Asking for recommendations for a pillow-type brace for keeping my wife on her side. Any suggestions?

Hubby has central sleep apnea with cheyne-stokes respirations. He is on an adaptive servo ventillator at night. If he rolls over on his back, it could result in death, so we take it pretty seriously.

Not sure how adaptable your wife is, but my 84 year old husband found a solution that works, but takes getting used to. He purchased an $8, `water camel' at the Army Surplus (a tube shaped light weight back pack with a plastic water bladder that is used by hikers, bicyclists and military). He removed the bladder and substituted two hand towels rolled into tubes. The pack is worn like a back pack, secured with nylon straps and plastic clips at the chest and the waist. We had to trim the straps and changed one of the fasteners, as well as add a 3rd strap to keep it snug (so it doesn't shift during the night).

With his ASV mask, tubing, and now his pack...he slightly resembles an alien, but the pack works beautifully for him. You may need to find someone who can sew in case you need to shorten the straps for her.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

I often want to lie on my side for comfort, but want to lean my back on something rather than put all the weight on my side ribs and hip. I have an inflatable rubber roll that I have covered with the sort of non-slip open weave stuff that’s made as a drawer liner (eg cutlery drawers to stop noise as you drop cutlery in). I stitched it on, which took me about 5 minutes. I can take it off to wash if it’s sweaty. This means that the roll doesn’t slip easily on the smooth sheets, but it’s light and easily moved around manually. If your ‘wedge’ doesn’t stay put, you could try this.

I use an extra pillow & fold it under my mother’s back & she stays on her right side. I can’t switch to put her on her left side because she has a bad left shoulder…
here’s the long story; that she broke in 2013 ..when we went to Yankees Tampa Spring Training..in the airport hotel van ..I told man she needs help getting to her seat ..but he dropped her on her left shoulder. We were on our way to hotel! I said let’s go have it XRay ..Mom said..”No let’s go unpack at hotel..I’m fine.” So they saw her on camera walking into hotel! So when we got home, I took her for Xray & it showed fractured that healed…but it’s bothered her since! I took her 3 times to shoulder surgeon & 3 times she refused surgery! Oy! She was still walking with walker in 2013 & then we went back to the same place in 2014..same room..accessible. I dragged her walker on vacation…I got her wheelchair in airport..It was just us..no home health aides ..no other family members either..we went everywhere together!

Well, I forgot what I was answering about already…oh yeah..the pillow! My mother don’t stay on her side unless I hold her or keep pillow there. So try it.. Also always use bed underpads ..washable ones that you can turn her & pull her up with. I also put disposable one on top of washable one ..
Hugs 🤗

Try a body pillow -- those four-foot-long pillows that some people use to snuggle with. That'll keep her on her side, plus it'll support the entire length of her torso, so no one area has pressure on it.

Large Full Body Pillow Long Side Sleeper Loft Quilted Pillows Head Support Pillow for Adults Sleeping 20×54 inch (Single Pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VRTHS4C/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_XRG3R2F60QF0NGJF9HHE

I use one called kingnex firm latex leg/knee roll - it’s on Amazon - my mom calls it “the log” or “tree trunk”. It is pretty heavy and we used it in the beginning of her stroke to help keep her on her side when washing up and now we use it to help her left side not tip and sink to the left (she has hemiplegia on her left side). Again it has a good weight to it - Check it out.

Get a wedge shape bolster or pillow.
The wedge shape one I had used could be placed in several different ways allowing for a shallow prop or one that was deeper so you were laying on your side. I would vary them so that he was not in the same position each time. I also used pillows around the legs and between the knees.
I placed the wedge under the sheet that I used to move him (draw sheet) and that way I could more easily move it by reaching under the sheet.

I just used a big pillow 🤔. The point is to change the pressure points so she doesn't have to be 100% on her side, just different than where she was lying before.

I looked it up and a wedge is recommended but using a drawsheet.

"Stand on the opposite side of the bed.
Reach over the person and grab the drawsheet on the opposite side. Gently pull the drawsheet towards you while your buddy gently pushes the person's hip and shoulder towards you.
Place a pillow or a foam wedge under the drawsheet at the person's back. Position the pillow close against the back to help prop the person on her side.
Place another pillow or a specially designed foam leg wedge between the person's knees. This extra bit of support will add to her comfort by keeping the spine in alignment and easing pressure on the bony areas of the knees and ankles.
Use another pillow to prop the person's arms. This technique is done by sight. Nurses have found that most patients are comfortable with the arm on the side they are lying on, propped on a pillow to keep it from being compressed between the body and the bed.
Alternate between the back, right side and left side every two hours while you're awake."

Maybe the drawsheet holds the wedge in place. Maybe a body pillow with the wedge. Or a rolled up blanket.