Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Choose a wedge if one or two spots need support, usually the bump or the lower back. Choose a body pillow if you want your knees, bump and arms held by one long piece.
- Wedge: small and exact, but covers one spot.
- Body pillow: covers more, takes more bed.
- Either way: count the extra pillows you still need.
Why the spots that hurt decide
A wedge supports one spot very precisely. A body pillow supports a line of spots loosely. Which one fits depends on how many places on your body need help at night.
11:40 p.m.
Allison was 26 weeks and sure that more pillow meant more comfort. She bought a long straight body pillow and hugged it the first night: knees over it, bump resting on it, arm around it. It felt great. By midnight her lower back ached, because nothing was behind her. Her husband Nate offered his own pillow, and she spent the night with a body pillow in front and a borrowed pillow sliding off behind.
"I just needed a pillow to go between my legs to keep my hips from hurting."Amazon review of a pregnancy pillow
"Im 28 weeks and so uncomfortable no matter if i use a support cushion or not. I just find it so hard to sleep."YouTube comment on a pregnancy sleep video
The first reviewer needed one spot. Allison needed two, on opposite sides of her body. Those are different shopping lists.
Pregnancy wedge vs. body pillow at a glance
Here is which spots each option covers on its own, and what you would still need to add for full side-sleeping support.
| Spot | Single wedge | Long straight body pillow | Two wedges, bump and back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under the bump | Yes, if placed there | Yes, when hugged | Yes |
| Behind the lower back | Yes, if placed there instead | No | Yes |
| Between the knees | No | Yes | No |
| Head | No | No | No |
| Still need to add | A pillow for the other spot, plus knees | A pillow behind your back | A pillow between your knees |
| Bed space | Very little | A long strip | Close to your torso |
No single pillow covers everything. The real choice is which gap you are happy to fill with a regular pillow.
What is good and bad about a pregnancy wedge?
A pregnancy wedge is a small, firm, sloped cushion you tuck under your bump or behind your back. It is exact and compact, and it does one job at a time.
Do not confuse it with a large incline wedge for the bed, the kind that lifts your upper body at an angle for reading or sitting up. A pregnancy wedge is much smaller and goes against your side.
Good:
- Fits exactly in the gap under your bump or at your lower back.
- Takes almost no bed space and packs in a bag.
- Easy to move when you switch sides.
Harder:
- One wedge covers one spot. Bump and back means two.
- A soft one can squash flat under a heavy bump, so check firmness.
- Loose wedges can slide away when you turn. Some foam cores are spot clean only, as Boppy notes for its pregnancy wedge.
What is good and bad about a body pillow?
A body pillow is a long pillow you hug along the front of your body. It supports your knees, bump and arms at once, and leaves your back open.
Good:
- One piece covers the bump and the knees together.
- Easy to understand: you just hug it.
- Straight body pillows are often 48 to 54 inches, so they fit along the bed rather than across it.
Harder:
- Nothing behind your back unless you add another pillow.
- Switching sides means hauling it over your bump to the other side.
- It takes a long strip of the bed and is bulky to wash and store.
Wrap-around shapes such as C and U add back support but take far more room. That choice is covered in C-shaped vs. U-shaped pregnancy pillow.
Which one do you need?
Tick the spots that bother you at night, then count.
- My bump feels heavy or pulls when I lie on my side.
- My lower back aches with nothing behind it.
- My hips ache unless something is between my knees.
- I switch sides several times a night.
- I share a full or queen bed.
Only the bump, or only the back: one wedge. Bump and back: two wedges, ideally joined. Mostly the knees: a body pillow or a firm regular pillow. Everything: a body pillow plus a wedge behind you, or two wedges plus a regular pillow between your knees.
Not sure you need anything beyond regular pillows? Read Do you need a pregnancy pillow? first.
Pain that keeps you awake is worth raising with your midwife, OB-GYN or a pelvic health physical therapist. A pillow is a comfort aid, not a treatment.
What Allison ended up with
She stopped buying by size and started buying by spot. Her two spots were the bump and the lower back.
Allison moved the body pillow to the couch and switched to two small wedges joined by a strap, one under her bump and one behind her lower back, with a regular pillow between her knees. Nate got his own pillow back. The next Sunday she slept until nine and woke up to him making pancakes, a little offended that she had not needed him at 2 a.m.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pregnancy wedge or a body pillow better?
A wedge is better if one spot needs support, like under the bump or behind the back. A body pillow is better if you want the bump and knees held by one long piece. Neither covers everything alone.
Where do you put a pregnancy wedge?
Under your bump while you lie on your side, with the thin edge toward your belly button, or behind your lower back. Many people use two, one in each spot.
Can I use a wedge and a body pillow together?
Yes. A body pillow in front for the bump and knees and a wedge behind your back covers all three spots. It does take more of the bed.
Is a pregnancy wedge the same as a bed wedge pillow?
No. A bed wedge is a large incline that lifts your upper body for reading or sitting up. A pregnancy wedge is a small cushion that tucks under your bump or behind your back while you lie on your side.
Does a body pillow support your back?
A straight body pillow does not, because you hug it in front. You need a second pillow or a wedge behind you, or a wrap-around shape like a C or U.
If you want a small two-wedge set
Relvay does not sell a single wedge or a body pillow. The Relvay 3-Piece is the two-wedges-joined option from the table, the setup Allison chose. It suits you if your spots are the bump and the lower back, not the knees.
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.
Allison's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
