How we test

What we check before selling

Five things decide whether a pregnancy pillow gets you through the night. Here is each one, and how the Lullacurve U-shaped pillow answers it.

1. It holds when you turn over

A stack of pillows comes apart the first time you turn over, and a C-shaped pillow supports one side only, so it has to be repositioned every time you change position. A U has two arms, one on either side of you: when you turn over you move from one arm to the other, and nothing has to be rebuilt. The Lullacurve pillow is a closed U.

2. Back, bump and knees at once

One arm supports the bump and takes your bent knee, the other holds your back. The Lullacurve U is 51 in long and 7 in thick (dimensions as stated by the manufacturer): your back, bump and legs rest on one support.

3. A filling that gives, and comes back

The filling is synthetic fiber — neither memory foam nor microbeads. It gives under your weight and comes back when you move, which is what lets you go from one side to the other without setting anything up again. The pillow weighs 2.9 lb (1.3 kg).

4. A cover that comes off

A pregnancy pillow is used for months, in a bed, every night. The Lullacurve cover comes off completely, by a zip that runs along one arm, and goes in the machine on a cold cycle.

5. The room it takes in bed

The stated length describes the pillow laid out flat. Once it closes around you in a sleeping position it takes up far less width — roughly half a full-size bed. Our guide on how much bed space it takes gives you a way to check it at home before ordering.

It arrives vacuum-packed and needs a few hours to regain its volume: take it out of the bag on the day it arrives if you plan to sleep with it that night. Every order is covered by 30 days to change your mind — a pregnancy pillow is judged after several nights at home.