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The Best Pregnancy Pillows So She Can Get Some Damn Sleep

The right amount of support can help her sleep better.

by Lexi Dwyer
Updated: 
Originally Published: 

The Best pregnancy and maternity pillows can make the difference between an endless, excruciating search for a comfortable sleep position, and an actual restful night of shuteye. One of the most frustrating things about being pregnant is that as the months progress and the exhaustion increases, many women find that getting a good night’s sleep becomes harder and harder. (A few culprits include heartburn, muscle aches, anxiety-triggered insomnia and, of course, that growing belly.) Pregnancy pillows, saviors to pregnant women everywhere, offer just the right amount of support for a peaceful night’s rest.

The American Pregnancy Association advises pregnant women to sleep on their sides. They even have a handy acronym: SOS (sleep on side). The left side is the ideal side to sleep on, as it increases the blood flow (and therefore nutrients) to the placenta. Pregnancy pillows can make that adjustment go smoothly and more comfortably.

But sleep is an elusive bedfellow, so these are a few handy tips:

  • She should keep her legs and knees bent, and put a pillow between the legs.
  • If back pain is an issue, sleep on your side and put a pillow under the stomach for some relief.
  • If heartburn is a problem, propping the upper body with pillows can provide some relief.

There’s a wide range of pregnancy pillows out there—some are small and simple, others are body pillows so large they might necessitate a bigger bed. Different maternity pillows offer differing levels of support and a number of uses during and after pregnancy. These are some of the best pregnancy pillows to help her get comfortable.

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