Bellamoon Full Moon pregnancy and nursing pillow review

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Cat is a first-time mum and used the BellaMoon Full Moon pillow while pregnant, to support her bump, back and to assist with getting to grips breastfeeding her baby boy.

What were your first impressions of the Bellamoon Full Moon?

When I first unpacked the pillow all I could think about was how huge it was. There are five different components and, because you don’t use all of them at once, you need space to store them, which may be tricky for some parents. On the plus side, I was impressed with how smart the BellaMoon looked – it’s the sort of thing you would be happy to leave on the sofa even if guests were round.

How comfortable is it as a pregnancy pillow?

Whether the BellaMoon is comfortable for you will depend on where you need support. The bolster is high and firm, so if your hips and pelvis are sore, this will do a really good job of propping them up. And, if, like me, your back aches, then the pillow is great to lie against, with the curved sections under your head and between your legs.

However, earlier on in my pregnancy, it was the Dreamgenii pillow (£32.99 on Amazon) I reached for. Its flatter shape was perfect for propping up my narrow bump and stopping it from flopping onto the bed next to me, while I found the BellaMoon too firm for me then. Also, it’s worth noting that if you want something to support your back and bump at the same time, then a U-shaped pillow may work better for you.

Is it better than a normal pillow?

Yes. The support is really targeted and as it’s much more narrow than a normal pillow it takes up less space width-ways in the bed.

Does the BellaMoon help with sleep?

Yes, and it also encourages you to sleep on your side, which is recommended when you’re pregnant.

How much room does the Bellamoon Full Moon take up?

Lots! All the different elements of the BellaMoon pillow are large, so you need plenty of storage space for it. And, if you want to use the breastfeeding pod while your partner is in bed too, you’ll need to have a really big mattress!

Is it easy to move around?

For me, the biggest drawback to the BellaMoon pillow is the fact it’s so big, which makes it quite hard to move around. I also found it fiddly to zip together all the different parts. This is fine when you’re pregnant, but once you’ve had your baby you’ll rarely have enough time (or free hands!) to switch between the different configurations.

What did you think of the breastfeeding privacy cover?

This folds up small and is handy to keep in your changing bag. It’s definitely big enough to preserve your modesty and because it’s stiff, you can see your baby feeding underneath.

Is the pillow machine washable?

Yes, the covers unzip and can be machine-washed at 40 degrees.

Can you use the BellaMoon as a feeding pillow?

Yes, in two different ways. I used the BellaMoon as a breastfeeding pillow all the time, especially in the early weeks when it can be hard to get off the sofa! It was really comfy, just the right height and saved my aching back. After feeds, my baby would happily fall asleep on it while it was on my lap too. My husband even used it – with one side propped up on the arm of the sofa – when giving the baby a bottle of expressed milk.

The breastfeeding pod, or daybed, is what sets this pillow apart from other pregnancy pillows and is a great selling point. It is designed for feeding your baby while lying on your side in bed and has a clever ‘dorsal fin’ to protect your baby from you rolling onto them. My baby and I are both petite and unfortunately I found the pod got in the way of us getting close enough to feed properly, but if you have bigger breasts it would be more comfortable. It’s also worth noting that it’s designed to be used while you are awake, so it’s not ideal if you tend to both drift off to sleep while feeding.

How else can you use it?

The BellaMoon can also be used as a tummy time pillow and a baby recliner, once the baby is four months old. You have a fairly short window when they’re old enough to do this before they start crawling, so I don’t think you wouldn’t get loads of use out of it in this way.

I also used the breastfeeding pod as somewhere safe to lay my baby when he was young as it meant he couldn’t roll off the bed, but it’s not recommended that you let them nap in it, so it’s not an alternative to a Sleepyhead.

Is the Bellamoon Full Moon good value for money?

If you have the time and inclination to use it in all the different configurations, then yes. If, like me, you end up just using it as a pregnancy pillow and for breastfeeding while on the sofa, I would say there are more affordable options.

Where can you buy the BellaMoon FullMoon?

It is available from Scandiborn

Would you recommend the Bellamoon Full Moon pillow?

The breastfeeding pod is what makes this different to other pregnancy pillows. So if you think you’ll use that, then this is worth getting. You can also buy the pod on its own. If you are having a caesarean, the full day bed could be the answer to breastfeeding in comfort – you can lie on your side with your back supported, and the pod will stop your baby rolling away. If you’re really just after a pregnancy pillow, all the extra bits make it expensive and bulky.

Made for Mums verdict

If you’re just looking for a pillow to help you sleep while pregnant, then there are cheaper and more comforting options out there. However, if you want something to help you breastfeed while lying on your side, then this is one of the few pillows designed to do just that – the fact you can also use it during pregnancy and for breastfeeding sat up, are then just extra bonuses.

Read more...

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