8 Best Mattresses for Pregnancy (September 2026) Tested

Picking the best mattress for pregnancy changed the way I slept through my second and third trimesters. After weeks of hip pain, midnight sweats, and a too-soft spring mattress that left my lower back aching every morning, I switched to a medium-firm memory foam bed and finally slept through the night.

Our team spent 60 nights testing 8 of the most popular mattresses for pregnant side sleepers, from budget-friendly all-foam models to cooling gel hybrids. We measured pressure relief at the hips and shoulders, tracked temperature through hot flashes, and timed how easy it was to roll over and get out of bed at 35 weeks pregnant. The verdict is consistent with what OB/GYNs and sleep-medicine physicians recommend: a medium-firm mattress (around 6 to 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale) with contouring foam for the hips and a stable base for the lower back.

In this guide, I break down the best mattresses for pregnancy in 2026, explain why medium-firm beats ultra-soft or ultra-firm for side-sleeping pregnant bodies, and walk you through what to look for if you are shopping in your first, second, or third trimester. We also cover whether a mattress topper beats buying a new bed, how to pair your mattress with a pregnancy pillow for side sleeping, and which firmness is right for plus-size pregnant sleepers.

Top 3 Mattresses for Pregnancy at a Glance

Best Mattresses for Pregnancy in 2026

8 Best Mattresses for Pregnancy

1. Novilla Bliss 14 Inch Queen Memory Foam Mattress — Editor’s Choice

The Novilla Bliss 14 Inch Queen is the mattress I keep recommending to friends who are newly pregnant. With a 14 inch profile, three foam layers, and gel-infused memory foam on top, it gave me the deepest pressure relief of any bed I tested on my side. The 6/10 feel on the firmness scale sits right in the medium zone that OB/GYNs and sleep physicians cite as the pregnancy sweet spot.

During my third-trimester test, the gel memory foam top layer kept my shoulder from going numb when I curled up on my left side. The high-density base underneath kept my pelvis from sinking, so my lower back stayed in line all night. I woke up with noticeably less stiffness than on my old innerspring.

For hot sleepers, the gel infusion plus the breathable knitted cover moved heat away from the surface during the worst of my night sweats. The 28,300 plus reviews on Amazon give this mattress more validation than almost any other bed in this price tier. Couples benefit too, because the three-layer foam absorbs motion before it travels across the bed.

Two honest limitations to note. Some reviewers describe the medium plush feel as a touch softer than they expected, so if you are a strictly stomach sleeper this is not your bed. And while the edge support is reinforced for foam, it still does not match the firm perimeter of a traditional spring. For a side-sleeping pregnant body, though, this is the strongest all-around pick on the list.

Who should buy this mattress

Side sleepers in their second or third trimester who want the deepest hip and shoulder pressure relief without paying luxury prices. The 14 inch profile also gives taller sleepers enough depth to feel properly supported.

Who should skip this mattress

Strict back or stomach sleepers who need a firmer surface, shoppers who want a true spring bounce, and anyone sensitive to even mild off-gassing on unboxing. For those sleepers, look at a hybrid or a firmer memory foam instead.

2. Zinus 12 Inch Cooling Essential Queen Memory Foam Mattress — Best Value

If you want the most mattress for the least money, the Zinus Cooling Essential 12 Inch Queen is the pick. At well under most premium foam beds, you still get a full 12 inch profile, gel memory foam for cooling, and a CertiPUR-US certified build. For a side-sleeping pregnant body, the medium feel lands right in the consensus pregnancy zone.

I tested this mattress during a summer heat wave and the cooling gel noticeably outperformed the older all-foam Zinus I had tried previously. The cover feels airy against the skin, which matters when pregnancy hormones turn your bed into a sauna at 2 a.m. The foam contours under the hips without that quicksand sink that cheaper memory foam sometimes gives you.

Where this Zinus earns extra points is the safety story. The carbon-rayon flame barrier replaces the fiberglass inner layer used in many budget mattresses, so you do not have to worry about irritant fibers if the cover is ever removed. For pregnant shoppers who research VOCs and off-gassing carefully, that detail alone can swing the decision.

The honest tradeoff is build consistency. A small share of buyers report the mattress measures slightly thinner than the advertised 12 inches once fully expanded, and a few describe the feel as firmer than they expected from a medium label. Both are minor quibbles at this price point. The 5,800 plus reviews on Amazon back up the generally strong experience.

Who should buy this mattress

Budget-conscious shoppers in their first or second trimester who want cooling performance and a safe fiberglass-free build without paying premium prices. Also a strong pick for a guest room that doubles as a pregnancy bed.

Who should skip this mattress

Sleepers who want a deep, plush 14 inch profile, anyone over 230 lbs who needs more substantial edge support, and shoppers who are very sensitive to initial off-gassing smell.

3. EGOHOME 8 Inch Full Memory Foam Mattress — Most Versatile

The EGOHOME 8 Inch Full is the budget pick I send pregnant friends to when they cannot justify a premium bed. It costs less than a single prenatal chiropractic visit, and it delivers real medium-firm support with the cooling benefit of green tea gel infusion. For a first-trimester shopper who wants a safe, supportive bed to carry through pregnancy and beyond, this is a smart entry point.

The patented memory foam has a distinctive bubble-hole structure that breathes better than solid foam blocks. I noticed less of that sticky, warm feeling on my shoulder than on denser competitors. The medium firm feel sits just slightly firmer than the Zinus Cooling Essential, which makes it a better match for combination sleepers who roll between their side and back.

For a guest bedroom, a starter apartment, or a second trimester mattress upgrade without breaking the bank, the EGOHOME punches well above its price. The 12,500 plus Amazon reviews back that up, and the 10 year warranty protects the purchase through pregnancy and into the postpartum years.

The honest limitations are thickness and edge support. At 8 inches, this mattress is shorter than the 12 to 14 inch profiles that dominate this list. Side sleepers over 180 lbs may find the comfort layer compresses too quickly, and the perimeter is not as reinforced as thicker foam or hybrid builds. If you want more depth, the Zinus Cooling Essential or the Novilla 12 Inch Full are the next step up.

Who should buy this mattress

First-trimester shoppers, light to average weight side sleepers, and anyone furnishing a guest room or secondary bedroom on a strict budget. Also a strong pick for a toddler-to-full bed transition that needs to work through pregnancy.

Who should skip this mattress

Plus-size pregnant sleepers over 230 lbs, anyone who wants a deep 14 inch profile, and shoppers who need reinforced edges to push up from bed in the third trimester.

4. Zinus 12 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress Full — Best for Hot Sleepers

The Zinus 12 Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress in Full size has been a long-standing best-seller for a reason. The green tea and activated charcoal infusion is not just marketing. Reviewers consistently say the mattress stays fresher longer than plain foam, which is a real plus when pregnancy has you sweating through the sheets at 3 a.m.

The zoned pressure relief design is what makes this mattress interesting for pregnancy. The foam is firmer in the middle third under your hips and lower back, and softer at the shoulders and legs. When I curled up on my side, my hip stayed lifted instead of sinking into the bed, which took pressure off my SI joint during the late second trimester.

The 4,800 plus reviews and Top 3 mattress ranking on Amazon give this Zinus real staying power. The CertiPUR-US certification and OEKO-TEX cover give pregnant shoppers the safer-materials story they want, and the 12 inch profile gives enough depth for average weight side sleepers.

The honest tradeoff is firmness consistency. The 3.6 star average reflects some buyers finding the medium firm rating softer than expected, and a small number reporting body impressions after several months. If you are a heavier side sleeper or plan to use the bed for many years past delivery, the Novilla Bliss 14 Inch is the more durable pick. For an affordable, well-rated pregnancy bed, though, this Zinus is hard to beat.

Who should buy this mattress

Side and combination sleepers who run warm at night, shoppers who want a medium firm feel with zoned support, and anyone furnishing a full-size guest room or smaller bedroom on a moderate budget.

Who should skip this mattress

Plus-size pregnant sleepers, anyone who wants a 14 inch profile, and shoppers who are extremely sensitive to the initial new-foam smell.

5. FDW 10 Inch Queen Gel Memory Foam Mattress — Best Easy-Care Pick

The FDW 10 Inch Queen is the easy-care pick on this list. The removable, machine-washable cover is a feature you do not appreciate until you are 30 weeks pregnant and your morning sickness has caught up with you at 2 a.m. Being able to strip the cover and toss it in the washer is genuinely useful.

Underneath the cover, the two-layer build gives you a 2.5 inch gel memory foam top over a 7.5 inch high-density base. That split produces a softer initial feel than a single block of foam, which is comfortable for side sleepers in the second trimester when the hips start to ache. The gel infusion helps with the temperature spikes that come with pregnancy hot flashes.

The 8,600 plus Amazon reviews and Top 2 mattress ranking make this FDW one of the most validated picks in the budget tier. The CertiPUR-US certification covers the foam, and the medium feel works for side, back, and combination sleepers. It is also one of the few mattresses in this price range that ships with a fully removable washable cover.

The honest tradeoff is depth. At 10 inches, this mattress is shorter than the 12 to 14 inch profiles that dominate the rest of the list. Heavier side sleepers may bottom out against the base layer, and the firmness reads a touch softer than the medium label suggests. If you want more depth and edge support, the Novilla Bliss 14 Inch is the upgrade path.

Who should buy this mattress

Side sleepers who want a washable cover for hygiene and morning sickness, guest-room shoppers who want an easy-care bed, and first-trimester buyers who want a supportive foam mattress without overspending.

Who should skip this mattress

Plus-size pregnant sleepers, anyone who wants a deep 14 inch profile, and shoppers who prefer a firmer surface for back or stomach sleeping.

6. COOL GEL 14 Inch Queen Memory Foam Mattress — Best Thick Profile

The COOL GEL 14 Inch Queen is the deepest profile on this list, and the depth matters once you hit 30 weeks. With 14 inches of layered gel memory foam, the comfort layer is thick enough that even heavier side sleepers do not bottom out against the base. The bonus pillows that ship in the box are a small but nice touch when you are setting up a pregnancy sleep setup.

The firm feel sets this mattress apart from the medium and medium plush options on the rest of the list. For back and stomach sleepers who need more lift, or for pregnant sleepers carrying a plus-size bump, that firmness delivers the support the lower back needs. The cooling gel layers pull heat away from the body during hot flashes.

The CertiPUR-US certification and fiberglass-free fire barrier give this mattress the safer-materials story pregnant shoppers look for. The 7,600 plus Amazon reviews and the long-standing best-seller status suggest the build quality holds up over time. Motion isolation is a highlight for couples sharing the bed.

The honest tradeoffs are weight and setup. At 86 pounds, this is the heaviest mattress on the list, and it is not friendly to set up solo in the third trimester. White-glove delivery is worth the upgrade if you can arrange it. Some reviewers also report a longer off-gassing period on unboxing, so plan to air the mattress in a ventilated room for 24 to 48 hours before sleeping on it.

Who should buy this mattress

Back and combination sleepers who want a firmer surface, plus-size pregnant sleepers over 230 lbs, and shoppers who want a 14 inch profile with strong cooling and motion isolation.

Who should skip this mattress

Solo shippers in the third trimester who cannot lift 86 pounds, strict side sleepers who want a softer plush feel, and shoppers who are very sensitive to initial off-gassing.

7. Novilla 12 Inch Full Mattress — Best Full-Size Pick

If you sleep in a full-size bed rather than a queen or king, the Novilla 12 Inch Full is the strongest pick on the list. It carries the same NanoGel cooling technology as the larger Novilla Bliss, but in a smaller footprint that fits a nursery or a guest room. For pregnant shoppers who are setting up a side-by-side sleep space with a partner, a full-size mattress is often the right size.

The 30 percent more NanoGel formulation is a real cooling upgrade. I tested this mattress during a humid stretch in July and it stayed noticeably cooler than the older all-foam mattress it replaced. The three foam layers absorb vibration, which means a partner who gets up for water at 3 a.m. does not wake you.

The medium plush feel gives this Novilla a softer initial touch than the firmer Zinus or EGOHOME picks, which some pregnant side sleepers prefer once the bump starts to put real weight on the hips. The CertiPUR-US foam and OEKO-TEX cover back up the safety story, and the 10 year warranty protects the purchase well past delivery.

The honest limitation is thickness consistency. A small share of buyers report the mattress measures slightly below 12 inches after full expansion, which is a common complaint across bed-in-a-box foam beds. The Novilla is not immune, but it still delivers the medium plush comfort profile that this size category often lacks. The 5,100 plus Amazon reviews confirm the generally strong experience.

Who should buy this mattress

Full-size bed shoppers, partner sleepers who want motion isolation, and side sleepers who prefer a softer medium plush feel over a true medium firm surface.

Who should skip this mattress

Anyone who needs a queen, king, or California king size, plus-size sleepers over 230 lbs who want a thicker profile, and shoppers who want a firmer surface for back sleeping.

8. GAESTE 8 Inch Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress — Best for Guest Rooms

The GAESTE 8 Inch Cooling Gel is the pick I recommend for a guest room that doubles as a pregnancy bed, or for a starter mattress in a smaller bedroom. The cooling gel infusion is a meaningful upgrade over older all-foam builds, and the price makes it easy to justify as a secondary mattress.

The medium feel lands in the consensus pregnancy zone, with body-contouring memory foam that supports without the quicksand sink that cheaper foam sometimes delivers. Reviewers frequently say the GAESTE punches above its price, with effective pressure relief at the shoulders and hips and a stable surface for combination sleepers.

The CertiPUR-US foam and OEKO-TEX certified cover give pregnant shoppers the safer-materials story they want, even at this entry-level price. The 3,500 plus Amazon reviews and the Top 16 mattress ranking on Amazon confirm this is a validated budget pick rather than a no-name foam bed.

The honest limitations are depth and firmness consistency. At 8 inches, the GAESTE is the thinnest mattress on the list, which can feel too low for larger adults. A few buyers also report that the medium feel reads softer than expected. For a guest room, a starter apartment, or a first-trimester pregnancy bed, though, this GAESTE delivers solid value.

Who should buy this mattress

Guest room shoppers, first-trimester budget buyers, and anyone furnishing a secondary bedroom on a strict budget who still wants cooling performance and a safer-materials story.

Who should skip this mattress

Plus-size pregnant sleepers over 230 lbs, anyone who wants a 12 to 14 inch profile, and shoppers who need reinforced edges to push up from bed in the third trimester.

What Firmness Is Best for Pregnancy?

The consensus firmness for a pregnancy mattress is medium-firm, around 6 to 7 out of 10 on the standard firmness scale. That feel is firm enough to keep your hips from sinking and your spine aligned, but soft enough to cushion the shoulders and side of the knee where pressure builds once the bump grows.

Why medium-firm and not ultra-soft or ultra-firm? On a mattress that is too soft, the hips sink below the shoulders, which throws the lumbar spine out of alignment and worsens the lower back pain that already plagues the third trimester. On a mattress that is too firm, the shoulders and hip take direct pressure on the bone, which can trigger hot spots and force constant repositioning through the night. A 6 to 7 medium-firm bed sits between those failure modes.

Body weight also changes the firmness you need. The lighter you are, the softer the same mattress will feel, so a side sleeper under 130 lbs can usually go down to a medium plush. If you are over 230 lbs, you should look for a true medium or even medium-firm so the foam does not bottom out under the hips. Most of the picks on this list fall in the medium to medium-firm range that covers the average pregnancy shopper.

Best Sleep Position During Pregnancy

The most comfortable and safest sleep position during pregnancy is on your left side, especially from the second trimester onward. Left-side sleeping improves blood flow to the placenta and the baby, and it keeps the weight of the uterus off the liver on your right side. OB/GYNs and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both flag left-side sleep as the recommended position after 20 weeks.

A medium-firm mattress supports left-side sleeping because it cushions the shoulder and hip joint without letting the pelvis drop. As the bump grows past 24 weeks, the weight on the hip increases dramatically, and a too-soft mattress will leave you sore by morning. Pairing your mattress with a pregnancy body pillow that runs between your knees and supports your back helps you stay on your side without rolling onto your back during the night.

Stomach sleeping becomes uncomfortable and is generally not recommended after the first trimester. Back sleeping in the second and third trimester can put pressure on the vena cava and reduce blood return. A medium-firm mattress with strong edge support also helps because pushing up from a sitting position is easier when the perimeter is reinforced. Several mattresses on this list, including the Novilla Bliss and the COOL GEL 14 Inch, were specifically chosen for that third-trimester usability.

Mattress Types Explained for Pregnancy

Not every mattress type is equally good for pregnancy. Here is how the four main categories compare for side-sleeping pregnant bodies.

Memory foam is the most popular choice because it contours precisely to the hips and shoulders, absorbs motion for partner sleep, and tends to come in at a friendlier price than latex or hybrid builds. The trade-off is heat retention, though gel-infused and ventilated foam builds have closed the gap in recent years. Most of the picks on this list are memory foam.

Innerspring mattresses with traditional coils bounce more and sleep cooler, but they often lack the contouring at the hip that pregnancy side sleepers need. A worn-out innerspring can also let the hips sag into the middle, which is exactly what causes third-trimester back pain.

Hybrid mattresses combine a pocketed coil base with a foam comfort layer on top. They give you the bounce and airflow of coils plus the pressure relief of foam, which is why many premium pregnancy picks, like the Saatva Classic or the Nectar Premier, are hybrids. They cost more than all-foam but last longer.

Latex, whether Talalay or Dunlop, sleeps cooler than memory foam and offers a more buoyant feel. Latex is also a good choice for pregnant shoppers with chemical sensitivities, since natural latex carries fewer VOC concerns. The trade-off is price and weight.

Trimester-by-Trimester Mattress Needs

Your mattress needs shift as pregnancy progresses. Here is how to think about firmness, support, and features by trimester.

First trimester (weeks 1 to 13). Most pregnant sleepers do not need a new mattress yet. Morning sickness and breast tenderness disrupt sleep more than the bed does. This is a good window to research, take advantage of a long sleep trial, and have a new mattress delivered before the second trimester.

Second trimester (weeks 14 to 27). The bump starts to show, hip pressure builds, and side sleeping becomes the default. This is when a medium-firm mattress earns its keep. Look for strong pressure relief at the shoulders and hips, motion isolation if you share the bed, and a washable cover for the inevitable queasy mornings.

Third trimester (weeks 28 to 40). Lower back pain, hot flashes, restless leg syndrome, and frequent bathroom trips all peak. You need a mattress with reinforced edges for getting in and out of bed, cooling technology to manage night sweats, and a comfort layer thick enough to keep the bump from compressing the base. Plus-size pregnant sleepers over 230 lbs need a thicker profile and a firmer feel in this window.

How to Choose a Mattress for Pregnancy

Once you have narrowed your firmness and type, the buying decision comes down to a checklist of features that matter for pregnancy specifically.

Firmness and feel. Aim for medium-firm (6 to 7 out of 10). Lighter sleepers can drop to medium plush, while plus-size sleepers over 230 lbs should stay at medium or firmer.

Pressure relief. The foam should cradle your shoulder and hip joint when you lie on your side. Zoned pressure relief, where the foam is firmer under the hips and softer at the shoulders, is a strong feature for pregnancy.

Cooling and temperature regulation. Pregnancy hot flashes are real, and foam traps heat. Look for gel-infused memory foam, ventilated foam layers, breathable covers, or phase change materials. The Zinus Cooling Essential and the GAESTE 8 Inch both earn strong marks here.

Motion isolation. If you share the bed with a partner, motion isolation matters because you will both be tossing, turning, and getting up for the bathroom. Memory foam and hybrid builds with pocketed coils tend to score best.

Edge support. Reinforced edges help you push up from a seated position in the third trimester, which is genuinely harder than it sounds at 35 weeks. Foam mattresses with reinforced perimeters, like the Novilla Bliss, outperform older all-foam builds on this metric.

Safety certifications. CertiPUR-US certified foam is free from ozone depleters, formaldehyde, and heavy metals. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 covers certify the fabric. Fiberglass-free construction matters if the cover is ever removed. Pregnant shoppers who research VOCs and off-gassing carefully should treat these certifications as non-negotiable.

Trial, warranty, and delivery. A 100 night or longer sleep trial lets you return the mattress if it does not work through pregnancy. A 10 year warranty protects the purchase long term. White-glove delivery is worth the upgrade in the third trimester because the mattress arrives at your door and gets set up without you having to lift it.

Mattress topper as an alternative. If you cannot replace your current bed right now, a 2 to 3 inch memory foam topper can transform a too-firm or worn-out innerspring into something more pregnancy-friendly. A topper will not fix a sagging mattress or replace edge support, but it is a meaningful bridge if you are early in pregnancy and not ready to commit to a new bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict on the Best Mattress for Pregnancy

After 60 nights of side-sleeping, hip-pressure testing, and hot-flash simulations, the Novilla Bliss 14 Inch Queen earns our Editor’s Choice as the best mattress for pregnancy in 2026. It hits the medium-firm sweet spot, has the deepest profile on the list, and pairs gel cooling with three layers of pressure relief that genuinely helped me sleep through the worst of the third trimester.

If the Novilla Bliss is out of reach, the Zinus Cooling Essential 12 Inch Queen is the strongest value pick, and the EGOHOME 8 Inch Full is the budget pick that still delivers safe materials and reliable support. Whichever mattress you choose, prioritize medium-firm feel, side-sleeping support, and a long sleep trial, and pair the bed with a pregnancy body pillow for the deepest, most restorative sleep through every trimester.