Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Yes, you can sleep with a pregnancy pillow when you are not pregnant. The maternity label describes who it was designed around, not who is allowed to use it. Buy by the job you need done.
- Only need knee support? A knee pillow is enough.
- Want something to hug? A straight body pillow is simpler.
- Want to be wrapped front and back? A U or C pillow, if your bed has room.
Is it okay to use a pregnancy pillow if you are not pregnant?
Yes. Plenty of adults who are not pregnant use them, mostly side sleepers who like something to hug and something between their knees. Nothing in the design is only for pregnancy except the room left for a bump.
11:15 p.m.
I first slept in one at my sister's place. She was 32 weeks and had a spare U pillow in the guest room. I slept better than I had in months, and I am not pregnant, I am 38 and a lifelong side sleeper with a bad habit of jamming a rolled-up hoodie between my knees.
Back home I had the listing open for a week. Every photo was a pregnant woman. The reviews talked about bumps. I felt a bit silly, and also a bit stuck: was this what I needed, or just the first thing that worked in someone else's bed?
Feeling silly is not the problem. Buying a bump-shaped pillow when you only needed two of its five jobs is.
What do you actually need the pillow to do?
List the jobs first, then pick the smallest shape that does all of them. Most people who are not pregnant need one to three jobs, not five.
Tick the ones that are true for you:
- Knees: my top leg drops forward when I sleep on my side.
- Hug: I like something to wrap my arms and top leg around.
- Back: I want something to lean back into.
- Both sides: I switch sides and want support whichever way I face.
- Sitting up: I read or watch TV in bed and want a backrest.
| Jobs ticked | Simplest shape that covers it | Is a pregnancy pillow overkill? |
|---|---|---|
| Knees only | Knee pillow | Yes |
| Knees + hug | Straight body pillow | Usually |
| Knees + hug + back | C pillow | No, this is its job |
| All of it, both sides | U pillow | No, if your bed has room |
| Sitting up | Backrest or U pillow against the headboard | Depends on the shape |
If your ticks land on the first two rows, you can skip the maternity aisle and save money and bed space.
Pregnancy pillow vs. body pillow vs. knee pillow at a glance
The bigger the pillow, the more jobs it does and the more of the bed it takes. Pick the size that matches your ticks.
| Knee pillow | Straight body pillow | C pillow | U pillow | Small wedge set | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knees | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Something to hug | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Back support | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Both sides without moving it | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Bed space | Tiny | A strip | Much of your half | Your whole half or more | About your torso width |
| Designed around a bump | No | No | Often | Often | Yes |
Is a U or C pregnancy pillow good if you are not pregnant?
It can be, if you want to be surrounded and your bed is big enough. It is the most support and the most bulk.
- Good: hug, knees and back in one piece. A U works on either side without moving it.
- Not so good: a full U can fill most of one side of a queen bed, and turning over means climbing over the middle.
- Watch for: the bump curve. On a body without a bump it can leave a gap in front that some people find odd.
"This thing is pretty dang big, though. Took up a ton of our bed and we have a queen."Amazon review of a large pregnancy pillow
Is a straight body pillow a better choice?
For many people who are not pregnant, yes. It covers hug and knees, the two jobs most side sleepers want, in a strip of bed.
- Good: narrow, cheaper, easy to move to the other side.
- Not so good: nothing behind your back, and it can slide away from you during the night.
If you want back support too, push a regular pillow behind you before you buy something bigger.
Is a knee pillow enough?
If your only issue is the top leg dropping, often yes. The Sleep Foundation describes a pillow between the knees as a way to help side sleepers keep the spine and hips more neutral.
A knee pillow is the cheapest test of the whole idea. If it is not enough after a week, you know which job is missing.
Can a pregnancy pillow help with back or hip pain if you are not pregnant?
It may make side sleeping more comfortable, but it does not fix the cause of pain. Pain that keeps going, wakes you most nights or spreads down a leg is worth getting checked.
Support pillows are comfort tools. If a clinician or physiotherapist has looked at your back or hips, ask them which position and support suit you, then choose the shape from the worksheet above.
What should you check on a maternity label before you buy?
Read the size, the care label and the return terms. None of them change because you are not pregnant, but the size matters more without a bump to fill the curve.
- Size against your bed. Compare the width with your half of the mattress.
- Intended use. Most labels say adult use. That covers you.
- Care. Removable cover or spot clean only? You will sleep on it every night, not just for a few months.
- Returns. Can you return it after sleeping on it? Some sellers only take back unopened pillows.
What changed when the shape matched the job?
Choosing by job usually means a smaller pillow than the one you first had open, and more bed left over.
Meredith did the ticks: knees, hug, and some days back. She skipped the U and bought a straight body pillow, then pushed a regular pillow behind her on the nights her back was tired. Her partner, who had been bracing for a giant pillow, still had his side of the bed.
The hoodie went back in the closet. She laughs about it now: the best thing her sister's pregnancy taught her was what she actually needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a pregnancy pillow if you are not pregnant?
Yes. The label describes who it was designed around, not who may use it. Check the size against your bed and choose the shape by the jobs you need done.
Is a pregnancy pillow the same as a body pillow?
Not quite. A straight body pillow is one long piece you hug. Pregnancy pillows are often C or U shaped and wrap your back as well as your front, with room for a bump.
Is a U-shaped pillow good for side sleepers who are not pregnant?
It can be if you want front and back support and switch sides a lot. It also takes the most bed space, so measure your half of the mattress first.
Will a pregnancy pillow help my back pain?
It may make side sleeping more comfortable, but it does not fix the cause. If back pain keeps going, ask a doctor or physiotherapist, then pick a shape that fits their advice.
Can men use pregnancy pillows?
Yes. Anyone who sleeps on their side and wants knee, hug or back support can use one. The worksheet above works the same for everyone.
Is the Relvay 3-Piece a good fit if you are not pregnant?
Honestly, for most people who are not pregnant it is not the right buy. The Relvay 3-Piece is two small wedges shaped to sit under a bump and behind the back, with nothing for your knees or arms. If your ticks were knees and hug, a straight body pillow fits you better. It only makes sense if you specifically want small front and back wedges that stay joined.
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.
Not a fit if
- You want something to hug.
- Your main need is knee support.
- You are not pregnant and want a body pillow. This is not one.
Could fit if
- You want small wedges in front of and behind your torso.
- You keep your own knee pillow.
- You expect to be pregnant soon and want one set for later.
If you are buying for a pregnancy after all, start with do you really need a pregnancy pillow. Already have one from a past pregnancy? See using your pregnancy pillow after pregnancy.
Meredith's story is a composite based on public posts from adults who are not pregnant and sleep with pregnancy or body pillows. Names and details are changed.
