How to put pillow under hips to get pregnant

Couple in bed embracing, exploring the concept of using a pillow to get pregnant.
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Created with Natasha Lowe Osho, MD, FACOG, Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and Pre/Postnatal Fitness Specialist, USA

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In a nutshell

Some fertility specialists emphasize the role of sexual positions in aiding conception. Potentially, elevating the pelvis by placing a cushion under the hips can improve the odds of getting pregnant. This technique isn’t 100% proven but definitely worth a try.

Some women may have difficulties in conceiving even after numerous attempts. When this happens, couples may try everything to help the process along. 

Doctors recommend various methods that can increase the chances of conception, from making changes to your diet and lifestyle to diversifying your sexual positions. However, there are also many myths about the ideal methods to conceive that couples might be curious about. In this article,we’ll discuss if keeping a pillow under the hips immediately after intercourse can help you succeed. We’ll explore the advantages of this method and some helpful tips on the right ways of how to use pillow to get pregnant.

Science behind using a pillow under hips

There is no conclusive scientific evidence that certain sexual positions increase the odds of conceiving. A European study involving nearly 500 participants showed that immobilization after coitus didn’t improve pregnancy rates. Intrauterine insemination patients who remained lying after the procedure had no difference in pregnancy rates compared to those who got up right after it.

However, old habits die hard, and some doctors in fertility clinics may still advise women to lie down for 15–20 minutes after intercourse with a cushion under the hips or their legs upwards on the wall next to their bed. While not scientifically proven, this method is based on theories that have common sense behind them:

  1. When people have sex, sperm is released into the vagina. The sperm arrives at the cervix within seconds. In 2–15 minutes, it can be found in the fallopian tubes, where it meets an egg. When a woman places a pillow under her hips, it allows her to tilt the pelvis and help the sperm along the way, preventing it from exiting too quickly.
  2. The vagina has an acidic environment, which is hostile to the sperm. Since sperm survives in an alkaline environment, it needs to move away from the vaginal pH. Placing the cushion under the hips after sex may help prevent sperm damage and promote its way to the fallopian tube.
  3. This method is also popular since it may help diminish the risks of developing urinary tract infections you can possibly get after sexual intercourse. By elevating your hips, you can prevent bacteria from the genital area from reaching the urethra and causing an infection.

So, with potential positive effects on both pregnancy chances and general sexual health, many couples consider it a logical technique.

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How to use and put pillow under hips to get pregnant (with images)

Positioning a cushion under your hips is simple. Here are some steps on how to put pillow under hips to get pregnant – with images provided! – that you should follow:

  • After sex, remain lying flat on your back to help the sperm travel to the cervix.
  • Tuck a pillow under your hips. It should be thick enough to elevate your pelvic zone, but not too thick to cause discomfort. Gravity can help move the sperm toward the uterus and fertilize the released egg.
  • You can also try raising your legs against a wall. While there’s no scientific proof that it helps, some people believe it could potentially aid the sperm in reaching the uterus.
  • Avoid moving around, and try to relax. Sperm travels quickly, so you only need to remain in this position for 15–20 minutes. To be on the safe side, you may keep the pillow for 30 minutes. 
  • After 15–30 minutes, you can get up.
Infographic showing positions for using a pillow under hips after sex to improve chances of getting pregnant.

Questions from the Femia community

What’s the best type of pillow?

Choose a thick but firm pillow that allows you to raise your pelvis. It shouldn’t cause discomfort. The modern market offers various post-coital positioning cushions made of foam. They are contoured to support a woman’s buttocks, hips, and thighs. However, a regular pillow will also do—choose a comfortable and firm wedge cushion made of foam.

What’s the best timing for sex?

When trying to conceive, knowing your menstrual cycle is very critical for timing sexual intercourse. It helps you track your fertile days to increase your chances of becoming pregnant. If you have regular periods, you can use a “fertile window” to increase your chances of conceiving. This window includes five days leading up to ovulation, the day of ovulation, and one day after. This time in a woman’s cycle reflects the egg’s lifespan (1 day) and the sperm’s lifespan (five days). You can conceive at any time, but having regular sex during the “fertile window” enhances the odds of conception. Usually, women with regular periods ovulate about 12-14 days before the start of a new menstrual cycle. You can use a period-tracking app to track the length of your cycle and calculate the ovulation phase. However, the calendar method won’t be accurate for women with irregular periods.

Which sex positions are best for conception?

Women can get pregnant after having intercourse in any sex position! However, the positions described below provide deep penetration and allow the sperm to be ejaculated as close to the cervix as possible: 1) with a man on top (known as “missionary”), 2) with a woman on her fours and a man from behind (known as “doggy”), 3) side lying. Having sex in a standing position or with a woman on top can potentially make conceiving less likely because gravity works against her; however, this statement is theoretical. The sperm swimming toward the egg won’t “fall out” if a woman gets up, of course. So, just have sex in the positions you feel comfortable.

The bottom line

Getting pregnant takes some time and may require consultation with a medical professional. So, you can schedule a preconception checkup with an ob-gyn or midwife focused on family planning. Based on your analyses, the doctor will give you personalized fertility advice.  

While placing a pillow under the hips to boost chances of getting pregnant is mostly an old wives’ tale, there are some logical theories and other sexual health benefits behind it. So, while it might not increase the likelihood of conception, it won’t hurt either.  What’s most important is to find a sex position comfortable for both partners.

  • Infertility | CDC. www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/index.htm.
  • Harvard Health. “Making Fertility-friendly Lifestyle Choices.” Harvard Health, 25 Mar. 2017, www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/making-fertility-friendly-lifestyle-choices#:~:text=After%20lovemaking%2C%20it’s%20thought%20to,ejaculate%20slip%20toward%20your%20cervix.
  • Van Rijswijk, Joukje, et al. “Immobilization or Mobilization After IUI: An RCT.” Human Reproduction, vol. 32, no. 11, Oct. 2017, pp. 2218–24. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dex302.
  • Lin, Yen-Pin, et al. “Vaginal pH Value for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Vaginitis.” Diagnostics, vol. 11, no. 11, Oct. 2021, p. 1996. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11111996.
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  • Wilcox, Allen J., et al. “Timing of Sexual Intercourse in Relation to Ovulation — Effects on the Probability of Conception, Survival of the Pregnancy, and Sex of the Baby.” New England Journal of Medicine/˜the œNew England Journal of Medicine, vol. 333, no. 23, Dec. 1995, pp. 1517–21. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm199512073332301.
  • American Pregnancy Association. “How to Get Pregnant – Best Tips to Help You Conceive.” American Pregnancy Association, 29 Dec. 2022, americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/how-to-get-pregnant.
  • “Optimizing Natural Fertility: A Committee Opinion (2022).” American Society for Reproductive Medicine | ASRM, www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/optimizing-natural-fertility-a-committee-opinion-2021.
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