Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
For most pregnant sleepers, the standard microbeads are the practical pick: lightest, machine washable in a bag, and refillable. Spelt husks are about twice as heavy and the inner pillow cannot be washed. Hollow fibre is soft and quiet, but Theraline publishes less about it.
- Beads: about 1.4 kg, refill opening.
- Spelt: about 3.4 kg, insert not washable.
- Fibre: check the label.
What are the three Theraline Original fillings?
The Theraline Original is a 190 x 40 cm (about 75 x 16 in) long pillow. Its standard filling is fine polystyrene beads. Theraline also offers polyester hollow fibre and spelt husks as alternatives in the same pillow.
The cover choice gets most of the attention on product pages. The filling matters more for daily life. Here is what Theraline and one large retailer say about each, as of October 8, 2026.
| Microbeads (standard) | Hollow fibre | Spelt husks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | 100% polystyrene, 0.5 to 1.5 mm, about 42 litres | 100% polyester | 100% spelt husks, cleaned and heat treated |
| Feel (maker) | Yields like sand, light as feathers, low noise | Soft like down, silent | Heavier, very breathable |
| Weight you lift | About 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) | Not published | About 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) |
| Inner pillow washing | Up to 60°C, in a closed laundry bag | Not published separately, follow the label | Not washable |
| Top up or remove | Yes, through a tunnel opening | Not described | Not described |
| Allergy note (maker) | Described as anti-allergenic | None given | Recommend to allergy sufferers only with reservations |
Theraline is a German brand. Prices we saw were in euros: €48.80 for the pillow without outer cover on Theraline's shop, and about €50 to €53 with a cover at babyartikel.de. If you are in the US, check shipping and returns first.
Why does the weight of the filling matter in pregnancy?
You move a long pillow every time you turn over or get up. A 3.4 kg spelt pillow is more than double the weight of the bead version, and you lift it while lying on your side.
Theraline points out that spelt's extra weight can help in some positioning uses, because it stays where it lands. That is the trade: it stays put, and it is harder to drag across the bed at night.
3:05 a.m.
Hadley was 30 weeks and up for the third time. She had ordered the spelt version because her mother swore by natural fillings. Getting back into bed meant hauling 75 inches of husks over her bump and back into place, while trying not to wake Ellis. By the time she had it right, she was wide awake again.
"it's not so easy to turn sides what with having to adjust the pillows, lifting your body up to turn, too much work"YouTube comment on a pregnancy pillow video (not about Theraline)
With a long pillow, you lift the filling every night. Pick the weight you can move half asleep.
Can you wash each Theraline filling?
The outer cover washes at up to 60°C whatever the filling. The inner pillow is different: the bead version can be machine washed in a closed bag, the spelt version cannot be washed at all, and Theraline does not publish a separate rule for hollow fibre.
- Outer cover, any filling: up to 60°C on gentle. Theraline suggests 40°C to save energy. Wash inside out with the zip mostly closed.
- Bead inner pillow: up to 60°C on gentle, only inside a closed laundry bag, not a net. Spin low and dry fully, fluffing as it dries.
- Spelt inner pillow: not washable. A retailer advises regular airing and drying, and replacing the filling about every 2 years.
- Hollow fibre inner pillow: follow the sewn-in label. Do not assume the bead rules apply.
Do not move the bead washing rules over to spelt. Wet husks are a different problem. Babyartikel.de quotes Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment: a risk from mould spores in husk-filled pillows cannot be completely excluded. For general cover and insert care, see how to wash a pregnancy pillow.
Which Theraline filling can you adjust or refill?
Only the bead version has a documented way to adjust. Theraline describes a self-sealing tunnel opening for adding or removing beads, and sells a refill pack of about 10 litres for €15.90.
- Too firm? With beads, take some out through the tunnel opening so it bends more easily.
- Gone flat? With beads, top up from a refill pack.
- Hollow fibre or spelt? Theraline's pages we read do not describe adjusting these. Ask before ordering if adjustability matters to you.
For how beads, foam and fiber compare across brands, see our fillings guide.
Which Theraline filling should you order?
Order beads if you want the lightest pillow that you can wash and adjust. Order spelt only if you want a heavy pillow that stays where it lands, and you are fine airing it instead of washing it. Order hollow fibre if bead noise bothers you, after checking its care label with the seller.
Fill this in before you click buy:
- Filling: beads / hollow fibre / spelt.
- Weight I will lift at night: about 1.4 kg / ask / about 3.4 kg.
- Inner pillow washing: 60°C in a bag / per label / not washable.
- Can I adjust it: yes, refill pack / ask / ask.
- Allergies at home: if anyone reacts to dust or grain, Theraline itself advises caution with spelt. Ask your doctor if unsure.
- Cover: pick separately. It does not change any line above.
Hadley kept the spelt pillow for the sofa, where its weight was a plus. For bed she wanted something she did not have to haul. She switched to two small wedges for bump and back, joined under her, with a thin pillow between her knees. Ellis noticed first: no more 3 a.m. wrestling match next to him.
Frequently asked questions
What filling is in the Theraline Original?
The standard filling is fine polystyrene beads, about 42 litres. Theraline also offers polyester hollow fibre and spelt husks as alternatives in the same 190 x 40 cm pillow.
Can you wash a Theraline pillow with spelt filling?
Only the cover. Theraline says inner pillows with spelt husk filling are not washable. A retailer advises airing and drying it regularly and replacing the filling about every 2 years.
How heavy is the Theraline Original?
Retailer listings give about 1.4 kg for the bead version and about 3.4 kg for spelt. We did not find a published weight for hollow fibre.
Can you refill a Theraline Original?
The bead version has a self-sealing tunnel opening for adding or removing beads, and Theraline sells a refill pack of about 10 litres. The pages we read do not describe refilling fibre or spelt.
Is spelt filling better than microbeads?
Not for everyone. Theraline calls spelt very breathable and heavier, but it needs more care, lasts less long and is recommended to allergy sufferers only with reservations. Beads are lighter and washable.
If a long pillow is more than you want to haul
Relvay does not make long pillows or choose-your-own fillings, and if you want a 190 cm pillow for pregnancy and after, the bead Theraline is a sensible pick. The Relvay 3-Piece is a different idea: two small polyester-filled wedges, one under your bump and one at your back, joined by a flat strap under you. It is light, there is nothing to refill, and it is for people like Hadley who are tired of dragging a long pillow back into place.
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.
Probably not for you if
- You want one long pillow to hug from chest to knees.
- You want a pillow you will also use for feeding later.
- You want a natural filling like spelt.
Worth a look if
- Your main need is bump and back support at once.
- You get up several times a night.
- You will keep a regular pillow between your knees.
Hadley's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from pregnant side sleepers. Names and details are changed.
