If you just found out that you're pregnant, a maternity pillow is a must-buy. During the first trimester, sleeping may not be that difficult. However, as you enter the second trimester and your belly starts to grow, you may find that sleeping is such a chore. You don't have to go through your pregnancy the hard way. A maternity pillow is specially designed to provide support for pregnant women while they sleep.

I was relentless. I tried all positions, Sleeping on my side, Sleeping on my back. Sleeping with half of my body draped over him. Nothing worked. Until my sister-in-law who is a nurse at local hospital, told me about these great big maternity pillows. I have heard about them and seen them at my local store, but I thought that they were just regular body pillows and not specifically, good and well constructed maternity body pillow.

{Now that I am aware of what those big pillows are, I went back to my local home store and checked out the different styles and shapes, and found out what a good maternity pillow should have:|

• Wedge pillow – This maternity pillow is perfect when you're lying on your side. This maternity pillow is specifically designed to be inserted under the belly when lying on your side or between the legs to help align your hips preventing back pain.

• U or V shaped pillow – This big maternity body pillow can be used to support the abdomen and align your hips when you are sleeping on your side. This pillow basically cradles the sleeper and provides additional back support, making it the most wanted among pregnant women.

• Cylinder full body pillow – This is the most popular shape among all maternity pillows. Like its name, it is shaped like a long cylinder, usually as long as your body. It can be used in front of the body, under the abdomen and sometimes between the legs at the same time.

If you're having trouble sleeping, do not wait. Get one of these maternity body pillows. When I look back at those months when I was miserable and suffered tension headaches from lack of sleep, I feel negligent that I did not do enough research to find out that all I needed was a maternity pillow! Now, when I hear the good news that a friend is pregnant, I know exactly what to give her for her baby shower!