|  | Family Health | Womens Health

The Best Support Pillows for Women

Don't think of pillows as only for the bedroom. As a woman, you need supportive pillows for a number of reasons that men don't. What makes a pillow the best for support purposes will differ, depending on the reason they are needed -- there isn't a one-size-fits-all support solution. The best support pillows will meet the size, shape and material recommendations for the problem it is to address.

  1. Pregnancy Pillows

    • Pregnancy pillows offer the best support for a pregnant woman when she experiences back pain. This is because pregnancy support pillows are longer in length than regular pillows for the head, offering contours and shapes that support and wrap around more than one part of the female body at a time. According to "Net Wellness," as a woman's center of gravity changes due to a heavier uterus, back pain occurs. Back pain and a woman's changing abdominal size make pregnancy pillows the best support pillows for expectant mothers.

    Breastfeeding Pillows

    • The best breastfeeding pillow will depend upon your breast shape, whether you have twins and the size of your waistline. Breastfeeding pillows can be circular in shape, curving to the upper body and providing support as you nurse. They can be rectangular in shape, better aiding those with larger waistlines. Large-breasted women benefit from the breast pillow, which is shaped to rest beneath the breast as they nurse. For the new mom with twins, there is even a twin nursing support pillow.

    Travel Support Pillows

    • The best back support pillow to use to prevent problems during a long trip is a lumbar support pillow, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Foam is typically the material of choice used for these pillow types. Make sure your car headrest extension is adjusted to rest directly behind your head, as well, and use a circular neck support pillow -- referred to as a horseshoe pillow -- to provide additional support for your neck.

    Hemorrhoid Pillows

    • The best way to reduce hemorrhoid pain and swelling is by sitting on a support pillow instead of chairs with hard seating surfaces, according to an issue of "Harvard Women's Health Watch." Buttock support pillows also help prevent hemorrhoid formation, as well. Since hard surfaces are to be avoided, a pillow that offers plenty of cushion, such as a feather pillow, is the best support pillow for this problem.

    Sleep Pillows

    • The best support pillow for back sleepers is a flat pillow for their head, which has a rounded edge to it, to accommodate the curve of the neck during sleep. The best support pillow for women who sleep on their sides is one with a higher neck support than head support, such as a memory foam pillow, according to "Neck and Shoulder Pain," a publication of Harvard Medical School.

Womens Health - Related Articles