Dreams during pregnancy, how the nights change even before the birth of the baby
One is led to think that sleep, that of the mother, undergoes major changes after the birth of the child, “thanks” to the predictable countless sleepless nights. Instead, even in pregnancy, things can change, and quite a lot.
Between insomnia, tiredness, the difficulty in finding the right position, but also getting used to the idea of the arrival of the baby, you could find yourself struggling with sleep problems even before having a wad in your arms.
The more tired you feel, the more your body craves a good night’s rest. Surely trying to increase the hours of sleep can be useful for you to feel better, perhaps possibly helping you with an adequate pregnancy pillow . However, you may notice some important differences in the quality of your sleep.
In fact, many future mothers and new mothers say they have experienced more dreams, and different from before, during pregnancy.
What’s different about pregnancy dreams?
Almost everyone dreams. Dreams occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is the deepest stage of sleep.
During dreams, you may see images and experience emotions, and some dreams can even trigger ideas. Some people remember their dreams after waking up, while others may have multiple different dreams, but are unable to recall any of them in the morning.
Dreaming is therefore a completely normal component of sleep. But during pregnancy, you may notice a difference in both the frequency and types of dreams you have. It is a common fact that during the nine months we remember more of the dreams we have, but also that we experience more intense dreams, it is not even that uncommon to have unpleasant nightmares.
More intense dreams during pregnancy
Some people often have vivid dreams during deep sleep. These include for example dreams with powerful, intense emotions and images so clear and vivid, that it seems as if events are actually happening.
But while vivid dreams can occur in anyone, pregnancy appears to trigger vivid dreams in particular. Instead of blurry images that you can barely piece together, these dreams feel so real. When you wake up you may need a few more moments to distinguish between dream and reality. In short, give me a pinch, am I still dreaming or am I awake?
More frequent dreams
Some pregnant women say they dream much more than before pregnancy. It is possible either that they are actually dreaming more in an 8-hour sleep cycle, or that the increase is due to the fact that they sleep many more hours than before the pregnancy, if one considers afternoon naps (having the possibility to do them ).
Remember, pregnancy can cause fatigue. The more sleep you get, the more likely you are to increase your REM sleep and consequently your dreams.
Dreams related to pregnancy or motherhood
Pregnancy is an emotional time, the mother is carrying a life within her, and she can’t wait to hug her baby.
Because of this excitement, mixed with a little nervousness (which is completely normal when facing a similar path), it is completely natural and common to have dreams involving her and the child she is carrying.
Pregnancy is a very engaging phase of existence that is fully lived every day, thoughts are mainly focused on it; so it’s no surprise that those thoughts also show up during sleep.
This is why dreams in which the child has already been born and are held in one’s arms are frequent.
Some women say they dream of the child talking to them, they dream of calling him by name, they dream of whether it is a boy or a girl.
Dreams that create anxiety
Don’t be surprised if you have dreams that cause you anxiety.
Preparing for the arrival of a baby takes time and energy. And as excited as you are about it, you may experience concerns at the same time.
Dreams can highlight some of your greatest fears and anxieties. It could be anxieties about the economic situation, about the ongoing pandemic, related to childbirth, or to work when you will be mothers…
With so much on your mind, it’s only natural that dreams can bring out your fears.
Nightmares
In the same way that you may experience joyful and exciting dreams in pregnancy, there is also the possibility of dealing with your worst nightmares.
Nightmares in pregnancy are not uncommon, as this 2016 study highlighted , and are typically triggered by your emotions. They could be caused by fears related to labor and delivery or something you are afraid will happen to the baby.
These nightmares can take different forms. You may dream of forgetting the baby or losing it. Or, if you have had a miscarriage in the past , you may dream that it happens again. Finally, dreams of feeling lost or trapped are also common during pregnancy.
These types of dreams are normal, but undoubtedly distressing and annoying.
Is it easier to remember dreams during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, some dreams may be easier to remember.
Before pregnancy, you may have had difficulty remembering dreams in the morning, so much so that you thought you were incapable of dreaming.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.