WiseGeek’s “Wisest Buys” Awards: Top 3 Pregnancy Pillows of 2022
When it comes to comparing options for making an important purchase, the sheer amount of choice can be overwhelming. With hundreds of conflicting Amazon reviews for every product and review websites that offer competing advice about which products actually work, it can feel like an uphill battle to find reliable information on which to base your purchase decision.
Here at WiseGeek, we’d like to make this process a little easier by presenting our annual Wisest Buys Awards. Each year, we select our favorite products in a number of popular categories.
Our team of reviewers has tested the most popular pregnancy pillows, coming to our own conclusions about which product is the absolute best.
To decide on our award winner in the pregnancy pillows category, we considered the following criteria:
- Significantly improves rest and sleep throughout pregnancy
- Easy to wash and clean
- Keeps its supportive, comfortable shape with regular use
- Also works as full-body pillow for men and women
- Breathable, high-quality fabric, with strong stitching and zippers
2022 Wisest Buy Award Winner: Best Pregnancy Pillow
#1 Body Nest Cooling Pregnancy Pillow
★★★★★
Top features:
- U-shape is ideal for pregnancy and non-pregnancy use
- Has a reversible cover (one side jersey and one side plush)
- Retains its shape while providing comfortable support
The Body Nest Cooling Pregnancy Pillow was very popular among the WiseGeek review team members who tried it -- both those who were pregnant and those who were not. Thanks to its U-shape design, it’s ideal not just as a pregnancy pillow, but also as a pillow for breastfeeding, relaxing in bed or on the couch, or as a full-body or post-surgery pillow. No matter how you sleep, the Body Nest will help you feel more comfortable in bed, especially when you have a growing belly to contend with.
The Body Nest earned rave reviews from our team thanks to the support it offers, as it easily contours to one’s body without losing its shape, and without being overly firm. This was especially popular among expectant mothers in their second and third trimesters, as it provided ideal support for their “bumps” while also helping to relieve much of the back pain and general discomfort of pregnancy. Just as notably, the Body Nest stayed cool even with frequent use, which was especially important to our pregnant reviewers.
The Body Nest’s cover was a particularly popular feature, as it’s fully reversible, with one side consisting of soft, breathable jersey material, while the other is a very plush minky fabric. The Body Nest is clearly a very well-made product, with double-stitched seams and tough zippers that can withstand the outer cover being removed for washing, although it does arrive pre-washed and ready to use.
Although it’s only available in one size (55”x31”), this seemed to be the ideal pillow length for our review team, and these dimensions made it easy to use in any bed without being too long or bulky. We were also impressed to discover that you can actually remove some of the Body Nest’s filling to meet your unique comfort needs, which was a cool bonus feature we weren’t expecting.
Other Pregnancy Pillows We Like:
#2 Cozy Bump -- A Pregnancy Pillow
★★★★
Top features:
- Perfect for stomach sleepers
- Helps you feel weightless during pregnancy
- Promotes healthy blood flow and deep breathing
The Cozy Bump was definitely the most unusual pregnancy pillow we tried, but it was surprisingly popular among the pregnant members of our review team. Unlike more conventional U-shaped or C-shaped pregnancy or full-body pillows, the Cozy Bump is designed to allow you to sleep on your stomach, which otherwise wouldn’t be possible during the later stages of pregnancy.
The Cozy Bump is inflatable, kind of like an air mattress with a hole in the center, which is designed for the “bump.” It’s most comfortable when you cover it with your own sheet and one or two pillows. Depending on your bump size, you can flip the Cozy Bump over to ensure that the center hole is the right size for your belly. Lying prone on the Cozy Bump, with your belly supported, is an excellent way to feel less heavy during pregnancy, almost as you would while swimming. Additionally, sleeping on your front is meant to be good for one’s back and for promoting healthy blood circulation and breathing. Lying prone is even supposed to help get the baby in the right position for labor.
The Cozy Bump takes some getting used to, and it may not appeal to everyone, but our team found it to be incredibly relaxing to lie on for short naps, if not for a whole night’s sleep.
#3 PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow
★★★★
Top features:
- C-shape design is good for leg support
- Also works well as a breastfeeding pillow
- Available in several pleasant pastel colors
A few of the expectant mothers on our review team preferred C-shaped pregnancy pillows, and the PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow was the best of these pillows. It’s especially good for neck, belly, and back support, while also easy to tuck between tired, aching legs.
The PharMeDoc is versatile enough to be used in bed as a nursing pillow, for sitting up to read, or even just for propping up your feet. Because it can be used in multiple configurations, it’s relatively easy to find a comfortable position with the PharMeDoc, regardless of your sleeping preference.
The PharMeDoc’s filling is comfortable and supportive, and it won’t flatten or collapse, even under the heaviest belly. Unlike some of the other pillows we tried, the PharMeDoc takes up relatively little space in bed, or even on the couch. It comes with a removable, washable cotton cover that’s available in several pastel colors, such as light blue, light pink, mint green, and grey.