Lie Safely on Your Belly During Pregnancy with a Holo!

These days, the market is full of competing products that are very very similar. It's not often you see one pop up that is so incredibly unique and cool that it just kinda blows your mind. Well, I'm about to introduce you to one of those today!

I bring you, the Holo - an inflatable air mattress that allows pregnant women to lie safely and comfortably on their stomachs! Genius, right???

I'm not to the uncomfortable stage in this pregnancy yet, but I remember quite well how impossible sleeping became towards the end last time. You aren't allowed to lie on your back or your belly, so are limited to your two sides, which ache terribly. Not to mention rolling over from one side to the other is quite an effort!! So, the Holo offers pregnant women the ability to relax and even sleep on their bellies again - hoorah!

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and I say mothers often make the best inventions. True to that, the idea for the Holo came to Emma Benson five years ago when she as 28 weeks pregnant with her first child. She began working on prototypes and test marketing three years later, after the arrival of her second child, and after several improvements the Holo hit the market in 2009.

My belly is still quite small, but knowing how big and uncomfortable I'm going to get carrying these twins, I couldn't wait to test the Holo out!

Here's my Holo - with the top part deflated (left) so you can use your own pillow, and fully inflated (right) as you might prefer when using it in the water.

I was most concerned that it might be lying down on my breasts. But, nope! What's really fabulous about the Holo is that it has 2 compartments that can be blown up separately (I used an air mattress electric pump and it took under 5 minutes, I don't recommend trying to blow it up by mouth). The section above the hole can be left deflated, allowing you to use your own pillows (which I prefer, so that my face isn't right up against the PVC; I also recommend airing it out for a minimum of a few days before using it, you know, off-gassing and all of that). Using this method, you can also have your breasts kind of in the space between the Holo and your pillows (see below). You will need 2-3 pillows though, to get you up to the height of the holo.

My preferred way, with the top section deflated and using a couple of my own pillows.

Alternatively, you can blow up both chambers (see below) and even that wasn't uncomfortable for my ta-tas (they kind of fit perfectly into a crease), though you may have an issue if yours are especially sensitive or if your milk has already come in. This would of course be the way to use it if you're going to be floating around in a pool or lake - summer is coming!!

The diameter of the belly hole is about 10" across and 8" deep, and it did pull my belly down into it a bit creating an arch in my back if I didn't engage my back muscles a wee bit. I haven't had the chance to use this for an extended period yet, and will definitely come back in to update my review after doing that as well as later in the pregnancy to see if my twin belly will actually fit in the hole!

Getting on and off of it also takes some getting used to, but that pretty much goes for any movement whatsoever during pregnancy, am I right!?? Anyway, all in all a really awesome product!! Besides sleeping and relaxing, it's also great for floating around if you have a pool or lake house, or if you have an amazing partner who gives you massages!!

You can purchase a Holo on their website, available in pink, blue, and mint. The Holo, including shipping, costs 49.99 pounds (about US $75)... but you can enter to win one in my $500 value jackpot Best for Your Bump Giveaway!!

ENTER TO WIN HERE!!

Disclaimer: Although I did receive this product free of charge, all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.