Tonight I decided it was time to tackle a big project, a pregnancy body pillow! I have a bad back anyway, but now at 21 weeks my back & hip have been killing me. It has been suggested I get a pregnancy pillow, heard great things about some sold in the big stores, but even at $45-$50 for the pillow alone on sale at one of the cheap places you still have to pay $20-$30 for the cover! And of course my luck is I can’t find a used one now that I really need one! So I just had to make my own :). It only took me a few minutes & a couple of measurements based on my height & a couple of nursing pillows that I used to achieve the same effect and the I just sketched out a pattern.
Then I found a 100% Egyptian cotton sheet in my fabric stash that I bought at a yard sale for $1 a few summers ago. Now that I had my fabric I just had to find stuffing :). Well it just so happens that we have 2 standard size pillows that we were not longer using that I had recently washed on sanitize so I could give them away. They were still in decent shape, I just like to replace pillows often!
Anyways $1 for the fabric & free stuffing… you can’t really get any better than a $1 pregnancy body pillow… it beats the $70+ alternative. You can get smaller versions in store for less but considering I have used 2-3 pillows with in the past it seemed smarter to make it bigger.
It only took 10 minutes to trace, cut & sew it together & then 30 minutes for stuffing it & another 5 to sew the hole up? So 45 minutes & $1… I have to say I am over the moon! I was tired so I didn’t tear the stuffing apart as much as I should have, so it looks a little lumpy, but feels super nice. I laid down for a few minutes trying it out & it feels AWESOME, I can’t wait to go to sleep tonight, I might actually get some sleep! Here’s a picture of the final product…
Here is a picture of a friend testing it out… 
25 Responses
Max California
I had one of these! I got it off eBay for $3 would you believe! I made a new cover for it by stitching a big long tube, then shoving the pillow into it and stitching the end closed ((I couldn’t be bothered with fastenings!))
then I had nightmares the first time I used it, and felt all claustrophobic and never used it again!
Kymy
This one isn’t as big as the name brand ‘LeachCo Snoogle’. It’s more in the middle of the full size & mini? I used it last night & LOVED it, I am in HEAVEN!!!! Not only are my hip & back NOT stiff and achy this morning but I slept SO much better with way less flopping like a fish out of water. And DH slept better too because of it :).
Lynda M O
My pregnancy ended in late 1985 and I still sleep with my current equivalent of a body pillow I have a queen-size pillow that i put between my legs to keep my knees from having to rest on each other and the stuffed animal that serves as my top half pillow has been in use since Dec 2003. When I hold a pillow in my arms, my shoulders don’t have to support the weight of my arms dragging downward (gravity is always attractive ! )
Kymy
I noticed the arm thing too, I didn’t wake up with numb arms!
Alicia Dybdal
I LOVE your pillow! I bought a snoogle last pregnancy and loved it. This time round I started using it 11 weeks cause my back has been much more sore.
You are so creative!
Katie
Can you give some advice on how to draft the pattern? I had a snoogle with my first pregnancy and loved it, but it was damaged in storage and I had to throw it out. I’d like to make one for this pregnancy, but am a little lost as to the measurements, etc…
Stefan
I would like to make one for my pregnant wife. Do you have a pattern, suggestions, or tips?
sheila meyer
My daughter is pg with twins and I don’t have eighty dollars to spend on a pillow, but she would like one. I can sew, so how do I make it? Thank you for being there!
Sheila
Kymy
I am still working on getting my husband to help me make up the pattern pieces :). Congrats to your daughter, twins are a huge blessing!!! I can’t believe mine just turned 4. Anyway one piece of advice I give to expecting mothers of twins is look for you local parents/families/mothers of multiples club, they are a huge support as well as resource, especially their used gear & clothing sales!!!
Renee
Kymy, I am so glad to see that you’re putting together a pattern. I’m only 5 weeks, but this is my second and I know I want a full pregnancy pillow this time! I’m the older half of a set of twins (I have a twin brother). My mom also mentioned that the multiples group was a huge support to her.
Alicia
I love love love this!!! Please please please post a pattern/tutorial. I’m 26 weeks and so uncomfortable, and can’t get good sleep for anything. I’m sooooooo tempted to just bite the bullet and buy the expensive pillow, but sooooooo can’t afford it. 🙁 Oh how I miss sleep and comfort!!! The end result will be worth it all though!!!
Jessi Kits
have you had the chance to draft up a tut or patterns for making this pregnancy pillow yet?
Kymy
Nope, I am trying to locate the pattern piece I made and I am not having luck at the moment & I gave the pillow to a friend when I was done with it! Hopefully I will finish cleaning the last corner of my sewing room this month & find it.
Shannon
Hi there Kymy,
Did you ever have any luck finding this pattern? I am interested in making one as I am 18 weeks pregnant with twins and have just started having a very tough time sleeping.
I never needed a special pillow with my single pregnancy but this one is proving to be slightly different in a few areas.
Please let me know.
Thank you, you are a genius!
Shannon =D
Jenn
Any luck on finding the pattern? I am really interested in making this, but I’m terrible with making my own patterns. They always come out incredibly uneven!
Lindsey Hamilton
Have you found the pattern yet?
staci
Any luck finding the pattern? I’m pregnant with number 7 and bad hips and we definitely don’t have the funds to buy the snoogle, even though I drooled over it with number 6. :/ But I can sew! Even if you can just give a few pointers, like how it gets that shape, is it just one long tube, or do you have to cut the fabric into that “c” shape? Thanks for your help.
Kymy
I haven’t but I am drafting up a new one this month 🙂 It’s kinda of a C but not at the same time, it’s hard to describe.
jessica
hello i was just wondering if you had a pattern yet i would love to make one my self thank you
Kymy
The pattern is done & in the shop!!! Sorry for such the delays, I finally just redrafted it. http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/other/contured-body–pregnancy-support-pillow/63426
Holly Losh
Pattern no longer available! Sigh!
Kymy
Holly send me an email through the contact us page 😉
Katie
Anyway this pattern is still available??! Pretty please?!?!
kymy
Unfortunately I was contacted by a manufacturer of baby gear and had to pull it 🙁
ELAINE
HI WHERE IS THE PATTERN? I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE ONE FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS RIGHT NOW MISERABLE..TKS