Relvay makes a pregnancy pillow. We also tell you below when you should not buy one.
The short answer
Yes, you can keep using it for your own comfort after delivery. Use it as a backrest or side-sleep support, follow its label, and keep it out of the baby's sleep space.
- Keep it if you reach for it most days.
- Store it after two unused weeks.
- Never use it to prop or hold a baby.
How do you reuse a pregnancy pillow after birth?
You can keep using a pregnancy pillow after birth for your own comfort: behind your back when you sit up, between your knees when you sleep on your side. Read its label first, keep it for adults only, and store it once it stops helping.
- Read the label or manual. Some makers state adult use only. Whatever yours says is the rule.
- Wash the cover. Follow the care label. Many inserts are spot clean only, so let the insert air out.
- Pick your adult uses from the map below: a backrest, a side-sleep support, a cushion under your knees.
- Keep it adults only. Never use it to prop, hold or position a baby, and keep it out of the baby's sleep space.
- Check in after a few weeks. Still using it most days? Keep it. Not touched in two weeks? Store it or pass it on.
From sleep aid to backrest
For many people the pillow quietly changes jobs after birth. It goes from a sleep aid to a backrest, and then one day to a closet. That is normal.
Seven weeks after
Hailey's son was seven weeks old, and her pregnancy pillow was still on the bed, mostly because nobody had the energy to move it. One night, propped up awake on two flat pillows, she pulled one of its pieces behind her lower back and thought, oh. That is better.
The next week she used it on the couch while she watched TV. Her partner Sam asked whether it was time to put it away. She was not ready. Two months later, she was. It went into a clean bag in the closet, and she did not think about it again until her sister got pregnant.
What can you use a pregnancy pillow for after delivery?
Use it for the adult jobs it was built for, and say no to anything involving the baby. Here is the full map.
| Use after pregnancy | Fits? | How, or why not |
|---|---|---|
| Backrest when sitting up in bed | Yes | Behind your lower back or along your spine against the headboard. |
| Side sleeping support for you | Yes | Between your knees, or behind your back, the way you used it in pregnancy. |
| Cushion on the couch | Yes | Behind your back or under an arm while you rest or read. |
| Under your knees when lying back | Yes, if comfortable | Only if it feels good. Stop if anything aches. |
| Support while nursing | Not covered here | Follow your lactation consultant and the product's manual. Never leave a baby resting on it. |
| After a C-section | Ask first | Your care team's recovery advice comes before any pillow setup. |
| Baby sleep, propping or positioning | No | Adult pillows do not belong in a baby's sleep space. The CPSC advises keeping pillows and soft items out of it. |
Pain, swelling or anything that feels wrong in the weeks after birth is a question for your midwife, OB-GYN or care team, not something a pillow fixes.
Which pillow types are easiest to reuse?
Pieces that come apart are the easiest to reuse, because each piece can take a different job. A big one-piece U or C pillow tends to stay a bed pillow.
| U or C full-body | Long body pillow | Wedges or multi-piece set | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backrest in bed | Possible, bulky | Possible | Yes, one piece at a time |
| On the couch | Too big | Awkward | Yes |
| Easy to store | Hard | Medium | Easy |
When should you store or retire it?
Store it when you have not used it for about two weeks, or retire it when it has gone flat, lumpy or torn. A pillow that no longer holds its shape is not doing its job.
- The filling has gone flat or clumped and does not fluff back.
- The seams or cover are torn.
- The care label says it cannot be cleaned the way it needs.
- You have not reached for it in two weeks.
To store it, wash the cover, let everything dry fully, and keep it in a breathable bag in a dry closet. If you pass it on to a friend, pass on the care label or manual too, and let them decide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my pregnancy pillow after giving birth?
Yes, for your own comfort: as a backrest, on the couch, or between your knees when you sleep on your side. Follow its label and keep it adults only.
Can a pregnancy pillow be used as a nursing pillow?
Some people use them that way, but that is a separate topic. Follow your lactation consultant and the product's manual, and never leave a baby resting on any pillow.
Can I put my baby on a pregnancy pillow?
Not for sleep or propping. Adult pillows do not belong in a baby's sleep space, and the CPSC advises keeping pillows and soft items out of it.
Can I use a pregnancy pillow after a C-section?
Ask your care team first. Their recovery advice decides how you sit, lie and get up, and any pillow setup should follow it.
What do I do with a pregnancy pillow after pregnancy?
Keep it while you use it, store it clean and dry when you stop, or pass it on with its care label. Retire it once it is flat, lumpy or torn.
If you have not bought one yet
If you are still pregnant and choosing, the Relvay 3-Piece comes apart into two small wedges, which makes it easier to reuse as a backrest or couch cushion later. Use it the same way: adults only.
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.
Still deciding whether you need one at all? Start with Do you need a pregnancy pillow?
Hailey's story is a composite based on real reviews and public posts from new parents. Names and details are changed.
