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Best Mattress for Pregnancy in 2026
Sleep Foundation
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The Sleep Foundation product testing team uses an industry-leading evaluation process paired with real world consumer feedback to come up with objective recommendations so that you can feel confident in your product decisions.
Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for your and your baby’s health. But between nausea, heartburn, backache, anxiety, and night sweats, pregnancy can make it difficult to sleep. The right mattress can have an enormous impact on the quality of your sleep. More than ever, you’ll need a mattress that relieves pressure from sensitive areas while providing support for your growing baby bump.
Our #1 Pick: Luxury Firm WinkBed
The Luxury Firm WinkBed is our top pick for expecting moms thanks to its close, adaptive contouring can minimize lower back pain and pressure along the spine. This mattress also sleeps cool and minimizes night sweats with a moisture-wicking cover.
Read on to see our full list of best mattresses for pregnancy of 2026 based on performance ratings from our in-house testing team, in-depth product inspections, and verified reviews from real mattress owners.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
:Luxury Firm WinkBed
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Most Comfortable
:Helix Midnight
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Best Value
:Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
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Best for Side Sleepers
:Nolah Evolution 15
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Best for Back Pain
:Bear Elite Hybrid
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Best Mattress + Adjustable Base Combo
:Puffy Cloud Smart Bed Set
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Best Cooling
:Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
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Best Luxury
:Birch Luxe
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Best for Spinal Alignment
:Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid
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Best Mattress Deals Happening Now
- Save $771 — Luxury Firm WinkBed
$1,799(List Price $2,570) - Save $333 — Helix Midnight
$999(List Price $1,332) - Save $150 — Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
$449(List Price $599) - Save $797 — Nolah Evolution 15
$1,480(List Price $2,277) - Save $799 — Bear Elite Hybrid
$1,485(List Price $2,284)
How We Tested the Best Mattresses for Pregnancy
Testing Criteria
Sleeping needs can vary throughout pregnancy, so a mattress that works well in the first trimester may not be ideal in the third trimester. We focused on some sleeping factors that usually matter most during pregnancy, even as your priorities evolve.
- Adaptive contouring: By adjusting to the shape of the sleeper’s body throughout pregnancy, adaptive contouring can enhance comfort and improve spinal alignment, while minimizing motion that could otherwise interrupt sleep.
- Pressure relief: Contouring combined with cushioning often relieves pressure by redistributing weight and ensuring the sleeper’s body doesn’t press against the firm mattress core. This can make it easier for pregnant sleepers to rest comfortably without needing to change positions in response to sore spots.
- Strong edge support: A stable perimeter can make it easier for pregnant people to get in and out of bed, but it can also expand how big the bed feels, which may be especially beneficial later in pregnancy.
How We Evaluated
To start, we combed through our database of testing data for over 2,000 mattresses, narrowing the list by focusing on the traits most relevant to comfort during pregnancy. We prioritized models that have the following:
- Variety of firmness levels
- High-quality construction in different types of beds, including hybrids, innerspring, and foam
- Above-average scores in pressure relief
- Great temperature regulation and cooling systems
Once we identified the top contenders, we tested them further in our Seattle Test Lab for a closer look at the contouring, pressure relief, and edge support pregnant sleepers may experience.
While not every member on our testing team has been pregnant, we have, however, spent countless hours learning just about everything there is about mattresses and how to pick the right ones. We’re constantly testing out new models, expanding our database, and looking to see how we can help our readers sleep better — including expecting moms with ever-changing needs.
Besides considering ourselves mattress experts, we also consulted people who have gone through pregnancy to see what helped them get the best, most comfortable rest.
Based on these lab results, we selected the best mattresses for pregnancy, choosing models that not only excelled in our tests but also represent a diverse mix of firmness levels, materials, and performance features suited to different sleep positions and trimester-specific needs.
Our Testing Team
Logan Foley
Editorial Director
Full Bio
Mary Fenton
Head of Product Content
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Jeremy Klein
Senior Product Testing Manager
Full Bio
Brad Nehring
Senior Product Analyst
Full Bio
Colin Simpson
Product Research Manager
Full Bio
Best Overall: Luxury Firm WinkBed
Best Overall
9.5/10Test Lab Score
Luxury Firm WinkBed
High end hybrid bed providing ample support, cushion, and cool sleep.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Back and side sleepers, as well as stomach sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds.
- Feel: Medium firm (6) Balanced: plenty of cushioning but not so soft that testers felt they were sinking or “bottoming out.”
- What It’s Made Of: Dual-layer Euro-top with gel-infused polyfoam. There’s an additional polyfoam transitional layer, then a support core made from pocketed coils, separated into five zones.
- What We Don’t Like: Transfers motion.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Most Comfortable: Helix Midnight
Most Comfortable
9.1/10Test Lab Score
Helix Midnight
A highly customizable, universally appealing hybrid.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers, as well as back and stomach sleepers, especially those between 130 and 230 pounds.
- Feel: Matches your body’s shape to absorb impact and help evenly distribute your weight without compressing too deeply.
- What It’s Made Of: Comfort system has memory foam and polyfoam layers. An additional polyfoam layer creates a transition between the upper layers and the pocketed coil support core. Base layer is polyfoam.
- What We Don’t Like: Lacks edge support.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Best Value: Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
Best Value
8.6/10Test Lab Score
Brooklyn Bedding CopperFlex Memory Foam
Hugs and soothes pressure points for restful sleep.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side sleepers over 130 pounds, as well as hot sleepers.
- Feel: Medium firm (6). Conforms closely to your body, creating a cradle for your unique curves and contours, while keeping you on an even plane.
- What It’s Made Of: Top polyfoam layer sewn to the cover, two memory foam layers for extra cushioning, and zoned transitional foam. Two high-density foam layers make up the support core, and the cover is made from GlacioTex cooling fabric.
- What We Don’t Like: Strong off-gassing odor for up to 72 hours after unboxing. Too soft for back and stomach sleepers over 230 pounds.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Best for Side Sleepers: Nolah Evolution 15
Best for Side Sleepers
8.7/10Test Lab Score
Nolah Evolution 15
A cloud-like experience with a plush euro-top in multiple firmnes options.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Stomach, back, and side sleepers, as well as hot sleepers.
- Feel: Surface is soft and plush. It cushions the body well without feeling like you’re sinking.
- What It’s Made Of: Seven inches of polyfoam separated into four layers that each have a distinct purpose and goal. They rest on top of an 8-inch pocketed coil support core that’s split into zones to offer different levels of pushback. A plant-based fiber pad acts as a base.
- What We Don’t Like: Transfers motion.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Best for Back Pain: Bear Elite Hybrid
Best for Back Pain
8.5/10Test Lab Score
Bear Elite Hybrid
A close-conforming memory foam hybrid offering great pressure relief.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side and back sleepers, as well as hot sleepers.
- Feel: Adapts to your body’s shape, helping to cushion sore areas while evenly distributing weight. Supports lower back and midsection.
- What It’s Made Of: Quilted cover with cooling phase change material. The comfort system has layers of copper-infused memory foam and zoned polyfoam. The pocketed coil support core rests on top of an additional high-density polyfoam stability layer.
- What We Don’t Like: Too compressive for stomach sleepers.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Best Mattress + Adjustable Base Combo: Puffy Cloud Smart Bed Set
Best Mattress + Adjustable Base Combo
8.0/10Test Lab Score
Puffy Cloud Smart Bed Set
A pressure-relieving mattress and adjustable bed combo.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Side and back sleepers, as well as couples.
- Feel: Medium (5). Adaptive, body-hugging, and excellent at preventing motion transfer. Has a zero-gravity mode.
- What It’s Made Of: Memory foam comfort layer, a polyfoam transitional layer, and a polyfoam support core.
- What We Don’t Like: Expensive. Too soft for most stomach sleepers.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Best Cooling: Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
Best Cooling
8.7/10Test Lab Score
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe
Luxury hybrid with deep foam layers and cooling technology.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Back and side sleepers (medium soft and medium).
- Feel: Plush while supporting the spine. Doesn’t retain heat.
- What It’s Made Of: Three layers in the comfort system: two of polyfoam and one of memory foam, infused with gel and copper. The pocketed coil support core has three zones with different levels of pushback. Base layer is high-density polyfoam.
- What We Don’t Like: Not supportive enough for sleepers over 230 pounds. Transfers movement.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Best Luxury: Birch Luxe
Best Luxury
9.3/10Test Lab Score
Birch Luxe
Luxury latex hybrid with a medium firm feel.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: People over 130 pounds.
- Feel: Buoyant and energizing. Responds to movement and cushions the body without compressing significantly. Even sleep surface that’s supportive from edge to edge.
- What It’s Made Of: Organic cotton quilted Euro-top, followed by three layers of organic wool. Next, a layer of ventilated latex and a zoned pocketed coil support core also with wool and rayon.
- What We Don’t Like: Too bouncy for light sleepers. Too firm for sleepers under 130 pounds.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
Best for Spinal Alignment: Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid
Best for Spinal Alignment
9.1/10Test Lab Score
Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid
A perfectly balanced bed that fits most sleeper and body profiles.
Key Details
- Who It’s Best For: Sleepers above 130 pounds, side and back sleepers in particular. Also good for those with back or joint pain.
- Feel: “Hugging” sensation without feeling trapped in the bed. Feels cushiony and structured.
- What It’s Made Of: Polyfoam quilted into the organic cotton mattress cover, followed by a memory foam lumbar pad. The comfort system has an additional layer of gel-infused memory foam. The pocketed coil support core features high-quality steel.
- What We Don’t Like: Allows motion to transfer.
Scoring & Reviews
The following ratings show how suitable this mattress is for different sleeping positions and sleeper weights. These scores are determined by how well the mattress supports and relieves pressure for each sleeper type.
In addition to the hands-on feedback from our team, we conduct a number of quantitative tests in our Test Lab. The below ratings are based on the experience of our testers.
Performance
How to Choose the Best Mattress for Pregnancy
When you’re pregnant, each trimester will bring new challenges to your sleep. The first trimester means rising progesterone levels, which result in daytime sleepiness. Some people 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 people experience nightmares and heartburn.
For most people, 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, pregnant people 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 people. 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.
- Price: Having a child is a big investment, and many expecting couples may not have a few thousand dollars to spend 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 at least 6 to 7 years. It’s a common misconception that a high-quality mattress is pricey. While this may be true for some models, there are several inexpensive mattress options that offer the same high-quality materials and strong performance as many of their more expensive counterparts. And 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 pregnant people 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: The type of mattress that’s best for pregnancy — whether innerspring, all-foam, latex, or hybrid — will depend on your body type, preferences, and sleep position. Remember that you’ll be using your mattress after pregnancy, so choose one that suits your regular body type and position preference as well.
- 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. Keep in mind people who are allergic to latex should avoid sleeping on a latex mattress.
- Quality materials: The average lifespan of a mattress before it starts developing permanent body indentations or sagging is 6 to 7 years. We’ll break down specific materials below, but denser foams, natural latex, higher coil counts, thicker coil gauges, and other markers of high-quality construction can help guide you toward a more durable mattress.
- Firmness level: Mattress firmness is usually measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being extremely plush and 10 being extremely firm. But pregnant people will likely find that their firmness preference changes as the pregnancy progresses. 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, which contributes to back pain. Consider a flippable mattress, an airbed with adjustable firmness, or a zoned mattress that’s firmer in strategic areas. Another option is to use a mattress topper for part of your pregnancy.
- Pressure relief: Many pregnant people prefer close-conforming mattresses that provide above-average pressure relief. That said, mattresses that allow too much sink may lead to pressure points due to inadequate spinal support. “With rapidly changing uterine size, body weight, joint laxity and center of gravity, it’s no wonder pressure points change throughout pregnancy,” says Dr. Alyssa Dweck, M.D. FACOG.
- 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 people experience night sweats due to changing hormones. If this sounds like you, look 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. 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 Type of Mattress Is Best for Pregnancy?
Mattress types can be broken down into five general categories, each of which has particular advantages and disadvantages.
Hybrid
Definition: To qualify as a hybrid mattress, a mattress must have comfort layers 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: Hybrid mattresses 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 greater extent.
Highlight: Innerspring mattresses have a bouncy surface and negligible sagging along the edges, making them easy to hop in and out of.
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: 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: 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 sleeping together, 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: 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 people, especially when sleeping on the side.
Why Is Sleep Important for Pregnancy?
Sleep is important for everyone, to be sure, but 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. 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 people are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, heartburn, and restless legs syndrome. In addition, pregnant people 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.
How We Test: Your Comfort Is Our Science
Our industry-leading product testing team cares deeply about improving your sleep. Having a holistic understanding of a mattress’s role as part of a sleep system is paramount to our testing process. Since a bed’s comfort and feel depend largely on body weight and sleeping position, our testing team represents a wide range of body types, sleep positions, and comfort preferences.
In our Seattle-based Test Lab, we use an objective, hands-on process to evaluate mattresses across performance categories. The following are the key guidelines that inform our performance ratings. Our ultimate goal is to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best purchase decision for you.
Construction analysis: Mattress construction plays a major role in our ratings system. We begin our testing with a top-to-bottom analysis of each mattress, making note of its materials, firmness, thickness, and other physical attributes. Price-point is another major factor as we assess quality of materials and overall value.
Quantitative product testing: For hands-on testing, our team members take turns lying and moving on each mattress. This immersive process helps us evaluate beds for performance categories like motion isolation, pressure relief, ease of movement, and temperature control.
Field testing: Once we’re finished testing a mattress in our lab, one of our team members takes it home and sleeps on it in their own bedroom for two to three weeks. Field testing helps us understand how each mattress performs in the long term.
User feedback: In addition to our team’s testing data, we draw from customer surveys and product reviews to calculate our final ratings. This helps us ensure our findings are consistent with real-world experiences.
How We Determine Our Overall Scores
To determine a mattress’s overall score, we assign weighted percentages to performance categories based on how important they are to the individual sleep experience. For instance, areas like pressure relief and temperature control tend to matter more to people than something like off-gassing, and because more people sleep on their side and back than on their stomach, we weigh those positions more heavily
Performance Categories
Motion Isolation
This criteria alludes to the amount of motion a mattress absorbs when a sleeper moves on the surface. We use two testers lying side by side to evaluate motion isolation, who each feel for transfer while the other person moves on the mattress.
Temperature Control
To determine how well a mattress regulates temperature, we perform temperature tests and look closely at its materials and construction. Many mattresses are designed with cooling components meant to reduce heat retention.
Pressure Relief
A bed with strong pressure relief excels at preventing pressure from building up in areas like the shoulders and hips. Beds with even contouring and weight distribution are top performers when it comes to pressure relief.
Off-Gassing
A mattress in a box may release unpleasant chemical odors for a short period after you’ve unboxed it. The initial smell may be strong but typically fades within 2 or 3 days.
Ease of Movement
This criteria reflects how easily a sleeper can move across a bed’s surface. Responsive surfaces made of latex typically perform better than foam surfaces, which can inhibit movement.
Edge Support
We perform sit tests along a bed’s perimeter to measure how well the edges push back against weight. Mattresses with strong edge support have minimal sagging when sleepers sit on or lie close to the perimeter.
Dive Deeper – Mattress Guides by Purpose
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.
Best Mattress by Specific Purpose
Still have questions? Ask our community!
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Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.
Dr. Alyssa Dweck is a practicing gynecologist in Westchester County, New York. She provides care to women of all ages and has delivered thousands of babies. A graduate of Barnard College, she has a Masters Degree in Human Nutrition from Columbia University and her Medical Degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, now named Drexel University. Dr. Dweck trained at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where she was Chief Resident in 1994.
Learn more about our medical advisory board