PharMeDoc U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow Review – The Maternity Pillow I Used and Loved

I just sold my PharMedoc pregnancy pillow and I feel a little sad letting it go. It served me faithfully throughout my pregnancy and has remained in perfect condition. I loved it so much, hubby wanted to try it when I didn’t need it anymore. So he used the detachable section as a full-body pillow and he loved it too.

Now that it has been a couple of months since our daughter was born and with a pending move, we felt it was time to pass it down to another expectant mama who needs it.

The mama who just got it from me is definitely going to love it. This PharMeDoc pillow was the real deal.

PharMeDoc U-Shaped Pregnancy Pillow, With Detachable Full Body Pillow Extension

Features:

• High quality polyfill
• Maternity pillow measures 53″ inches long, 31″ inches wide, and 7″ inches high
• Pillow cover is zipper-removable and machine-washable
• Cover is 100% Jersey knit cotton
• Lifetime manufacturer warranty
• Helps to ease pain and discomfort due to pregnancy and other conditions

Get it on Amazon

Related: 8 Best pregnancy pillows on Amazon

The PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow is extremely versatile. It is U-shaped but it has a detachable extension that you can use as a stand-alone full body pillow. You could still detach it and use one part of the pillow to support your head and back and then place the detachable section between your legs to provides support to your hips.

Without detaching it, it still provides excellent support to your tummy and back. In its different forms, it can provide belly support, back support, and even leg and hip support. The cover is also very easy to take off and put back after washing which is a big deal for maternity pillows.

The Different Ways To Use A Pharmedoc Maternity Pillow

The primary way to use this pregnancy pillow is as a u-shaped full body maternity pillow. You really won’t need any other pillows with this. It supports your head, your tummy, and back and you can put the elongated part in between your legs so that your hips are supported.

I kept the contoured side facing my tummy most of the time but I did not move it around when I turned at night. In both ways the support it provided was adequate.

Another way you can use it is while working, reading, or watching tv. I actually loved this aspect of it because I spent a ridiculous amount of time on bed rest while I was pregnant.  

I started using the pregnancy pillow for back support while watching movies or working on my laptop while in bed. You can have the detachable section on your lap to hold/prop your laptop or a book and the other section will support your back and neck. (see the image below). It was surprisingly very convenient to use as a work pillow. 

The third way to use it is as a breastfeeding pillow. Personally, I did not try to use it this way but once your baby is born you can decide to use it for breastfeeding. It might be too big and a bit inconvenient though for a nursing station but can come in handy in bed at night. I found the boppy to be much easier.

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What Makes *This* PharMeDoc Pregnancy Pillow Stand Out

There are 4 main reasons this pillow is a really good pillow:

1. Support

Before buying my own pillow, I had a chance to try out a pregnancy pillow that my friend had bought. I liked the size because it would be able to fit my queen bed and still leave enough room for my husband but it was so flimsy and I did not feel like it offered much support. Testing that out gave me an idea of what to look out for and that’s why I liked the Pharmedoc U-shaped pillow

This pillow is firm but not hard or uncomfortable. It provides excellent support. For most of the pregnancy, I used it in its U-shape form and would have the contoured part either on my back or my tummy and both sides provided excellent support. By the time we sold it, almost a year later, it was still so strong and as supportive as new. Oh, and my friend had to buy another pillow later in her pregnancy, so this was worth it for me.

2. Size

The Pharmedoc Maternity pillow measures 53″ inches long, 31″ inches wide, and 7″ inches high. It is definitely bigger than your normal sleeping pillows but it was “small” enough that 2 of us could sleep comfortably in a queen bed with it.  I think it can be considered an average size for a u-shaped maternity pillow.

Some pillows are so huge, you would have to kick your partner out of the bed to be able to use them.

3. Versatility

When picking a maternity pillow, something that was extremely important to me was versatility. The PharMeDoc allowed me to use it in so many different ways depending on how I was feeling. The fact that it was detachable made it feel like I had the best of a c-shaped pillow and a full-body pillow all in one. You will feel like you have this and this at the same time which is pretty cool.

While I am generally a side sleeper, during pregnancy I tend to shift a lot from side to side and I would find myself on my back a lot. So a maternity pillow that would be adaptable to these needs was ideal.

Because of the many different ways you can position it, you can use the Pharmedoc pillow whether you are a side sleeper or back sleeper. The thickness and the contours will offer support in a way that will keep your back elevated and safe. Sleeping on your back is not safe during pregnancy so that kind of support is important. 

Related: 8 top-rated pregnancy pillows for your comfortable sleep

4. Cost

Compared to other maternity pillows, the Pharmedoc U-shaped pregnancy pillow is quite inexpensive. You can check the current price on Amazon here

When Should You Start Using a Pregnancy Pillow?

Around the beginning of the second trimester is a good time to get yourself a maternity pillow. I say when you start feeling uncomfortable sleeping or having aches and pains, get yourself one. A pillow with good support will alleviate back, hip, and joint pains to help you sleep much better. Which is why I would recommend this Pharmedoc pillow.

The other reason to use a pregnancy pillow is to help you stay on your side and off your back. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the best sleep position during pregnancy is the left side. You should avoid sleeping on your back because it can cause a decrease in blood and nutrient circulation to your heart and to your baby.

Sleeping on your back can also cause backaches, low blood pressure, and other discomforts. It is okay to change positions from side to side but try to sleep on the left side as much as possible. 

“Sleeping on your left side will increase the amount of blood and nutrients that reach the placenta and your baby.”

~ American Pregnancy Association

How To Clean The Pharmedoc Pregnancy Pillow

The pregnancy pillow comes with a removable cover that is machine washable. To clean the pillow, use the zip on the side to remove the cover and toss it in your washer. Please note that the pillow itself( and the inner white) cannot be washed but it really doesn’t matter since you only come to contact with the cover anyway.

When I was going through reviews for various pregnancy pillows, one of the most frequent complaints people had was that the covers were extremely difficult to put back on after washing. 

With this pillow, it was surprisingly easy to put back the covers after cleaning. Just make sure the zip is facing the right direction and squeeze in the pillow. And, you are done!

Still don’t like this pillow? See the 8 top-rated pillows on amazon and pick the one you love.

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