Dream Genii pregnancy support pillow review

Designed to sit around your torso starting just above the bump, the pillow is almost made up of three parts - there's a pillow that sits behind your back, before a well where you place your body when laying on your side. This then flows into a thinner tube which runs around your bump and then back through/between your legs.

Designed to support your bump, back and knees while keeping you on your side and preventing you from rolling into your back, the pillow claims to aid maximum blood flow and help you sleep. The brand saysit is midwife recommended and that it is the “only patented pregnancy pillow shaped to promote the health of you and your baby”.

Once the baby arrives, with some clever rolling, it can become a breastfeeding pillow. Nice and light, arriving in a clear plastic carry bag with a handle on top, I easily transported it home on the tube to test out.

How we tested the product:

Rhiannon a first time mum-to-be, five months pregnant and struggling with some pelvic and leg pain. She tested the Dreamgenii pillow in her double bed at home, during a heatwave, squeezed in next to her 6ft 3ins husband.

Our Review:

As a dedicated front and back sleeper, the sudden insistence that I had to sleep only on my side in case something terrible happened - and ideally only on my left side - was a tough transition that I wasn't coping too well with. Suffering with aches and pelvic pains, I'd already started trying to build various pillow forts between and around my legs, which had to be rebuilt every time my bladder called - and when I woke up in the night to find them littered around me. There was also the psychological effect on my sleep of worrying every time I woke up cradled on my front or sprawled on my back, then trying to get back to sleep without stressing about trying to stay still and on my side.

When I received the Dreamgenii, I watched a quick instructional video on the website and laid down with the pillow, which looks a bit like a big Tetris block. While previously I'd been concentrating on supporting my legs and hips, I hadn't realised I was lacking support in other areas too - that the pillow provided. It held me perfectly in place, allowing me to sleep knowing I wouldn't lollop around. I slept quickly and soundly, and I think, got up less to use the bathroom as my sleep wasn't as broken. There was plenty of room my and my husband in the bed, and you can easily change sides by quickly taking the pillow out between your legs, turning it and passing the leg section through backwards. It provides slightly less support, but is fine, and it's a relief to be able to easily turn in the night and still easily have a good standard of support. I saw some improvement in my aching in the mornings.

As the heatwave began, I comfortably used the pillow every night, it didn't make me too hot or sweaty.

The only downside was that with my hip pains, I personally like having quite a sturdy leg support running all down the centre of my legs and had been doing this with two pillows. The dreamgenii doesn't provide much between the legs. That said, I think that's the trade-off for fitting into the bed and being compact, lightweight and not too hot. If later in pregnancy I want more support, I may put another pillow between my calves and ankles.

As a pre-pregnancy size 16, I think the space was snug between back and bump pillows. I perhaps wasn't getting as much back support as if I was slimmer and if I was much bigger, I'm not sure the pillow would've been the right fit.

When I initially saw the design of the Dreamgenii pillow, I wasn't sure it would do much for me, but it really did provide support, peace of mind and better sleep, and I'd definitely recommend it to friends coming up to the 20 week mark. I am using it every night and will definitely continue to use it.

What were your first impressions?

At first the Dreamgenii pillow looked confusing. After lying it a few different ways and doing a Google search, I figured it out and gave it a go.

Do you need instructions on how to use it?

There are no instructions in the package, just a picture on the front. But the Dreamgenii website provides a short video on how to best use the pillow.

How comfortable is the Dreamgeniie pregnancy support pillow?

It's really comfortable, it seems carefully and ergonomically designed to take the weight off - and give support to - places you didn't even know were bothering you. The material (100% cotton) is soft and in no way irritating or sweaty.

How much rooms does it take up?

It takes up your half of the bed, for sure, width-wise. But my husband, who has broad shoulders, was left with plenty of room too in a standard double bed. I found it also took up less place than trying to strategically stack up pillows (and then being afraid to move or being annoyed every time I had to go to the loo and rearrange them).

Is it easy to move around the house?

Yes it’s very light - one particularly hot night I took it into the living room with me to sleep. As I get bigger, I'm sure I'll use it between rooms wherever I'm relaxing.

Does the Dreamgenii pregnancy support pillow aid sleep?

I think so. For me, using the Dreamgenii meant less tossing and turning, trying to be comfortable and worrying I wasn't in the right spot. I also think I was getting up for the toilet less, as I was sleeping longer and probably not putting pressure on my stomach.

Does it give you the support you need?

The Dreamgenii gave me the support I needed around my back and sides and stomach. I think it even adjusted my position, so my shoulders were more comfortable and taking less weight. However, with my pelvic problems, I like to have my legs more substantially supported and all the leg section provided was a bit of support where it slipped through my thighs.

Is it better than a normal pillow?

Definitely, when it comes to core and bump support. It fits just where you need it to, stays in place and takes up less room than a pillow fort! Between the legs it's similar to putting a single pillow, though again, does stay in place better.

What do you think of the design?

The design is very clever - I think the only improvement could be to offer small, medium and large sizes so they fit women’s bodies even better. Again, I also think it could give more support between the legs, but then it wouldn’t be as light or compact. And I think for most women, it's probably enough.

Would you recommend this pillow?

Yes. I was cynical at first about how it would help me, but now wouldn't want to sleep without it.

How robust/durable did it seem?

It seems reasonably durable. It did get one tear one night when I moved, but covers are replaceable. The pillows do soften, I think it will last me until my due date, but I’m not sure if it would continue to be supportive through multiple pregnancies, especially if it's also used for feeding once the baby arrives.

Is it machine washable?

Yes, the outer casing can be removed and washed

Do you need any extra accessories?

Not for it to work as intended - you can buy additional covers if you want, but these probably aren't necessary, as you can clean it well with a quick wash cycle.

Can you use it as a maternity/feeding pillow?

Yes and I'll be giving it a go when the little one arrives.

Can you use it with the baby or as a tummy time pillow?

The website doesn’t specifically specify this use, but as the pillow is cotton, I imagine it’s friendly to be used as you wish once the baby is born.

What’s in the box?

Just the pillow.

What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the item?

How it worked and what areas of the body it supports.

Who would the product be most useful for?

People who are struggling to get comfortable sleeping on their sides, feeling pressure in their back and those worrying about rolling around in the night.

Is the product value for money?

It's not cheap, but cost per sleep if you start using it in the second trimester is pretty good, and I'm sure most of us would happily pay for a more comfortable sleep!

Has the product or the parent company won any awards?

Is has won numerous awards, such as our own MadeForMums, Mumsnet Best Maternity Pillow, Loved By Parents awards, a Baby and Pregnancy Awards.

MadeForMums verdict:

While not cheap, the Dreamgenii pillow was a real hit - and worth every penny for peaceful sleep. Every morning since I received it, I've woken up with it still in bed with me, and every night I put it back in for a sounder sleep. For anyone struggling to stay on their side or in need of core support, I'd recommend it.

Read our round-up of pregnancy support pillows..

• 10 of the best pregnancy pillows
• Best nursing and support pillows

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