I tried one of those giant u-shaped pillows and disliked it for many of the reasons you said. I ended up with my regular pillow for my head, a body pillow for my legs/hip support, and a boppy wedge pillow under my bump. I really think the wedge helps relieve some of that backache and pressure!
The boppy wedge pillow was a game changer for me. I put it between my knees/thighs while lying on my side and it instantly relieved pressure on my hips and back. I also love that it did the trick without being an enormous pillow. I bought a second one and stuck it under my belly to relieve pressure there as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Pregnancy-Scallop-Maternity-removable/dp/B01N06ZFIX
Oh no! Did not mean to worry you!! Here’s the boppy linkboppy... perhaps they’re not all like this?!
Wedge pillows! Boppy makes one. Linking Amazon because I think you’re in the US.
They do more for me than pregnancy pillows. It’s a pretty durable foam, so when I sleep with it under the bump it relieves pressure from my lower back. 10/10 recommend!
I didn’t care for the c or u pillows but I loved having a little wedge pillow for under the bump and then used king pillows to support my back and between my knees.
I’m sleeping with a C-shaped pregnancy pillow and a pregnancy wedge (linked below). The C-shape goes between my knees (similar to what u can get with a regular pillow), but the wedge is something special, and only like $15. When my bump was small, I put the wedge under it so bump wasn’t pulling on my back/hips. But now I’m putting it between my ankles and that helps keep my legs more parallel, which I think helps with my hips. Sometimes it’s nice between my knees - the tapered shape seems to align me better since my knees need more spacing than my thighs (so I put the bigger wedge part at my knees).
here’s the wedge!
I got two of these to tuck between knees and under belly and they are more comfortable than the body-pillow styles I tried. Much more adjustable in terms of how much "lift" you get and where. Plus, I don't have to kick my partner and the cat out of the bed to use it!
I haven’t tried that one, but I did buy this one when I was 7 mos pregnant last time and LOVED it. Boppy Pregnancy Wedge, Scallop Trellis Gray and White, Maternity Wedge with removable jersey cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N06ZFIX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_CSSB2FBBC2TFWZC0920H
Underrated pregnancy product. I also use the other love of my life the boppy wedge and I do have a c-shaped pregnancy pillow, that I love, but I can only use it sometimes, like when I sleep alone when I'm bigger.
I'm also a back sleeper too.
In addition to the pregnancy pillow, my wife uses a little wedge pillow under the bump. She was kicking me out of bed every other night and was still hurting not two weeks ago, but when she got that pillow things got much better!
I live in southern Louisiana and I'm always hot, so when I was pregnant the full body pillow I bought got used for all of 10 minutes and I was done. I found this wedge shaped pillow that was a fraction of the cost of the whole body pillow and gave me so much more comfort and didn't make me hot. I'm still using it two weeks post partum. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N06ZFIX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZmNTBbPFY6P7V
I actually hate my snoogle, and haven't used it successfully once, but I am 5'10". I've read comments from other tall girls that it doesn't work right for us. However, I LOVE my wedge pillow, and I always have it under my bump every night.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N06ZFIX/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_19jizb1ZVCPCZ
I also use it to prop my laptop on and it's AWESOME.
I've also ALWAYS slept on my stomach. This has worked for me; I have a bbhugme pregnancy pillow, and instead of using it to support my bump, I've used the pillow to create some space for the bump. I lie down on my stomach next to the pillow, and then place the pillow under my shoulder (and more recently, under the knee). This creates enough space to take away the pressure on the belly. I started doing it around week 18 (when I got the pillow) and it's worked so far. Just now (week 30), the belly is getting too big, and instead I lie on my back but with one side on the pillow, to create enough of a tilt for me & my baby to be safe.
If you're somewhat comfortable on your back, this might work: Lie on your back, but use a wedge pillow (something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Pregnancy-Scallop-Maternity-removable/dp/B01N06ZFIX/ref=sr_1_38?dchild=1&keywords=wedge+pillow+side&qid=1619456944&sr=8-38), placed on one side under your pelvis to prevent vena cava syndrome. This is used in many countries all around the world when the pregnant woman needs to lie on her back for a period of time, e.g. during certain examinations or surgery. Where I'm from, it's recommended for sleep since the pressure on the vena cava is lessened by the tilt of the belly, but check with your physician!
Of course! I got this guy... Boppy Pregnancy Wedge, Scallop... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N06ZFIX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I’m 36.5 weeks and I use two pillows (one between my legs and one for my head) and this Boppy Pregnancy Wedge, Scallop... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N06ZFIX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I was given a Snoogle and did not like it at all. It made me feel claustrophobic. I do, however, love my Boppy wedge pillow.
Boppy pregnancy wedge: Amazon Link
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Love this thing. It supports by back when I'm sleeping and my butt when I sit at the kitchen table to work.
The wedge pillow is what helped me! My hip pain was horrible starting around 28 weeks until I bought this little wedge. Now I can finally sleep (34 weeks)