Pregnancy body pillow

Abstract

A pillow device for pregnant users features a symmetrical pillow body with a generally planar top surface to provide uniform support along the inner leg—foot, knee, and upper leg—keeping them in a horizontal plane. The pillow includes a lengthwise elongate opening that divides the pillow body into two arms, allowing the user to rest their torso between the arms while positioning the base between the legs. The symmetrical design allows easy switching between left and right recumbent positions without repositioning the pillow. The elongate opening may vary in length and width and is may be reinforced to prevent wear. The pillow body may include an access opening for replacing fill material and a removable cover for cleaning. In some embodiments, the pillow is foldable into an L-shape to provide upright back support for seated activities such as nursing. Materials include foam, memory foam, polyester, or other suitable fill types.

1 . A pillow device optimized for a pregnant user, comprising:
 a pillow body having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the pillow body is symmetrical along a central longitudinal axis and defines a generally planar top surface for supporting a user's legs in a horizontal plane;   an elongate opening extending lengthwise through a central portion of the pillow body and forming two opposing pillow body arms separated by said elongate opening;   wherein the planar top surface provides uniform support along the inner surfaces of a user's foot, knee, and upper leg when the user is in a recumbent position, such that the foot, knee, and upper leg rest in a substantially horizontal plane parallel to the surface the pillow lies upon;   wherein the symmetrical shape of the pillow body allows a user to switch between left and right recumbent positions without repositioning the pillow.   
     
     
         2 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate opening is located equidistant between two lengthwise edges of the pillow body. 
     
     
         3 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate opening is rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate opening is less than seven inches wide. 
     
     
         5 . The pillow device of  claim 4 , wherein the elongate opening is less than three inches wide. 
     
     
         6 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongate opening is between one-half and three-quarters of the length of the pillow body. 
     
     
         7 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein a vertex at a base of the elongate opening is reinforced with a patch to prevent cracking or splitting due to wear. 
     
     
         8 . The pillow device of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement patch is stitched to the pillow body or integrally formed from a material different from the rest of the pillow body. 
     
     
         9 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , further comprising an access opening in the pillow body configured to allow removal or replacement of interior fill material. 
     
     
         10 . The pillow device of  claim 9 , wherein the access opening is secured using a zipper, hook and loop fastener, buttons, clasps, or ties. 
     
     
         11 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable pillow cover conforming to the shape of the pillow body. 
     
     
         12 . The pillow device of  claim 11 , wherein the pillow cover comprises an opening along a lower edge for inserting or removing the pillow body, the opening being securable by a zipper, hook and loop fastener, buttons, clasps, or ties. 
     
     
         13 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the pillow body slopes downwardly from outer lengthwise edges toward the elongate opening, forming a bowl-shaped support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow body is selectively bendable into an L-shape along its lengthwise direction for supporting a user in a seated position against a vertical surface. 
     
     
         15 . The pillow device of  claim 1 , wherein the pillow body and arms are constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of: foam, memory foam, latex, cotton, down fibers, polyester, wool, or microbeads.