Filling level / Refilling / Emptying
To adjust the firmness level precisely to your preferences and individual needs, the nursing pillow can be refilled (or emptied) at any time. Depending on the duration and intensity of use, the filling may lose some of its firmness over time. With our refill pack, you can quickly and easily refill the pillow.
Different filling levels for nursing pillows
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1. Fill level approx. 70%: ‘Delivery condition’ of the Theraline pillow 2. approx. 60–80%: recommended for use as a positioning aidapprox. 60–80%: recommended for use as a positioning aid 3. approx. 50–70%: recommended for breastfeeding, depending on body size 4. approx. 40–60%: when used as a bed surround or baby nest* |
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* CAUTION! |
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Refilling
In this informative video, experienced midwife Constanze shows you step by step how to refill and empty the Theraline pregnancy and nursing pillow. All you need is a Theraline refill pack, which contains our original beads and a handy refill tube.
Remove the tube from the holder and insert it into the opening at the seam of the refill pack. Make sure that the tube is only inserted up to the mark.
Refilling can easily be done alone, but it is best to do it with a partner. Refill your pillow where any beads that may escape can be easily vacuumed up.
The refill opening on the nursing pillow cover is located opposite the care label on the outer seam.
Refill snorkel:
a) up to the mark on the refill pack (approx. 5 cm)
b) viewing window (approx. 5 cm)
c) into the cover (approx. 14 cm)
Hold the refill pack so that the tube is pointing upwards. Insert the tube into the refill opening of the inlet until it is approx. 5 cm deep (i.e. the tube must be inserted approx. 14 cm into the pillow).
Now hold the refill pack upwards so that the beads can flow into the pillow. Once the pillow is sufficiently filled, carefully pull the tube out of the pillow. Allow the remaining beads to flow back into the refill pack from the tube.
Removal of the filling
If the cushion seems too firm, the original beads can be removed until the desired filling level is achieved. To do this, either use the tube from the refill pack or roll up any A4 sheet of paper into a firm tube (Ø 1.5 cm). Then insert it about 14 cm into the tunnel opening of the pillow from above. When the pillow is then held with the opening facing downwards, the beads flow through the tube and can be collected in the refill pack or in a bag.
Tip: Have a vacuum cleaner ready to suck up any beads that may escape.
FAQs about refilling and emptying
Why do nursing pillows need to be refilled with original beads?
The firmness of our nursing pillows can be adjusted precisely to your preferences and needs. With prolonged and intensive use, the filling may also lose some of its firmness. Don't worry, this is completely normal for all nursing pillows and is not a sign of poor quality, as experienced midwives can confirm. The reason for this lies partly in the natural expansion of the cotton fabric and partly in the nature of the fresh polystyrene beads.
As a general rule, the greater the weight on the pillow, the faster and more severe the shrinkage. For example, if the nursing pillow is placed around the body, there will be hardly any decrease in volume.
Since many expectant mothers use the pillow before giving birth to support the side position, Theraline nursing and positioning pillows are filled a little more plumply than would be necessary for nursing. A certain loss of volume before nursing is even desirable in order to optimise the flexibility of the pillow for nursing.
The beads are not flowing through the tube. What can I do?
In most cases, the problem is that the tube has not been inserted far enough into the pillow. In this case, the beads do not flow in properly, but instead accumulate. Make sure to insert the tube deep enough into the tunnel opening of the pillow until you feel slight resistance. This ensures that the beads can flow freely into the pillow.
Where can I find the refill opening?
The refill opening is a self-sealing tunnel opening that is approx. 4 cm wide and 15 cm deep. The ‘snorkel’ is located on the nursing pillow ticking opposite the care labels on the outer seam.
My pillow does not have a tunnel opening. Can I still refill the pillow?
If the original Theraline nursing pillow was purchased before April 2015, it has a zip on the cover as a refill opening instead of the self-sealing tunnel opening. This previous version of our current pillow can also be refilled. We recommend refilling in a place where any beads that may escape can be easily vacuumed up and that two people carry out the refilling. Please proceed as follows:
1. First, pull the slider of the zip out of the tunnel that was put there to keep it safe.
2. Then, the helper should open the zip just enough for the tube to fit through.
3. Carefully and slowly pour the beads into the opening.
4. It is important to push the zip slider back to the end (!) of the tunnel at the end to prevent the filling from spilling out.
If a sewn pillow needs to be refilled, the closure seam must first be opened. This is best done with pointed scissors, e.g. nail scissors. The actual refilling can then be carried out in the same way as for nursing pillows with a refill opening. The pillow should then be carefully sewn up again to prevent the filling from escaping.
