Abstract:
A bifurcated pillow for use by expectant mothers so they can comfortably lie on their sides. The pillow supports an expectant mother&#39;s abdomen and legs and has soft flaps that engage the rear of the woman&#39;s legs so the pillow will remain in position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of pillows, and to the particular field of special purpose pillows. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Women in advancing stages of pregnancy typically suffer from discomfort due to a number of sources often resulting in a reduced ability to sleep. Current medical advice is for pregnant women to sleep on their side after the 18th week of pregnancy, as opposed to sleeping on their back, particularly sleeping on the left side. More particularly, curling up or stretching out on your side, preferably with one leg crossed over the other with a pillow positioned between the legs, is recommended. Sleeping on your back can result in the increasingly growing uterus pressing on major arterial vessels possibly resulting in a decreased blood supply for both the mother and the baby. Furthermore, proper positioning and support for the abdomen enhances kidney function and a resultant improved elimination of waste and, therefore, less fluids and less swelling of the ankles, feet and hands. 
   It is often difficult for a pregnant woman to sleep and rest during the latter stages of pregnancy. While there are many reasons for this difficulty, one of the principal reasons given by pregnant women and their physicians is the inability of a pregnant woman to comfortably support her expanded abdomen while lying in bed during the latter stages of pregnancy. And, of course, as a pregnant woman approaches full term pregnancy, expansion of her abdomen occurs at a faster rate and it becomes increasingly more difficult for her to obtain the sleep and rest which she requires. Unfortunately, this occurs at a time when the pregnant woman&#39;s physician is prescribing increased sleep and rest for the benefit of both the pregnant woman and her unborn child. 
   In the past, a pregnant woman&#39;s only practical alternative was to sleep and rest lying flat on her back during the latter stages of pregnancy. But, it is well known that many people are in the habit of sleeping and resting on either their right side or their left side. It is also well known that one&#39;s sleeping and resting habits are usually formed during early childhood. Often a pregnant woman who has been accustomed to sleeping and resting on her side since early childhood cannot comfortably sleep and rest on her back during the latter stages of pregnancy. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for supporting a woman&#39;s stomach and legs so she can sleep on her side during pregnancy. However, any such support should be stable so that once positioned, it will remain in position so any support will be more than transitory. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a bifurcated pillow for use by expectant mothers so they can comfortably lie on their sides. The pillow supports an expectant mother&#39;s abdomen and legs and has soft flaps that engage the rear of the woman&#39;s legs so the pillow will remain in position. 
   Using the pillow embodying the present invention will permit an expectant mother to support her legs and stomach while she lies on her side. The pillow will remain in place during sleep so the pillow will remain in position during sleep. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pillow embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the pillow. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the pillow. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a pillow  10  for supporting a woman&#39;s stomach while she lies on her side. Pillow  10  comprises a Y-shaped body  12  which includes a first leg  14  formed of medium soft foam. First leg  14  has a distal end  16 , a proximal end  18  and a length dimension  20  which is measured between distal end  16  and proximal end  18 . Leg  14  further includes a first surface  22 , a second surface  24 , a first edge  26 , a second edge  28  and a third edge  30  which is located adjacent to distal end  16  and which connects the first and second edges together. First leg  14  is located between the user&#39;s legs when the pillow is in use with the first and second surface being oriented in a horizontal direction. 
   Pillow  10  further comprises a second leg  40  formed of foam that is softer than the foam in the first leg. Second leg  40  has a distal end  42 , a proximal end  44  and a length dimension  46  which is measured between distal end  42  and proximal end  44  of the second leg. Length dimension  46  of the second leg is less than length dimension  20  of the first leg. Second leg  40  further includes a first surface  48  which is co-planar with first surface  22  of the first leg and a second surface  50  which is co-planar with second surface  24  of the first leg. Second leg  40  further includes a first edge  52 , a second edge  54  which is connected to second edge  28  of the first leg at the proximal ends of the first and second legs. A third edge  56  of the second leg is located on distal end  42  of the second leg and connects the first and second edges of the second leg together. 
   Pillow  10  further includes a third leg  60  which has a proximal end  62  which is connected to the proximal ends of the first and second legs, a distal end  64  and a length dimension  66  which is measured between proximal end  62  of the third leg and distal end  64  of the third leg. Third leg  60  further includes a first surface  70  which is co-planar with the first surfaces of the first and second legs and a second surface  72  which is co-planar with the second surfaces of the first and second legs. Length dimension  66  of the third leg is co-linear with length dimension  20  of the first leg. Third leg  70  further has a first edge  74  which is connected to first edge  26  of first leg  14  at proximal end  18  of the first leg and at proximal end  62  of third leg  60 . A second edge  76  of the third leg which is connected to first edge  52  of second leg  40  at the proximal ends of the second and third legs. The first edge of the second leg and the second edge of the third leg forming a smooth concave shape  80  which will be located adjacent to the user&#39;s stomach when the pillow is in use. 
   Second leg  40  extends at an oblique angle θ with respect to the first leg so pillow  10  has a skewed Y shape as can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A flap  90  is mounted on third edge  78  of the distal end of the third leg and extends perpendicular to and beyond the plane containing the surfaces of the first, second and third legs. Flap  90  is formed of foam which is similar in softness to the foam in the second leg. 
   A user lies on her side, places legs  14  and  60  between her legs, and places her stomach on the pillow adjacent to edges  52  and  76 , with flap  90  abutting her legs. The flap will hold the pillow in place so it will not fall out when the user shift&#39;s her position. The pillow supports the user&#39;s stomach and provides a comfortable and stable support for her. 
   While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.