Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one, and when no pillow is the answer.
The short answer
A pillow cannot make sex in pregnancy safer, but it can make it more comfortable. If your midwife or OB has not told you to avoid sex, soft support under your bump, behind your back or under your upper body helps you stay on your side or half sitting instead of flat on your back.
- Skip it if you have been advised to avoid sex, or you have bleeding, leaking fluid or pain.
- Start with the pillows you already own.
- What matters: weight off the bump, and short spells only on your back.
Is sex safe in pregnancy, and when might you be told to wait?
For most people with an uncomplicated pregnancy, yes. ACOG says most sexual activity is safe in a healthy pregnancy, and Tommy's, the UK pregnancy charity, says it is safe unless your doctor or midwife has told you not to.
Your clinician may advise you to avoid penetrative sex for a while if:
- you have a low-lying placenta or placenta previa (the placenta covers or reaches the cervix), because of the risk of bleeding
- your waters have broken, because of the risk of infection
- you have cervical changes such as early opening, or a history of preterm labor
- you have had unexplained bleeding and have not been checked yet
- you or your partner have a sexually transmitted infection your clinic has not yet cleared
- you have had several miscarriages (Tommy's lists this too)
If any of these apply, ask your midwife or OB exactly what "avoid" means for you. It often means penetration only, and other kinds of closeness may still be fine. A pillow does not change that advice.
Sources: ACOG, Tommy's, Cleveland Clinic. The RCOG notes that bleeding from placenta previa is usually painless and may happen after sex.
When should you stop and call your midwife or OB?
Stop and call if you notice bleeding, fluid leaking, pain, or tightenings that do not settle. Some light spotting or cramping after sex can be normal, but heavy bleeding or severe cramping is not something to wait out.
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Bleeding that is heavy, like a period or heavier, or any bleeding with pain | Call your maternity unit or OB now. If it soaks a pad soon after you put it on, call emergency services. |
| Light spotting after sex | Often from the cervix, but get advice the same day, and hold off sex until you have been checked. |
| Fluid leaking or a gush from the vagina | Call now. It may be your waters, and sex could raise the risk of infection. |
| Severe or persistent cramping, or pain that does not ease | Call your OB or midwife. Sex should not hurt. |
| Tightenings that become regular, last longer, or keep coming, especially before 37 weeks | Call your maternity unit now. Occasional tightening after orgasm can be normal; a pattern is not. |
| Dizziness, feeling sick or short of breath while lying on your back | Roll onto your side. If it does not pass, call. |
Save your maternity unit's number in your phone, next to your partner's.
Why does it get uncomfortable as the bump grows?
Three things change: the bump needs somewhere to rest, lying flat on your back gets harder, and positions you used to like start pressing on tender spots.
The bump has weight. Lying on your side, a growing bump pulls down and forward. Without anything under it, you tense your stomach and back to hold it, which is hard to relax through.
Your back is off limits for long. ACOG explains that in the second and third trimesters, lying on your back can press on a major blood vessel and make you feel dizzy. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding lying flat on your back for long periods later in pregnancy.
Pressure points move. Tender breasts, a sore lower back or aching hips can make old positions feel wrong. Tommy's suggests side by side positions and saying out loud what is and is not comfortable.
The goal is not a special position. It is keeping weight off the bump and keeping you off a flat back, so you can relax.
You can get most of the way there with pillows you already own. A small set of wedges helps if those keep sliding away.
What can you try with the pillows you already have?
Use regular bed pillows and a folded blanket first. Most comfort comes from where support sits, not from a special product.
- Side lying, bump supported. Lie on your side and tuck a flat pillow under your bump so it rests on something. Bend your knees a little.
- A pillow behind your back. Put a firm pillow lengthways behind your lower back so you can lean into it instead of rolling onto your back.
- A pillow between the knees. It keeps your hips level and takes strain off your lower back and pelvis.
- Half sitting instead of flat. Stack two or three firm pillows, or a large wedge, against the headboard so your upper body is raised and your back is not flat on the mattress.
- Practical comfort. Keep a towel under you and a water-based lubricant nearby; Tommy's and Cleveland Clinic both mention dryness can make sex uncomfortable in pregnancy.
If something presses or aches, change it. Say so as soon as you notice it, even mid-way. ACOG suggests telling your partner if anything feels uncomfortable, even a position you are used to.
Propping up for rest is covered in our guide to sleeping propped up on a wedge or in a recliner.
Is a "sex wedge" the same as a pregnancy wedge?
No. Firm foam wedges sold for sex are usually ramps that raise the hips while you lie on your back. A pregnancy wedge is a smaller, softer cushion meant to sit under the bump or behind the back while you lie on your side.
A ramp under the hips puts you on your back, which ACOG and Cleveland Clinic suggest avoiding for long spells later in pregnancy. If you use one, keep it short and roll onto your side if you feel dizzy or unwell. In later pregnancy, a ramp used to raise your upper body, so you are half sitting, is usually the more comfortable way round.
A pregnancy wedge does a different job: it fills the gap under the bump or behind the back so you can stay on your side without holding yourself there. It is not firm enough to work as a ramp.
If you are choosing between a wedge and a full body pillow for sleep, our pregnancy wedge vs body pillow guide compares what each one covers through the night.
When is a pillow worth buying for this?
Only when the pillows you have keep failing in the same way. Tick what sounds like you:
- The pillow under my bump slides out as soon as I move.
- I keep ending up flat on my back because nothing holds me on my side.
- A big U or C pillow takes up the space we need on the bed.
- I already want bump and back support for sleep, so one set would do both jobs.
- Stacking pillows behind me collapses within minutes.
None of these? Keep using what you have. Two or more? A small set that stays where you put it may help. Any warning sign above still comes first, and no pillow makes sex safer if you have been told to avoid it.
Which type of pillow suits side-lying comfort?
Choose the one that holds the bump and back without taking over the bed. Here is how the main types compare.
| Regular pillows | Firm foam ramp | Single pregnancy wedge | U or C body pillow | Two wedges joined by a strap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supports the bump while side lying | If folded right | Not its job | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Something to lean back into | Extra pillow | No | One or the other | Yes | Yes |
| Raises the upper body | Yes, stacked | Yes | No | No | No, use regular pillows |
| Bed space | Small | Medium | Small | Large, often both halves | About torso width |
| Doubles as sleep support | Partly | Not really | Partly | Yes | Yes |
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to have sex while pregnant?
For most people with an uncomplicated pregnancy, yes. ACOG says most sexual activity is safe in a healthy pregnancy. Your midwife or OB may advise you to avoid sex if you have placenta previa, broken waters, cervical changes, a history of preterm labor or unexplained bleeding.
What is a pregnancy sex pillow?
Usually either a firm foam ramp sold for sex, or an ordinary pregnancy wedge used for support. For later pregnancy, support under the bump and behind the back while side lying, or under the upper body while half sitting, tends to be more comfortable than a ramp under the hips.
Can I lie on my back during sex in the third trimester?
Short spells are not the same as sleeping on your back, but ACOG notes lying on your back later in pregnancy can press on a major blood vessel and make you dizzy. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding long periods flat on your back. Side lying or a raised upper body are easier options.
Is it normal to have cramps or spotting after sex in pregnancy?
ACOG says some cramping or spotting after sex can be normal. Call your OB or midwife if the cramping is severe or does not ease, or the bleeding is heavy like a period. The NHS advises getting any bleeding in pregnancy checked.
Can sex start labor?
Tommy's notes sex or orgasm can bring on Braxton Hicks tightenings later in pregnancy, which is normal and not the start of labor. Call your maternity unit if tightenings become regular, last longer or keep coming, especially before 37 weeks, or if your waters break.
Do I need a special pillow?
No. Regular pillows and a folded blanket work for many couples. A dedicated pregnancy pillow is worth it mainly if your pillows keep sliding, or if you also want bump and back support for sleep.
Where the Relvay 3-Piece pillow fits in
The Relvay 3-Piece is a sleep-positioning set, not a sex product and not a firm ramp. What it does is give you soft support for side lying: one wedge under your bump, thin edge toward your belly, one behind your lower back to lean into, joined by a strap so they do not drift apart when you move.
1. The bump wedge. A crescent-shaped wedge that tucks under your bump so it rests on something instead of pulling forward.
2. The back wedge. The same shape, snug against your lower back, so rolling onto your back is less automatic.
3. The strap and small bolster. A flat strap runs under you and joins the two wedges. A small round bolster rests on the strap between them. The strap is a fixed length with no buckle, so you change the fit by tucking each wedge closer to your body, not by the strap.
Each wedge is about 17 by 13 inches and about 4 inches thick at its outer edge, tapering thinner toward your body (supplier measurement). Opened out, the set is roughly as wide as your torso, so it stays on your half of the bed. Afterwards it goes straight back to its main job: bump and back support for sleep.
What it does not do: it does not raise your hips or your upper body, it is not firm enough to be a ramp, and it does not go between your knees. Keep regular pillows for half sitting and for your knees, and keep a towel under you.
Probably not for you if
- Your midwife or OB has advised you to avoid sex, or you have any warning sign above. Call first.
- You want a firm ramp to raise your hips or upper body.
- Your regular pillows already stay put.
Made for you if
- The pillow under your bump keeps sliding out.
- You want one compact set for side lying that also works for sleep.
- You share a full or queen bed and a U pillow takes too much of it.
Try it for 90 nights
Use it through the weeks that matter. If it is not right for you, email us within 90 days of delivery and send it back for a refund. Return shipping is on you unless it arrived faulty.
$79.99
90-day money-back guarantee · Free US shipping over $70 · 3 pieces, one set
Check price and availabilityThis guide is general information for adults in an uncomplicated pregnancy and is not medical advice. If you have a pregnancy complication or any doubt, ask your midwife or OB before having sex.
