Anyone who’s been pregnant knows this struggle – As the baby grows, its weight compresses the pelvic nerves causing lower back pain or sciatica, a shooting pain that moves from the back to the legs. As if that wasn’t enough, 40% of pregnant women suffer hemorrhoids during or post pregnancy.
Regular pregnancy pillows may help when you are sleeping, but they do nothing for those other 12+ hours you will be sitting down. This is where a donut pregnancy pillow comes in. As the name suggests, donut pillows are shaped like a donut (a round with a hole in the middle). Most donut pregnancy pillows are made of memory foam but can also be made of inflatable rubber or egg crate.
What is the Use of Donut Pillows?
Donut pillows have long been used for sores pain relief, hemorrhoid pain relief, and any other form of tail bone pain, including pregnancy-caused sciatica and lower back pain. The donut shape allows even weight distribution to avoid pressure on the lower back or pelvic area. The pillow also has molding properties to ensure you are comfortable sitting down for a long time. But more importantly, a donut pillow improves the sitting posture of a pregnant woman, effectively reducing the risk of back pain and posterior baby position.
How to Use a Donut Pillow while Pregnant?
You should only use a donut pregnancy pillow on a flat, firm surface like an office chair or bench. Push the pillow back until it touches the backrest of the chair.
Place your buttocks at the center of the hole such that your tailbone is in the middle, and the buttocks are each resting equally on the donut sides. Lean forward to help relieve pressure from your back and pelvic area.
If you use an inflatable pillow, ensure it’s not too inflated. You should only put in enough air to support your weight and provide the necessary comfort.
But with so many donut pillows on the market, how do you know which is the best for pregnancy? Here are our top picks.
Which Donut Pillow is Best for Pregnancy?
Best Orthopedic: LittleJimmy Donut Pillow
Struggling with lower back pain, sciatica, or hemorrhoids? This orthopedic donut pillow is the perfect sitting solution. It has a contoured design that allows a perfect weight distribution and prevents compression. It is also suitable for most chairs, including office chairs, wheelchairs, and any automobile chair.
The pillow comes with a removable and breathable mesh cover, providing ample ventilation and comfort on top of the hole at the center. This is a memory foam pillow, so it conforms to your shape and weight to ensure maximum comfort and support.
Best for Travel: Potelane Inflatable Donut Cushion Seat
This pillow is more square than a circle, meaning better weight distribution and buttock support. It is made of thickened flocking PVC, so you only put air in it when necessary. As a pregnant woman planning to travel a long distance, this will be the perfect companion for your journey, and it can hold up to 220 pounds. You can use a pump to inflate the donut, but it’s easily inflatable with your mouth as well.
Amazon Best Seller: Donut Pillow Hemorrhoid Tailbone Cushion
There are many reasons why this Donut Pillow Hemorrhoid Tailbone Cushion is Amazon’s best seller. First, it provides instant relief from many types of pain caused by childbirth, pregnancy, sitting for too long, injury, and bed sores.
The pillow is firm and very supportive, but it’s also heat reactive, meaning it softens and conforms to the contours of your body. We love the non-skid backing to prevent slippage and the breathable mesh cover to ensure your backside is cool and comfortable.
Best Versatile: Cool Gel Donut Seat Cushion
This donut pillow ticks all the right boxes. It is memory foam with a removable and breathable cushion cover, it is ergonomic, and the shape is perfect for weight distribution. However, it goes a step further by including a cooling gel because pregnant women are always hot.
What we love most about the pillow, however, is its versatility. You can take it to the office, in your car, on the plane, and virtually anywhere there is a chair. It’s also quite affordable considering its features.
