How Do You Put a Pregnancy Pillow Back in Its Cover?

Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.

The short answer

Match the cover's direction first, then feed the pillow in one curve at a time, with the cover gathered like a sock. Work on the bed, not your lap. Let the cover close on its own; if the zipper needs force, something is twisted.

• Before: insert fully dry, cover right side out.
• During: one arm or curve at a time.
• Never: yank the zipper to close it.

What is the easiest way to put a long pregnancy pillow back in its cover?

Lay the pillow out flat on the bed, line up the cover to match its shape, and feed in one end at a time. Check the care label or manual first: some covers have a set zipper side or a set direction.

1. Make sure the insert is completely dry. A damp insert is fatter and will fight the cover. It also traps moisture.
2. Lay the bare pillow flat on the bed in its natural shape, U, C or J. Do it on the bed, not on your lap or the floor, so you are not bending over your bump.
3. Find the cover's direction. Lay the cover on top of the pillow. Match the curves, the arms and the zipper side to how it came. Many zippers run along the outer edge or one arm.
4. Open the zipper all the way. Then gather the first arm of the cover into folds, like a sock before you put it on.
5. Feed in one end only. Push the end of the pillow into the gathered arm until it reaches the tip, then let the fabric unroll along the pillow.
6. Smooth the first curve before moving on. Seams should sit along the pillow's edges, not spiral around it.
7. Repeat for the next curve or arm. On a U pillow, do the second arm the same way, then settle the bend in the middle.
8. Close the zipper slowly, holding the fabric flat behind the slider. If it stops, open it, find the twist, and try again.

Why is it so hard to do on your own?

Because a long pillow is floppy and the cover is a long tube. With two people, one holds the cover open. Alone, you have to do both, and late in pregnancy bending and reaching are harder.

Tuesday, 10:40 p.m.

Danny works nights, so laundry day is just me. I was 34 weeks and the cover had been on the drying rack since morning. Bedtime, and the pillow was lying there naked on the bed.

I tried it the way I did at 20 weeks: kneel on the floor, hold the cover open with one hand, shove with the other. One arm went in. The other came out as I pushed. Then the whole thing twisted, the zipper was on top instead of the side, and I had been kneeling so long my back gave me a warning.

I sat on the edge of the bed with half a pillow in a cover and laughed, the kind of laugh that is almost crying. It was eleven o'clock. I just wanted to lie down.

• If you have pushed one end in only to watch the other end pop out...
• If you have found the zipper spiralled to the middle of the pillow...
• If you have stood there at bedtime deciding whether to sleep on a bare insert...

The trick is not more strength. It is smaller moves, one curve at a time.

Where do most people get stuck?

At the bend, at the second arm, and at the zipper. Each one has a simple fix that does not need a second person.

Sticking point	What is happening	What to do
First end pops out while you push the second	Nothing holds the finished end in place	Lay the finished part flat and rest your forearm or a heavy book on it while you work.
Cover twists into a spiral	Each push turns the fabric a little	Stop after each curve and line the seams up with the pillow's edges.
The bend of a U or C will not fill	Filling has slid toward the ends	Push filling back toward the middle from outside the cover with flat hands.
Zipper will not meet	Cover twisted, filling bunched, or insert still damp	Open it again. Fix the twist, spread the filling, or wait for it to dry.
Pillow too long to reach both ends	You are working from one spot	Do one end, then walk around the bed instead of stretching.

Also check you have the right cover. If it has never fitted, that is a sizing question, covered in buying a replacement cover that fits. If it fitted before the wash and does not now, see when a cover no longer fits after washing.

What should you not do to get the cover on?

Do not use the zipper as a handle, and do not shrink or alter the cover to make the job easier. Both can damage a cover that is the right size.

• Do not pull the zipper pull to drag fabric over the pillow. It is the weakest part of the cover.
• Do not close the zipper over bunched fabric or filling. Teeth can split or catch.
• Do not unpick a seam to widen the opening.
• Do not tumble a cover hot on purpose to tighten it.
• Do not stand on a chair or kneel for a long time to get leverage. Sitting on the bed edge works.

If the zipper has already stuck or broken, our guide to a stuck or broken pregnancy pillow zipper walks through what to check next.

Can you make laundry day easier next time?

Yes. Put the cover back on in daylight, not at bedtime, and keep a clean layer handy for the gap.

Wash the cover in the morning so it is dry by afternoon, and put it back on while you have energy. If it will not be dry in time, a large clean sheet folded loosely around the insert is fine for a night if the insert's label allows uncovered use. A spare cover made for your model means the pillow is never bare at all. Sleepybelly's care guide also asks that the inside be completely dry before the cover goes back on, which is one more reason not to rush it at 11 p.m.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get a U-shaped pillow back in its cover by yourself?

Lay the pillow flat on the bed, match the cover's shape and zipper side, then gather one arm of the cover and feed in one arm of the pillow. Smooth it, then do the other arm and the bend.

Why won't my pregnancy pillow cover zip up?

Usually the cover is twisted, the filling has bunched at one end, or the insert is still damp. Open it, fix the twist or spread the filling, and let the insert dry before trying again.

Should I put the cover on inside out first?

Some people turn the cover inside out and roll it over the pillow, which works for straight pillows. For long curved ones, gathering one arm like a sock is often easier. Follow the maker's guide if it gives one.

Can I sleep on the pillow without its cover for one night?

Check the insert's label. If it allows uncovered use, a clean sheet or large pillowcase loosely around it works for a night. Keep the insert dry and clean.

Is it okay to pull hard on the zipper if the cover is just tight?

No. If the zipper needs force, something is twisted or bunched. Forcing it can split the teeth or the seam beside it.

If a long pillow and its cover are getting too much

Relvay does not sell spare covers for long U, C or J pillows, so we cannot send the cover this guide is about. If you are ready to stop wrestling one long curve altogether, our 3-Piece set is the smaller option we make: separate pieces you handle one at a time. Its cover is listed as removable and washable; follow its care label like any cover.

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.

See the 3-Piece set

Zoe's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.