Advice please: maternity pillows. What's best? Pls help - exhausted and in pain

[LifesComplicated]

Hi there
I'm really exhausted as Im 24 weeks pg and cant sleep at all on my rock solid bed, and keep rolling onto my back (tut tut), plus I have really bad PGP/SPD.
I'm desperate for a maternity/pregnancy pillow - large enough to stop me rolling onto my back, but as cheaply as possible, as Im out of work and completely brassic, but desperate (sob). Im confused by all the different ads out there and dont know whether to get the Dream Genii, or the 'Big V' or the 'Theraline' etc, and price is a massive factor for me.
Sorry for the self pity. Just totally lost by all the different options on the web, and getting desperate for some good advice, so I dont waste any money on something that won't help.
Thanks and best wishes,
Em.

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MNHQ Update
This is an old thread, but if you've landed here while on the hunt for pregnancy pillow recommendations, our guide to the best pregnancy pillows has been recently updated. It includes a wide range of options and has been compiled based on the advice of Mumsnetters and maternity healthcare experts. We hope it's helpful!

Hmmm I had bad spd, I used a little wedge pillow under my bump until is was so big I didn't need it.

I've not advice really the pain was so bad I didn't roll anywhere in my sleep, I used to wake up to turn over!

Have you tried using normal pillows?

when i was pg with dd 5 years ago i got some pillows from dunelm mill. one great big long one, like a fat sausage and a v one. if i remember rightly they was about a tenner each. no fancy covers or fillings, but they were cheap as chips and really helped me get comfy. worth having a look if you have a dunelm near you

(i used to sleep with the long sausage one all down the side of my body when i laid on my side and then had the v one inbetween my legs and then kind of hugging it!) hope this is of some help to you

Ebay, you should be able to get one on there for half the price of a new one..Hope this helps? I am also almost 6 months pregnant and in terrible discomfort at night. Pillow in between the knees and one just wedged under the bump helps. Hope you feel better soon..xx

I never bothered with pregnancy ones ( in fact i tell a lie i paid £24.99 for one from mothercare and it was crap)
I bought ordinary pillows 2 for a fiver from m&s bought 4 of these and surrounded myslf in them lol particularly under legs and bump

I agree that Ebay is a great place to go - also Lidl has one for only £10. Good luck!!

Oh dear Em, sounds like you are really suffering. I used the dreamgenii pillow from very early on in my pregnancy, before I was pregnant i only slept on my front, and you can imagine how difficult it was when you have a baby bump. However this pillow was a good send, its differently shaped to all other maternity pillows, and i found the unique design really worked for me. It wasnt too bulky so didnt take up most of the bed, but it was supportive enough so i could get a good night sleep without rolling on to my back! I even managed to sleep half on my belly which was great. It is a little more expensive than most of the others but trust me its truly worth it and is one of my top pregnancy products. I think Dreamgenii are doing an offer at the moment where you could get a free case for your pillow. You can get them at mothercare, M&P actually most places or directly with dreamgenii. The benefit of this pillow is its great for back support and also for feeding once your bump comes into the world.
Here is the link
www.dreamgenii.com/

good luck
xx

Ive just brought the Dreamgenii on the advice from Mums on here after being up half the night in pain and not being able to move in the mornings for aching and soreness! It is brill as it really supports you all round, you cant roll on to your back cos you have support on both sides and the bit that goes between your legs heps with the pressure on your back. They are not cheap but you could try Ebay there are loads on there, plus you can use it afterwards for use when breastfeeding (if that is what you are planning) as it supports your back and holds the baby. They also sell quite well 2nd hand on Ebay so you could always sell it on afterwards to recoup some of the money! HTH x

I am now 35+ weeks and still struggling with this, I find any kind of side position hurts after an hour or so, regardless of what pillow(s) I use, so I've given up now!

Current approach (not perfect but best I can get):

• On back but propped really well up, like 4-5 pillows (you're only advised not to sleep flat on your back, propped up is fine)
• Pillows under legs so knees are bent up
• Slightly leant over to left side, with pillow under right of back (my head also tilts over to the left so that helps with snoring and phlegm (sorry if TMI) if that is an issue for you sleeping on your back too!
• Dressing gown or another v soft pillow stuffed under bump for support.
• On bad SPD days, hot water bottle (not too hot though) wedged between legs makes for a more comfortable next day.

It's not perfect, but I tried every kind of fancy pillow and actually just a large number of normal ones seems to suit me better.

D

Could you appeal for someone to donate a pillow to you through your local Freegle (used to be Freecycle) network? Someone might have one spare that they could even just lend to you for the rest of your pregnancy.

That said, I was in a hotel for a night at the weekend and didn't take my Dreamgenii with me. I used normal pillows to make a "nest" and it pretty much worked.

mum295 a "nest" is pretty much what I was trying to describe above, but I think you did it better with one word!

D

I'm just over 34 weeks now and find the dream genni a god send. It stops me from rolling onto my back and supports the bump too. Have a good old google - I'm sure you'll be able to buy the dream genni cheaper than they sell it at mothercare. Xxx

I bought a V shaped ne and its fine - got it for £6 from a random homeware shop Try poundstretcher or similar.

FYI, obs consultant told me the lying on the back thing is a myth - if you've been prone to fainting etc not a good idea but other than that no real reason why you shouldn't.

Good luck and feel better soon! x

I suffered from the same issues and ended up buying a drean genii, it was amazing, really helped with my back and hips.
I sold it on ebay after so deffo have a look on there mine went for half the rrp