bed.
Sunday, 7:15 a.m.
I was 30 weeks, stripping the bed for laundry, and I tugged the zipper on my pillow cover the way I always did. The slider came clean off in my hand. The two sides of the zipper just hung open.
My first thought was, great, I broke my pillow. Then I panicked a little more, because I could see a second zipper under the cover and I did not know which one was holding the stuffing in. I sat there holding a tiny metal slider at seven in the morning, wondering whether I was supposed to sleep on this tonight or throw it out.
It turned out the inner layer was fine. Fully closed, not a fibre out. It was only ever the cover.
"quickly loosened seams"Amazon review of another brand's pregnancy pillow
Most broken zippers are a cover problem. The point of checking is to be sure.
Is it a cover problem or an insert problem?
Use what you found to pick one row. When in doubt, treat it as the more careful row.
| What you found | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Outer zipper stuck, insert sealed | Cover problem | Try the gentle fixes below. Keep using the pillow. |
| Outer zipper split or slider off, insert sealed | Cover problem | Use a clean pillowcase or sheet over the insert for now, if its label allows. Order a cover matched to your model. |
| Fabric torn beside the outer zipper | Cover wear | Same as above. A torn edge usually gets worse with each wash. |
| Inner zipper or liner open, no filling out yet | Insert risk | Do not open, adjust or repair it. Contact the maker with photos before using it again. |
| Filling, beads or foam pieces loose in the cover or bed | Insert damaged | Stop using it. Bag the pillow, clean the bed, and contact the maker or seller. |
Small loose beads or foam crumbs spread fast, so tidy them up fully and keep the bag closed.
How do you free a stuck zipper on the outer cover?
Gently, and only on the outer cover. Most stuck zippers are caught fabric or dirt in the teeth, not a broken zipper.
- Look for fabric caught in the slider. Ease it out backwards with your fingers. Do not keep pulling forward.
- Clean the teeth. Puffy's zipper guide suggests brushing debris out with an old toothbrush.
- Help it slide. The same guide suggests rubbing bar soap or pencil graphite along the teeth, then moving the slider back and forth in short strokes.
- Stop if the teeth split behind the slider. That zipper is worn. Replacing a zipper means unpicking and sewing, which is a tailor's job, not a bedtime one.
Do not try any of this on a zipper that holds filling. Keep your fixes to the layer you wash.
What do you need to order the right replacement cover?
The exact model and its size, not just its shape. A cover that is a little short will put the new zipper under strain from the first night.
- Brand and model name from the label or order.
- The bare insert's length and width, measured flat.
- Zipper position on your old cover: outer edge, one arm, or underneath.
- The old cover's care label, so you know what you are replacing.
Our guide to buying a replacement cover that fits has the full fit sheet. And next time you put a cover back on, the way you close it matters: putting a long pillow back in its cover shows how to do it without loading the zipper.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use my pregnancy pillow if the cover zipper is broken?
Usually yes, if the broken zipper is on the outer cover and the insert underneath is fully closed. Put a clean pillowcase or sheet over the insert if its label allows, and order a cover made for your model.
How do I fix a stuck zipper on a pillow cover?
Ease out any caught fabric backwards, brush the teeth clean, then rub bar soap or pencil graphite along them and move the slider in short strokes. Stop if the teeth split behind the slider.
My pillow has two zippers. Which one can I open?
The outer cover zipper is the one you open for washing. An inner zipper holds the filling. Many makers say not to open it, so check the label or ask before touching it.
What if filling is coming out of my pregnancy pillow?
Stop using it, put it in a bag, and clean the bed and floor fully. Contact the maker or seller with photos. Do not try to sew or zip a filling layer back up yourself.
Can I just sew the cover shut?
You can, but then you cannot take it off to wash it. A model-matched replacement cover, or a tailor replacing the zipper, keeps the cover washable.
If it is time to replace the whole pillow
Relvay does not sell replacement covers for other brands' pillows, so we cannot send the cover this guide is about. If the zipper was the last straw on a pillow that is worn out anyway, our 3-Piece set is what we make. Its cover is listed as removable and washable.
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.
Yolanda's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
