Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Set it up from features you can feel, not from the pictures: thick and thin edges, textured faces, seams, labels and strap ends. Describe each piece in words, then ask the maker to confirm the direction before the first night.
- First: ask for text or audio instructions.
- Then: name each piece by touch.
- Never: guess direction from shape alone.
Why are pregnancy pillow photos hard to set up from?
Because the photos are taken from above, of a pillow with nobody on it, often in one colour on a pale background. They show what the set looks like, not which way each piece faces once you lie down.
9:30 p.m.
Shayla was 30 weeks and has low vision. The box held three pieces and a folded sheet that was almost all photos: pink pillow, pink background, small grey arrows. Her phone's screen reader read the title and the word "Step" four times. Her partner Andre works nights, so it was her and the pillow. She could feel that two pieces were the same shape. What she could not tell was which edge went toward her.
"As my belly grew, it became harder and harder to find a comfortable sleeping position"Amazon review of a different pregnancy pillow
The pillow is not complicated. The instructions just assume you can see them.
What should you ask the maker for first?
Ask for the setup instructions in a format you can use: plain text by email, large print or audio. Ask before you start, not after a bad night.
- Write that you need the setup in words or audio, not photos.
- Give the exact product name and the order number.
- Ask them to describe each piece and which edge or face goes toward your body.
- Ask whether there is a top and bottom, and a left and right.
Some organisations already offer product instructions in large print, braille or audio, so it is a reasonable request. If the instructions are missing completely, our guide on finding pregnancy pillow instructions covers where to look.
How can you tell the pieces apart by touch?
Go through the same five features on every piece: size, thickness, surface, seams and anything attached. Say or record what you find for each one.
| Feature | What to feel for | What it often tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Which pieces match, which is bigger | Matching pieces may swap places; a bigger one usually has its own job |
| Thickness | A thick edge that slopes down to a thin one | On many wedges, which edge faces your body |
| Surface | Ribbed, smooth or quilted faces | Which face is meant to touch you |
| Seams and zips | Where the cover opens or seams run | Often the back or underside |
| Sewn label | A fabric tag in a seam | A fixed reference point on that piece |
| Straps and ends | Where a strap attaches and how | Which side the pieces join on |
The middle column is a pattern, not a rule. Use it to form a question for the maker, not as your answer.
In what order should you check the setup?
Set it up sitting on the edge of the bed, then lie down and check each point in order, from the middle outward.
- Lay the connecting part flat first, if there is a strap or band, where your waist will be.
- Place the bump piece in front of where your bump will be, with the edge or face the maker named toward you.
- Place the back piece behind where your lower back will be, the same way.
- Lie down on your side and check with your hand: bump resting on its piece, back against its piece, strap flat under you with no twist.
- Keep your normal pillow under your head and add one between your knees if you like.
- Note anything that feels wrong and put it in your message to the maker.
A setup you can describe in words is a setup you can check in the dark, every night, without anyone's help.
How do you confirm the layout is right?
Send the maker your own description and ask for a yes or no on each line. It is quicker for them than writing instructions from scratch.
- "The thick edge of the bump piece faces away from me. Correct?"
- "The ribbed face is on top. Correct?"
- "The strap runs under my waist with its flat side down. Correct?"
- "Either wedge can be the bump piece. Correct?"
Keep the reply. It becomes your own instructions.
What should you not do while you wait for an answer?
Do not add pins, stick-on tags or loose labels to the pillow, and do not swap in parts from another pillow. Do not decide the direction from the outline alone.
Pins and stick-on tags can come loose in bed, and a guessed direction can look right and feel wrong. Until you hear back, use the pillow in the way that feels comfortable, or use regular pillows under your bump and between your knees, as the NHS suggests.
Shayla sent four yes-or-no lines by email. The answer came the next morning: two yeses, one correction, one "either is fine". She saved it as a voice note. That night she set it up in under a minute with the lights off, and when Andre came in from his shift at dawn, she was still asleep.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up a pregnancy pillow if I can't see the instructions?
Ask the maker for text, large print or audio instructions, then identify each piece by touch: size, thick and thin edges, surface texture, seams and straps. Send your own description back for a yes or no on each point.
Which way does a pregnancy wedge go?
It depends on the model, so check with the maker. Many crescent wedges sit with the thin edge toward your body, but do not rely on shape alone.
Can I mark the pieces so I can tell them apart?
Do not add pins or stick-on tags, which can come loose in bed. Use features already on the pillow, like a sewn label or a textured face, and ask the maker which ones to use.
What if the maker does not reply?
Use the pillow in whatever way feels comfortable, or use regular pillows under your bump and between your knees in the meantime. Keep the order details so you can follow up or return it.
If your pillow is the Relvay 3-Piece
Here is our set in words. Two wedges of the same shape: each is thickest along its outer curved edge, about 4 inches, and slopes thinner toward your body. Per our product description, the pink ribbed fabric is the top and the sides are white. One wedge goes under your bump, one behind your lower back, joined by a flat strap that runs under your waist with a small oval cushion on it. Keep your normal pillow under your head. Email us and we will send this as text and confirm any line you are unsure of.
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.
Shayla's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
