Positional Therapy · Clinician Designed
A pillow built on a decade of sleep surgery data
Over more than a decade of NHS practice I audited the sleep studies of 6,044 patients with snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. The pattern was striking: 60.3% no longer met the clinical threshold for sleep apnoea when sleeping on their side, and 85.7% showed an improvement of at least 20%. The mechanics are simple — in the recovery position the face is angled slightly downward, and gravity pulls the tongue and soft palate forward rather than allowing them to collapse into the throat.
The Side Sleep Pro is the pillow I designed to take advantage of this. It is not a lifestyle product. It is a sleep tool, built from the inside out by a surgeon who knew exactly what was needed to hold a body in the recovery position comfortably enough to stay there all night.
"My lowest O2 level has improved from 75% to 91%. My 3% oxygen drops are now averaging just 1 per hour." Side Sleep Pro customer review
What's in the system
The head pillow
Contoured to position the head at the precise angle required for the recovery position — face slightly downward, neck supported, airway open. The shape relieves pressure on the ear, shoulder and jaw so that side sleeping remains comfortable for an entire night rather than just an hour or two. CPAP masks are accommodated without dislodging the seal.
The body pillow
Extends from torso to between the knees, supporting the hip and providing the physical resistance that prevents back-rolling. Most commercial body pillows are either too soft to prevent the user rolling back, or too firm to remain comfortable. The Side Sleep Pro body pillow is engineered to hold its position under bodyweight while remaining comfortable through the night.
Key features
- Engineered foam core with airflow design to dissipate heat
- Super-soft square-stitched pillow covers — comfortable from night one
- Fully removable, machine-washable covers
- Compatible with CPAP machines and full-face / nasal-pillow masks
- Tested across body weights from 40 kg to 140 kg
- Designed for users 5'4" and above; adaptable for shorter users
- Includes a step-by-step guide for the 2–3 week adjustment period
The five sleeping positions
The Side Sleep Pro accommodates five distinct side-sleeping positions, each suited to different body types and preferences. Most users settle into one naturally — the system supports all of them.
- Pointing Recovery — arms extended; the classic recovery position
- Standard Recovery — arms folded; the most natural for first-time side sleepers
- Foetal Side Sleep — knees drawn up; excellent for lower-back comfort
- Sky Diver — arms raised above the head; suits broader-shouldered users
- Superman Flying — arms fully extended upward; preferred by some CPAP users
The clinical evidence
The pillow is built on the principle of positional therapy — a well-established approach in sleep medicine that is underused mainly because the available products have, until now, been inadequate. The headline data from my own NHS audit:
- 60.3% of patients achieved AHI normalisation in the lateral position
- 85.7% showed at least a 20% improvement in OSA severity
For the majority of patients who turn out to be positional, the right pillow can be the difference between needing surgery or CPAP and not needing it. The Side Sleep Pro was designed to be that pillow.
"Combining the device with this sleep system has increased my REM sleep by an average of 40% (Garmin data)." Sam Bolder — Side Sleep Pro customer
"Made the biggest single difference to my quality of life out of any treatment or device for my sleep apnoea management." Side Sleep Pro customer review
What to expect in the first month
Most people need 2–3 weeks to fully adapt to sustained side sleeping. The most common challenge in the first week is hip and shoulder pressure — which comes from sleeping on a surface that wasn't designed for it. The body pillow addresses this directly. By the end of the third week the position becomes the default; many users report the deepest sleep they have had in years.
Buy and learn more
The Side Sleep Pro is sold through iwantgreatsleep.com, the dedicated product site. You can also download the free Your Sleep Position eBook below for a full guide to positional therapy, the data behind it, and how to start.