Best Mattress for Pregnancy

Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial to you and your baby’s health. But between nausea, heartburn, backache, and night sweats, pregnancy puts your body through a challenging series of changes that can make sleep difficult to attain.

More than ever, you’ll require a mattress that can relieve pressure from sensitive areas while still providing support for your growing baby bump. The right mattress can help keep discomfort at bay and have an enormous impact on the quality of your sleep.

We’re here to help you find the best mattress for pregnancy, going through the factors you should focus on in a mattress and sharing our top picks for mattresses on the market today. We want to help you get the rest you need so you can rise to the challenge of being a new mom!

Our Recommendations

The Luxury Firm WinkBed offers even support and comfortable cushioning, two factors very important for pregnant people. This model cushions the body effectively without sacrificing spinal alignment, which is a tough balance to achieve. This model has a medium firm (6) feel, placing it squarely in the middle range of what most sleepers prefer.

The mattress’ plush Euro-top has two layers of gel-infused polyfoam quilted into its surface to give it a plush feel. An additional polyfoam layer adds contouring that conforms closely to your hips and shoulders to relieve any pressure buildup.

The pocketed coil support core has several zones with varying levels of pushback to provide extra strength beneath your lower back and additional pressure relief at your shoulders. Higher gauge coils line the core’s perimeter to ensure the mattress has strong support from edge to edge. A Tencel cover wraps the mattress and keeps its surface cool and comfortable.

Our testers ranked this model highly in several important categories including edge support and temperature control. Pregnant people need robust support across the whole mattress, and this bed’s reinforced perimeter is a major benefit for those who sleep using the entire surface. When it comes to cooling, this mattress does a standout job. Its gel-infused polyfoam and Tencel cover aim to keep the surface cool, while the pocketed coil support core promotes healthy airflow.

WinkBed ships its Luxury Firm Mattress free to shoppers in the contiguous U.S. The 120-night sleep trial has a 30-night break-in period. Each mattress carries a lifetime limited warranty.

Comfort is subjective and no mattress will equally meet everyone’s needs. That said, some models offer more balance than others and can accommodate a wider range of sleepers as a result. The medium firm (6) Helix Midnight was specifically designed for side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds, but our tests show the mattress offers adequate cushioning and support for most side and back sleepers weighing 230 pounds or less. Our stomach sleepers under 130 pounds also found the mattress comfortable.

The comfort system contains memory foam and transitional polyfoam, so you’ll immediately notice some deep cushioning when you get into bed. Robust pocketed coils and base foam in the support core push back against your weight, creating an even surface for your entire body. The perimeter coils are reinforced to stabilize the edges. This minimizes sinkage when you get in and out of bed, and allows you to utilize the entire surface of your mattress.

Our testers found the Midnight alleviates pressure very well for a hybrid. The memory foam responds slowly, adapting to your body’s unique curves for a cloud-like cradling effect, but the polyfoam maintains an even surface to keep your shoulders and hips aligned with your spine. Tests also show the Midnight isolates motion well. This can be helpful if you frequently experience sleep loss due to your partner’s nocturnal movements.

Standard Midnight models are encased in knit polyester covers. For an extra fee, you can swap in a GlacioTex phase change cover that captures and releases body heat to maintain a cool-to-the-touch feel at all times. If you want maximum cushioning from your sleep surface or enhanced midsection support, you can also upgrade to the Helix Midnight Luxe.

Two free pillows are included with each order, and standard ground shipping is free for customers in all 50 states. Helix Sleep’s trial period runs for 100 nights. You’ll also receive a 10-year warranty if you keep the mattress past the end of the sleep trial.

High-quality mattresses often carry steep sticker prices, but this isn’t always the case. The Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid is a prime example. Thoughtful construction and premium materials make the mattress a standout in several performance categories, and three firmness levels make it suitable for a wide range of body types and sleep positions, but the sticker price falls well below average for a hybrid model.

During hands-on tests, our team found that the medium soft (4) Signature Hybrid was best suited to side sleepers up to 230 pounds and back sleepers under 130 pounds. The comfort layers offer deep cushioning and contouring, but the mattress didn’t compress excessively beneath their weights. Side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds also enjoyed the more supportive medium firm (6) model, as did our back sleepers in the same weight range. Testers on our team weighing more than 230 pounds enjoyed the gentle conforming and robustness of the firm (7) model.

Construction varies by firmness, but all Signature Hybrid models share a similar design. Two foam layers make up the comfort system, the second of which is firmer and denser to ensure your body remains on an even plane. The support core consists of thick pocketed coils over high-density base foam. Medium soft and medium firm models feature an extra layer of adaptive polyfoam quilted into the cover, while the firm model uses cotton fibers.

You can opt for an additional pillow-top layer if you want more surface-level cushioning. This component is also encased in GlacioTex phase change material engineered to dissipate heat on contact, so this may be a worthy addition if you’re an exceptionally hot sleeper. Those seeking extra pressure relief and motion isolation may also want to consider the pillow-top, though our tests show the mattress performs above-average in both categories — especially the two softest designs.

The Signature Hybrid is available in 14 different sizes, including a split California king for couples with adjustable beds and several RV-friendly options. Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. and a 120-night sleep trial for all orders. If you decide to keep the mattress, you’ll also receive a manufacturer’s warranty covering structural defects for up to 10 years.

Most pregnant sleepers prefer the side position because it rotates the stomach away from the rest of the body, removing pressure from the lower back in the process. However, side sleepers need a mattress that provides enough cushioning to promote even alignment and alleviate discomfort in the shoulders and hips. The Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid’s comfort system contains two memory foam layers, the second of which is zoned to feel firmer and denser beneath your midsection. This helps ensure extra pushback where it’s needed, and gentler cradling elsewhere.

The topmost memory foam layer is plusher and more adaptive by comparison. This creates an invitingly plush feel when you get into bed, but there shouldn’t be too much sinkage as your body settles. Transitional polyfoam and pocketed coils form a stable base to keep your body upright while you sleep. A breathable organic cotton cover helps offset heat retention from the foam layers, so you should also be able to sleep relatively cool.

Since the Memory Foam Hybrid is medium firm (6), our tests show the mattress is best suited to side sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds. The foam layers also absorb a significant amount of motion transfer, so you shouldn’t experience sleep disturbances when your partner changes positions and vice versa. 

Saatva is one of the only online mattress brands to offer free White Glove delivery — a perk that may be particularly helpful for pregnant shoppers. After scheduling a delivery date, couriers assemble the Memory Foam Hybrid inside your residence and remove your old mattress upon request. All purchases come with a sleep trial that spans an entire year. If you’re satisfied with the mattress, it’s further backed by a lifetime warranty.

Many pregnant people can experience pressure buildup, especially as their body gets larger throughout pregnancy. Mattresses made with foam layers often excel in our pressure relief tests, and the Bear Elite Hybrid is no exception. This foam hybrid offers balanced contouring and support, and the three firmness levels ensured most of our testers felt comfortable.

The Elite Hybrid’s comfort system starts with a layer of adaptive memory foam that relieves pressure buildup in the joints and lower back. This layer is also infused with copper designed to conduct and dissipate heat. Next is a layer of polyfoam that is zoned to support the midsection while cradling the legs. The polyfoam also acts as a transitional layer between the comfort system and the coils.

Pocketed coils in the support core offer pushback to the midsection to help promote healthy sleep posture. The coils rest on a base layer of polyfoam for extra stability. A Celliant and polyester blend cover encases the mattress and is infused with phase change material meant for enhanced cooling.

The Elite Hybrid comes in three firmnesses: medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8). Our testing found the softest model best suited our side and back sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds. The medium firm was the most versatile, earning its highest rankings from our side sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds and back sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds. Our side sleepers weighing more than 230 pounds, back sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds, and stomach sleepers weighing between 130 and 230 pounds enjoyed the firmest model’s even sleep surface.

The different firmnesses also varied in performance across our testing criteria. Couples who value motion isolation may prefer the softest model, which absorbed the most movement transfer and noise in our tests. Meanwhile, the firmest model may be better for those who value a responsive surface for sex. All three excelled in our temperature control tests thanks to steady airflow through the coils and the use of phase change material.

Bear ships free to customers living in the contiguous U.S., and mattress purchases come with a 120-night sleep trial. You can test the mattress and return it after the 30-night break-in period. The Elite Hybrid is backed by a generous lifetime warranty.

Thermoregulation is crucial for healthy sleep during pregnancy, and a mattress that absorbs and traps heat can affect your comfort level night after night. The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is engineered to reduce heat buildup and maintain a cool feel at all times. Phase change fibers in the cover, copper and cooling gel infusions, and a coil system that promotes steady airflow all contribute to the Aurora Luxe’s temperature control. 

Another useful feature for pregnant sleepers is the zoned support core. Thicker coils rest against the midsection, pushing back against the extra weight in your torso and hips to keep your sleep surface nice and even. Our team also enjoyed the Aurora Luxe’s balance of cushioning and support. Three foam layers contour evenly to distribute your weight and reduce pressure in the shoulders, lower back, and hips, but the coils offer enough reinforcement to prevent you from sinking or feeling stuck in the mattress.

Three firmness levels are available. The medium soft (4) option was a big hit among side sleepers on our team due to the deep conforming, though this design may not provide enough stability during the advanced stages of your pregnancy. The medium firm (6) and firm (7) models feel sturdier and won’t compress as much beneath your weight. If you want some extra cushioning on the surface, you can pay a bit extra for the “Cloud” pillow-top. This additional foam layer makes the mattress feel slightly more adaptive without compromising the coil support.

Our tests also show the Aurora Luxe is a solid choice for couples due to the above-average motion isolation. The foam layers absorb movement well and cut down on motion transfer to a significant degree, so you and your partner shouldn’t wake each other up due to nighttime movements or sleep position changes. The firmer models earned high marks for edge support and ease of movement, while the medium soft mattress performed better in the pressure relief category.

You can choose from 10 different sizes for your Aurora Luxe. These include the six standard mattress sizes, as well as a split California king option if you and your partner share an adjustable bed and three options intended for RV use. Brooklyn Bedding offers free ground shipping throughout the contiguous U.S. Your order comes with a sleep trial running for 120 nights, and those who choose to keep the mattress after the trial ends also receive a 10-year manufacturer’s warranty.

The Birch Luxe is a latex hybrid that balances pressure relief and support to help prevent aches and pains for pregnant people. We recommend this pick for eco-conscious shoppers willing to spend a bit more on a high-end mattress made with organic and natural materials.

A Euro-top cover featuring quilted organic cotton gives the surface a plush feel. Cotton’s natural breathability helps keep the surface cool to the touch. Next, a layer of organic wool and rayon acts as a natural fire barrier. This is followed by a blend of organic cashmere and wool that offers extra cushioning, as well as another layer of wool. Proprietary Pulse latex in the comfort layers gently cradles the body to relieve pressure in the hips and shoulders. However, since latex is naturally responsive, the surface does not conform too closely to the body, thus trapping less heat. The latex is Rainforest Alliance-certified, ensuring it was sourced sustainably.

Pocketed coils make up the support core. These coils are zoned in the center of the mattress to support the hips and lower back, preventing uncomfortable sagging. A perimeter reinforcement allows you to lay or sit on the edges of the mattress without slipping. The coils rest on a base layer made from a wool and rayon blend for extra stability.

The mattress performed well across sleeping positions and body weights, but the medium firm (6) feel best suited our side sleepers who are at least 130 pounds. Back and stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds should also find the mattress supportive and comfortable. Many couples should appreciate the responsive surface and reinforced edges for co-sleeping and sex. The strong edge support allowed us to comfortably use the entire area of the mattress without slipping off. The mattress also earned high rankings from our hot sleepers thanks to the breathable cotton, wool, latex, and coils that ensured ample airflow.

Birch offers free shipping to customers in the contiguous U.S. A 100-night sleep trial allows you to test the mattress and return it for a full refund anytime after the 30-night break-in period. The Birch Luxe is backed by a 25-year warranty against structural defects.

The Nolah Evolution 15 has a plush comfort system to enhance pressure relief. Shoppers can purchase this model in one of three available firmness options: medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8).

Exact specifications vary between models to give them each their own distinct feel. However, they all have the same basic design that begins with a quilted polyfoam Euro-top that gives the mattress a plush feel when you lay on it. Beneath is a layer of AirFoamICE, a proprietary polyfoam designed to cool and contour. The comfort system’s final component is a polyfoam transitional layer that relieves pressure buildup without allowing your body to sink too deeply into the mattress.

The 8-inch pocketed coil support core has three separate zones. Higher gauge coils beneath your midsection withstand significant weight to prevent your spine from falling out of alignment. The coils compress easier beneath your shoulders and legs to ensure you don’t feel pressure points or sore spots. A base polyfoam layer anchors the mattress and ensures durability.

In addition to its uncompromising support, the Evolution 15 also regulates temperature quite well. There are numerous cooling-specific technologies within this model including an air gusset that allows body heat to escape, graphite infusions aimed at wicking moisture, and a patented cover meant to keep the surface cool. Together, all these materials successfully keep this mattress comfortable enough for those living in warm climates.

Nolah offers shoppers a 120-night sleep trial, though shoppers who want to opt out of the trial can save $100 by doing so at checkout. Shipping is free within the contiguous U.S. and the mattress carries a lifetime warranty.

Dive Deeper – In-Depth Mattress Guides

If you’re still not sure you’ve found a mattress that meets all of your needs, take a look at our recommendations broken down by mattresses that target specific pain points.

How to Choose a Mattress for Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, each trimester will bring new challenges to your sleep. The first trimester heralds rising progesterone levels which result in daytime sleepiness. Some women may also start experiencing tender breasts, nausea, night sweats, and a more frequent need to urinate.

As you move to the second trimester, hormone levels even out. You may feel more energetic, but many women experience nightmares and heartburn.

For most women, the third trimester represents the heaviest blow to their sleep. This is when the weight of the baby bump starts to cause serious lower back pain. In addition, women commonly experience frequent nighttime awakening, restless legs syndrome, and snoring during the third trimester.

It can be difficult to choose a mattress for pregnancy, given that your body is constantly changing. If you sleep with a partner, you’ll also have to take their concerns into account. Ideally, you’ll find a mattress that suits your regular sleeping style as well, since hopefully you’ll be using your mattress for years to come.

In the following sections, we’ll discuss mattress construction, firmness levels, and how these affect mattress performance for pregnant women. We’ll also discuss why it’s important to get quality sleep during pregnancy, and cover some of the most important things to look for when choosing a mattress for pregnancy.

Why is Sleep Important for Pregnancy?

Sleep deprivation during pregnancy has been linked to postpartum depression, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, fetus size, longer labor and a higher chance of cesarean delivery. That’s not to mention the general effects of sleep deprivation, which include slower reaction time, negative mood, and a weakened immune system, among others. Unfortunately, getting quality sleep when you’re pregnant is easier said than done.

Research shows that pregnant women are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, heartburn, and restless legs syndrome. In addition, pregnant women tend to experience nausea, insomnia, anxiety over childbirth, back pain, fetal movements, and a frequent need to visit the bathroom, all of which can interfere with sleep quality.

Investing in a good mattress is the first step to improving your sleep during pregnancy. For more advice, read our article on how to get better sleep during pregnancy.

What to Look for in a Mattress for Pregnancy

The mattress industry is full of complicated jargon which can make it seem like an impossible task to understand how one mattress is better than another. In reality, it’s simpler than it seems.

All mattresses have two principal functions: to provide spinal support and pressure relief. They accomplish this using a combination of support layers and comfort layers.

Secondary to support and pressure relief are factors like temperature regulation and motion isolation, which are also important during your pregnancy. Following are some key points and a simple explanation of the most important things to look for in a mattress when you’re expecting.

• Price: Pregnancy is a big investment, and many expecting couples may not have the money to spend a few thousand dollars on a new mattress. You’ll have to weigh the benefits of quality sleep against the price, taking into consideration that a mattress should last you a good 6 to 7 years at least. It is a common misconception that a high-quality mattress will cost thousands of dollars. While this may be true for some models, there are several cheap mattress options that offer the same high-quality materials and strong performance as many of their more expensive counterparts. Most online mattress manufacturers offer payment plans that allow you to pay off your mattress in monthly installments.

• Sleeping Position: In the second and third trimester, doctors recommend that women sleep on their left side as it’s safest for the baby. Side sleepers often experience added pressure from the hips and shoulders digging into the mattress. Since you won’t be able to change sleeping positions as often as you normally would, the best mattress for the second and third trimesters will be one that provides close contouring and generous pressure relief.

• Mattress Type: Between innerspring and all-foam, latex or hybrid, the type of mattress that’s best for pregnancy will depend on your own body type, personal preference, and preferred sleeping position. Remember that you’ll be using your mattress after your pregnancy ends, so try to choose one that suits your regular body type and position preference as well as your changing needs during pregnancy.

• Contouring: Memory foam is the closest-conforming material, forming a “hug” that helps distribute body weight and reduce pressure points when sleeping on your side during pregnancy. Latex also conforms to a certain extent, and many hybrid mattresses use foam or comfort layers that offer a significant level of conforming.

• Quality Materials: The average lifespan of a mattress before it starts developing permanent body indentations or sagging is 6 to 7 years. Denser foams, natural latex, higher coil counts, thicker coil gauges, and other markers of high-quality construction can help guide you towards a more durable mattress.

• Firmness Level: Pregnant women will likely find that their firmness preferences change as the pregnancy progresses, making it difficult to settle on either a firm or soft mattress for pregnancy. You’ll be putting added pressure on your mattress as your baby grows, so you’ll need to have a mattress that continues to provide pressure relief without sagging under the extra weight. You may want to consider a flippable mattress or an airbed with adjustable firmness as you undergo changes in weight and eventually switch to sleeping on your side during your third trimester. Another option is to use a mattress topper for part of your term. If you and your partner have trouble deciding on a firmness level, you may opt to get a mattress with a different firmness on each side, or two twin XL mattresses that you can put together to make a split-king bed.

• Pressure Relief: Many pregnant women will prefer close-conforming mattresses that provide above-average pressure relief. That said, mattresses that allow too much sink may lead to pressure build-up due to inadequate spinal support.

• Edge Support: A bed with strong edge support can give better leverage when getting in and out of bed, which is important as your belly grows and you find yourself making frequent bathroom visits. Thanks to their coils, hybrid mattresses and innerspring mattresses tend to have the best edge support.

• Temperature Regulation: Many pregnant women suffer from night sweats due to changing hormones. If this sounds like you, try looking for a mattress with better airflow or more breathable materials to combat overheating. Hybrid and latex mattresses tend to be the most temperature-neutral, although some all-foam mattresses successfully use gel infusions or other techniques to reduce heat retention.

• Noise: Expecting couples need their sleep, so it’s important to choose a quiet mattress that doesn’t squeak and creak every time a person rolls over or gets up to visit the bathroom. All-foam or latex models make little to no noise, and hybrid mattresses make less noise than traditional innersprings thanks to the individually wrapped coils.

Which Mattress Firmness is Best for Pregnancy?

Mattress firmness is usually measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being extremely plush and 10 being extremely firm.

Generally speaking, side sleepers and people who weigh less than 130 pounds are most comfortable on a plusher mattress that conforms closely to align the spine and reduce pressure points. Stomach sleepers and people who weigh more than 230 pounds require a firmer surface that keeps the spine aligned by preventing heavier body parts from sinking too far into the mattress. Back sleepers and people between 130 and 230 pounds do best on a mattress that provides an even balance of spinal support and pressure relief.

Your needs are slightly different during pregnancy. A mattress that is too plush can sag under the weight of your growing baby, potentially contributing to back pain. But even though your body weight is increasing, you still need a sleeping surface that will conform enough to relieve pressure points in sensitive areas.

During your second and third trimester, as you start sleeping exclusively on your left side, your mattress has the dual job of cushioning the hips and shoulders while still supporting the spine. Pregnant women may benefit from a zoned mattress that’s firmer in strategic areas, providing alternate pressure relief and support where needed.

Memory foam comfort layers tend to be more plush while latex tends to be firmer, although this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Firmness is a personal choice and regardless of your body type or preferred sleep position, you may simply prefer a firmer or softer mattress. When choosing your mattress, try to consider what your needs will be during pregnancy as well as what kind of mattress you generally prefer sleeping on, for after the baby is born.

Which Type of Mattress is Best for Pregnancy?

Mattress types can be broken down into 5 general categories, each of which has particular advantages and disadvantages. That being said, you’ll find many variations within these categories depending on the quality, composition, and extra features used by each mattress manufacturer.

Hybrid

Definition: To qualify as a hybrid mattress, a mattress must have a significant comfort layer section over an innerspring support core, which is usually pocketed coils. The comfort layers can be made of latex, memory foam, polyfoam, micro-coils, wool, down, cotton, or fiber-fill.

Highlight: Balanced Feel. Hybrids tend to offer pressure relief and motion isolation rivaling all-foam beds, while the coils provide the increased airflow, reinforced edges, and more robust spinal support of an innerspring mattress.

Innerspring

Definition: Most people grew up with an innerspring mattress, which is mostly made of metal coils and may feature a thin layer of cotton or polyfoam on top. Innerspring mattresses rarely trap heat and they offer good edge support, but they lack pressure relief and tend to transfer motion to a significant extent.

Highlight: Ease of Movement. Innerspring mattresses have a bouncy surface and negligible sagging along the edges, making them easy to hop in and out of when you’re visiting the bathroom.

Latex

Definition: All-latex mattresses use latex in the comfort layers as well as the support core. Latex can be either natural or synthetic. Natural latex is breathable, durable, and quite responsive. It contours somewhat to relieve pressure points but can also be made in a firmer version that provides a stable support core.

Highlight: Cool Conforming. Latex offers pressure relief nearing that of memory foam, but without the heat retention.

Airbed

Definition: Airbeds are characterized by the air chambers in their support core, which can be inflated or deflated to adjust the firmness level according to the user’s preference. Most high-end airbeds include additional comfort layers over the air chambers, such as foam or latex.

Highlight: Customizable Firmness. Airbeds sometimes offer as many as 50 different firmness levels that you can adjust as often as you want. This may be ideal as the body’s needs progress throughout pregnancy. For couples who are expecting, it also allows each partner to choose their own firmness level.

Foam

Definition: Polyurethane foam (polyfoam) and its close cousin, memory foam, are synthetic materials that can be engineered to have a variety of characteristics. All-foam mattresses tend to have a high-density polyfoam support core with one or more plusher comfort layers to add pressure relief and prevent motion transfer. Some foam mattresses also include latex.

Highlight: Close Conforming. All-foam mattresses, especially those with memory foam comfort layers, contour more closely than any other material to provide relief from pressure points. This can help reduce pain in pregnant women, especially when sleeping on the side.