Yes, it’s true!. As your pregnancy grows, the baby’s weight begins to put pressure on your back, hips, and other body parts. A pregnancy pillow is a perfect way to relieve this pressure and support the affected areas.
While not so common, about 20% of women experience hip pain during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. It may be on the side or back of the hip, ranging from dull to sharp.
Common Causes of Hip Pain During Pregnancy
- The main cause of hip pain in pregnancy is the hormone relaxin which causes the tissue that connects bones in your body to relax in preparation for birth. This wouldn’t be a problem, though, if the baby wasn’t putting so much pressure on those same bones and joints. Unfortunately, the heavier your baby gets, the worse the pain becomes.
- Sometimes, hip pain in pregnancy is caused by transient osteoporosis. This is due to demineralization because the baby is taking up all the minerals, leaving your bones weak. Hip pain can also be caused by poor posture when sleeping, sitting, or even standing, especially since your center of gravity has shifted.
While there are many solutions to hip pain, including soft exercise, massage, yoga, warm compresses, and pain meds, it’s best to start by correcting your posture. This is especially true in sleeping since pregnant women are advised to sleep on their side, which is where a pregnancy pillow comes in.
Do Pregnancy Pillows Help with Hip Pain?
That’s right, it’s true! As your pregnancy progresses, the baby’s weight puts pressure on your back, hips, and other body parts. The right pregnancy pillow will relieve this pressure as well as support the affected areas and reduce any stress being felt.
The only sleeping position recommended for pregnant women doesn’t help much because it puts your tummy weight on one side. Pregnancy pillows are designed to combat this problem by supporting your tummy and back and also aligning your pelvic muscles, hips, and spine to prevent pain.
While the pillow will not make up for demineralization or relaxation of muscles, it helps you position your body in a way that doesn’t put pressure on the hips and pelvic area. More importantly, the pillow helps you sleep in alignment instead of twisting, a common problem in pregnancy that causes hip and back pain. These pillows come in different sizes and shapes to fit any height and provide optimum support to your changing body.
How to Sleep with a Pregnancy Pillow to Relieve My Hip Pain?
The instructions here assume you are in the second or third trimester, and the only sleeping position is on your side. From that position;
- Bend your knees towards your chest.
- Place the pregnancy pillow behind you to support your back and neck, and bring the tongues to your front. You can lean back a bit and rest your body on the pillow behind you instead of sleeping on your side completely.
- If it’s a u-shape pillow, the upper tongue will come down all the way to support your stomach and legs. Put the tongue between your knees so your upper thigh is elevated and your hip is neutral.
- If it’s a c-shape or straight body pillow, put the lower tongue between your knees instead.
- If there is some space between your waist and the mattress, consider placing a small pillow in that gap to keep your spine straight.
In the rare event that you start experiencing hip pain in the first trimester, it’s okay to sleep on your back until it becomes impossible to do so. Then, put the pillow under your knees to keep your spine aligned and support your lower back.
Best Pregnancy Pillow to Help Reduce Hip Pain
The best pregnancy pillow for hip pain supports your back and your stomach and goes between your knees. For that reason, we have chosen full c-shape and u-shape pillows that offer more than just support.
Leachco Snoogle Original Maternity
This original Snoogle is still unbeatable despite many newcomers in the pregnancy pillow arena. It is big enough to support the entire length of your torso, and it tucks perfectly between your knees. The pillow is soft, with a sturdy but adaptable feel, and the cotton-mix case feels smooth and luxe against your skin.
About this item
- Polyester
- Made in US
- The first and true original Snoogle
- Snoogle takes the place of multiple pillows to help support hips, back, neck, and tummy
- Patented design was developed by a registered Nurse and mom
- Enjoy cuddle comfort and support without the extra body heat.
- Snoogle original has a sham-style removable cover that is machine washable
Helpful Review:
Having undergone hip resurfacing surgery, sleeping became rather challenging. Being a side sleeper, sleeping on my back was not ideal nor restful! So I tried placing pillows between my knees to protect my new hip and align my hip with my spine so I can sleep on my side. Trying to manage and keep track of the pillow under my head, two between my knees and one to hug on was keeping me up at nights. I was also afraid that the pillows between my knees would move placing unneeded stress on my new hip not to mention having to put them in place when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, added unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation! I have stepped on and nearly tripped over one or more of the pillows when they fell of my bed. This was one week after surgery.
So, I hopped online to see if there was something more useful where I didn’t have to wrestle and worry about so many pillows. While researching what type of body pillow may work for me, I shied away from the traditional straight body pillow and decided that I needed something that is more “flexible”. Lo and behold I found the Snoggle! I read the many positive reviews from the many moms out there and I thought to myself… There is NO WAY so many moms can be wrong about this product and if it helped them, then it should work for me!
When I received the product, on time and in tact, I was soooo excited! But when I unpacked it, I have to admit I was a bit intimated by it. But thought to myself, if this one pillow can replace my four that alone is an improvement! So I tried the different suggested positions in the “How to Snoggle Guide”, which was printed on the backside of the label (excellent placement!!!). The “Belly Basic” and “Back to Back” worked wonders for me!!! Needless to say, my first night with the Snoogle was so restful!”
– Rachel
Bbhugme Pregnancy Body Pillow – Design by Chiropractors
BBHugme Pregnancy Pillow Developed by three female Norwegian chiropractors who specialize in prenatal and postnatal care, the BBHugme is a 150cm-long, sausage-shaped mega-pillow designed to adapt to your changing body during pregnancy. The pillow is filled with microbeads that allow it to be compressed and molded to your body, with ties at each end that can be adjusted up and down for softer or harder support, depending on your needs. It is an excellent product for those seeking support and pain relief during pregnancy. It can be used throughout your pregnancy and beyond.
Recommended by midwives, the award-winning Bbhugme Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Pillow will keep your body comfortable throughout your pregnancy and into the nursing phase. The pillow is also made of breathable, high quality material, making it comfortable and cool to sleep on. Additionally, the pillow comes with a carrying case and can be machine washed.
Product Details
- Developed by health professionals
- Designed to help you sleep comfortably
- 5-point support
- Unique adjustability
- Washable and replaceable covers
Helpful Review:
“I Googling best non-toxis pregnancy pillows and it took me quite a bit to find a review on this one but the moment I saw the photo and the pros of this pillow I knew it was for me. I love everything about this pillow. I went through 2 pregnancies without any special pillows due to none of them being comfy to me. Since I get neckaches, headaches and backaches often I usually have no luck finding support that can help me wake with no pain.
This pillow has helped me sleep deeply for the first time in years.
The fact that you can readjust the firmness at any time makes this pillow the perfect pillow for me, since every night I need a slightly different level of support. This is the first comfortable and non-toxic pregnancy pillow I haven’t returned. I’m excited to have a new staple in bed beyond my pregnancy. Honestly it’s just comfortable to lounge around on and bend to however you need. I like to sit up in bed with it tucked under my knees, while bending the sides to create armrests. I’m gonna continue to play around with it, but I’m pretty sure this is gonna double as an excellent nursing pillow too when the time comes. So many amazing uses! I can’t believe it took me this long to search for something like this. This is not just a pregnancy pillow but a lifetime pillow for me. I’ll probably get some for my kids to keep in their bed too”
-Marrisa
Boppy Total Body Pregnancy Pillow
If you want something that gives a little more coverage, this Boppy pregnancy pillow is the best option. It’s a u-shape pillow that covers your entire body (back and front) and tucks between your legs perfectly. You can tilt on your front or back if the side position is uncomfortable for you, and the pillow will support you.
Like the Snoogle, it has a removable, cool, and soft cover for your comfort. However, this pillow is actually machine washable.
PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow
The perfect compromise between the above two pillows is the PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow. One side of the pillow is detachable, which means it can be a c-shape or a u-shape pillow. You can use the detachable section under your waist or knees for alignment or leave it as it is for tummy support. Again, the removable cover is soft, breathable and machine washable.
My Final Thoughts
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life. But let’s admit it, gaining weight, changing hormones, and stressing the body can also be challenging. So mama, you should definitely invest in a quality pregnancy pillow if you experience hip pain. In addition to supporting your growing belly, it will also relieve some pressure on your hips.
Be sure to take good care of yourself during these stages of pregnancy, and make sure to get plenty of rest!
