Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
No pillow is proven best for rib pain, but how you set one up matters. First rule out warning signs: pain below the ribs with a bad headache, vision changes or sudden swelling needs a call straight away.
- Try: a raised upper body to wind down, then side sleeping.
- Lower the bump support so it lifts from underneath.
- Keep hard edges and corners off your rib line.
Why do your ribs hurt more at night in late pregnancy?
Rib pain is most common from 28 weeks, as the bump stretches up and the baby kicks or presses into the rib cage. Lying down can make it more noticeable, and a pillow edge in the wrong spot adds to it.
4:10 a.m.
I was 34 weeks and I could tell you exactly where the baby's feet were: under my right ribs, pushing out like they were trying to open a door.
My big C pillow had a thick end that sat right at my side. Every time I turned, its corner landed on the same sore rib. I'd shove it down, it would ride back up. By four I gave up, went to the couch, and sat up straight with a cushion behind me, which was the first time all night it eased a little.
Luis found me there at six and just sat with me until it was time to get up.
- If you can point to the exact rib the baby is pressing...
- If a pillow edge keeps landing on the sore spot...
- If sitting up feels better than lying down by 4 a.m...
You are not imagining it, and it is not the pillow's fault alone. Your ribs are running out of room.
"Yeah I had to layer like three more pillows on top of the pregnancy pillow just to get comfortable"YouTube comment on a pregnancy sleep video
When is rib pain a reason to call, not a pillow problem?
Pain below the ribs can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, so sort it before you try any setup. The NHS says pain below the ribs together with symptoms like a severe headache, vision problems or sudden swelling needs checking immediately.
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pain below the ribs with any of: severe headache that painkillers do not ease, blurred vision or flashing lights, sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet, being sick, feeling very unwell | Call your maternity unit now, day or night. Do not wait to see if a pillow helps. |
| Heartburn that does not go away with heartburn medicines, with rib or upper tummy pain | Call your maternity unit now. The NHS lists this as a pre-eclampsia symptom too. |
| Severe pain, pain that keeps getting worse, or pain that feels different from anything before | Call your midwife or maternity unit today. |
| An ache under the breast or along the side, worse when the baby kicks, easing when you change position | Usually a position ache. Try the setups below and mention it at your next appointment. |
| A position ache that does not improve after trying the advice | Speak to your GP or midwife; a women's health physiotherapist may help. |
Save your maternity unit's number in your phone tonight.
What most of us try first
Most people add pillows, sleep sitting up on the couch, or switch to a bigger pillow. Each one helps a little and costs something else.
- More pillows stacked behind me.Better for ten minutes. Then I slid down, folded in the middle, and the ache came back worse.Height that slides away leaves you slumped.
- The couch, sitting up.It eased my ribs. It also meant I was alone in the living room at 4 a.m., and my neck was stiff by morning.Easier ribs, but I lost the bed.
- A bigger C pillow.More support everywhere, including a thick end sitting right at my rib line, pressing every time I turned.More pillow can mean more edges.
Why does pillow position change how your ribs feel?
An NHS physiotherapy leaflet lists several causes of rib pain in pregnancy: the bump stretching and pressing up, the baby's position and kicks, posture changes as the breasts grow, and heartburn felt as rib pain. Pillows cannot change the baby, but they can change two things: how slumped your upper body is, and what presses on your rib line.
Slumped torsoWhen your upper body folds forward, the space between ribs and bump gets shorter.
Bump hangingA bump that drags down and forward can pull your posture with it.
Hard edgesA thick pillow end, a seam or a corner at the rib line adds pressure to a spot that is already sore.
For sore ribs, the goal is not more pillow. It is a longer torso, a lifted bump and nothing hard at the rib line.
Hollis found a small setup that did all three without the couch. First, the three setups to try tonight with what you already have.
Which pillow setups can you try for rib discomfort?
Try one setup for two or three nights, then the next. Notice how your ribs feel when you wake, not just when you lie down.
- Raised to wind down, then side. Read or rest propped on firm pillows or a wedge behind your upper back, sitting tall rather than slumped. When you go to sleep, turn onto your side with your head and shoulders a little higher than usual. The NHS suggests propping up for heartburn and advises going to sleep on your side from 28 weeks.
- Bump support lower. Move the pillow under your bump down and slightly out, so it lifts the bottom curve from underneath instead of pushing on the middle. Many people find the upper body feels less crowded when the bump is not dragging.
- Edges away from the rib line. Turn or slide your pillows so no thick end, corner or seam sits at your lower ribs. A thin edge toward your body, a thick edge away.
Keep a regular pillow between your knees and ankles in every setup, so your hips stay level and you are not twisting toward the sore side.
How do you check where the pillow touches your ribs?
Lie in your sleep position and run a hand along your lower ribs from front to back. Anything firm you meet there is a pressure point.
- Lie down with your usual setup on the side you fall asleep on.
- Trace your lower rib line with your fingertips, from under the breast around to your back.
- Mark every contact: a pillow end, a seam, a zipper, a corner, a hard bend.
- Move or turn that piece until the rib line only touches soft fabric or nothing.
- Turn over and repeat. Pillows that sit fine on one side often ride up on the other.
If the same edge keeps coming back after every turn, the pillow's shape puts it there, and moving it will not hold through the night.
What else can you try without buying anything?
The same NHS physiotherapy leaflet suggests posture, a supportive bra, heat or cold with a protective layer, and gentle stretches.
- Sit tall during the day, with a rolled towel at your lower back if you slump.
- Wear a well-fitting, supportive bra.
- Try a warm or cold pack wrapped in a towel on the sore ribs, never directly over the bump.
- Gentle side bends while sitting, within a pain-free range.
If you think the pain is linked to heartburn, the leaflet suggests asking your GP. Our guide to heartburn at night covers that side.
When is a different pregnancy pillow worth it for rib discomfort?
It is worth it when your current pillow keeps putting an edge at your ribs, or slides so you end up slumped. Tick what sounds like your nights:
- The same pillow corner lands on my ribs after every turn.
- I slide down my stacked pillows and wake folded.
- My bump pillow pushes on the middle of my bump, not under it.
- I end up on the couch to sit upright.
- I keep adding pillows every week.
Two or more? A setup with fewer, smaller pieces may suit you better. No pillow will stop the baby kicking your ribs, and any warning sign above still comes first.
Shoulder and arm aches have their own causes, covered in our guide to shoulder discomfort with a pregnancy pillow. Back pain is covered in pregnancy back pain at night.
Which type of pregnancy pillow suits sore ribs?
Choose the shape that keeps thick ends and corners below your rib line and lifts the bump from underneath. Here is how the main types compare.
| Regular pillows | U or C pillow | Single wedge | Two wedges joined by a strap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edges at the rib line | You choose where | Thick sections often reach the ribs | Below the ribs | Below the ribs |
| Lifts the bump from underneath | If folded right | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Back support too | Extra pillow | Yes | One or the other | Yes |
| Props your upper body | Yes, stacked | No | A large wedge can | No, use regular pillows |
What changed when nothing pressed on her ribs?
When Hollis moved to smaller support that sat below her rib line, she stayed in bed through the night and her ribs ached less often when she woke.
Hollis put the C pillow in the closet. She wound down each night sitting tall against two firm pillows, then turned onto her side with two small wedges joined by a strap: one low under her bump, one at her lower back, a regular pillow between her knees. Nothing touched her ribs except the duvet.
The baby still kicked. But the first morning she woke up in bed, not on the couch, Luis rolled over and asked what time she had gone to the living room. She hadn't.
"This is the perfect pillow if you want support around the belly, under the ribs and for your back!"Customer review of a different pregnancy pillow
Frequently asked questions
What is the best pregnancy pillow for rib pain?
No pillow is proven best for rib pain. Look for a setup that lifts your bump from underneath, keeps thick ends and corners below your rib line, and lets you raise your upper body when you wind down. Rule out warning signs first.
When should I worry about rib pain in pregnancy?
Call your maternity unit straight away if pain below the ribs comes with a severe headache, vision problems, sudden swelling, vomiting or feeling very unwell. The NHS lists these as possible signs of pre-eclampsia.
Is it okay to sleep sitting up with rib pain?
Resting propped up is fine and can feel easier. For sleep later in pregnancy, the NHS advises going to sleep on your side, so many people wind down propped up, then turn onto their side with head and shoulders a little raised.
Why do my ribs hurt more on one side?
Often because of where the baby is lying or kicking, or because a pillow edge keeps landing on that side. Do the rib-line check on both sides. One-sided pain that is severe or getting worse needs a call to your midwife.
Where the Relvay 3-Piece pillow fits in
The Relvay 3-Piece is the two-wedge set from Hollis's story. It is not a rib pillow and it will not stop the baby kicking. What it does is sit below your rib line: one wedge low under your bump, thin edge toward you, one at your lower back, with no long thick end reaching up your side. It does not prop your upper body, so keep regular pillows for winding down.
1. The bump wedgeA crescent-shaped wedge that tucks under your bump, thin edge toward your belly button, so the weight is not pulling on your back.
2. The back wedgeThe same shape, snug against your lower back so it has something to rest against.
3. The strap and small cushionA flat strap runs under you and joins the two wedges, so they stay together instead of drifting apart. A small oval cushion sits on the strap between them. You can set the distance as the bump grows.
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 and you keep your normal head pillow. Soft ribbed pink fabric on top, white sides. It is small enough to pack for a trip.
What it does not do: it does not go between your knees. Keep a regular pillow there, the way the NHS suggests. That combination covers all three points without a giant pillow.
Probably not for you if
- You have any warning sign from the table above. Call first.
- You want one pillow to prop your whole upper body.
- Your current pillow passes the rib-line check.
Made for you if
- A thick pillow end keeps landing on your ribs.
- You want bump and back support that sits below the rib line.
- You share a full or queen bed.
Try it for 90 nights
Sleep on 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 availabilityHollis's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
