Pregnancy Help & Info

One of the less discussed symptoms of pregnancy is the experiencing of vivid dreams.  These can be more detailed and more lucid than regular dreams and may leave you feeling elated, worried or frightened.  They can be filled with vibrant colors and strange concepts.  Some women report dreaming they are walking naked in public.  Other dreams may involve feelings of being trapped and helpless.  Whatever the nature of your dreams, these are a perfectly normal part of pregnancy. 

There are a number of reasons why your dreams may be  more frequent and detailed during pregnancy.  Pregnancy is a time of great emotional changes for a woman, a rite of passage so to speak.  These changes lead to all sorts of new anxieties and stresses which are absorbed by your mind to find an outlet through dreams.  Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy include increased production of estrogen which is believed to elongate the REM period of sleep.  This is the phase in the dream cycle where the most easily remembered dreams occur.  So the reason for your increased dreams may simply be that you have an enhanced ability to recall them during pregnancy.  As a pregnant woman you are also more likely to have trouble sleeping.  Cramps and back aches make for poor sleeping patterns, and consequently dreams that you have are more easily remembered than dreams that occur during a good night’s sleep.  For more information on how your dreams may change during the stages of your pregnancy, visit http://www.pregnancy-info.net/vivid_dreams.html . 

If you find your dreams are beginning to frighten or distress you, discuss them with your partner. Talking about your dreams aloud might make them seem less frightening.   Try to relax before you go to sleep and make sure the room is dark. Remove anything that might increase worry or anxiety.  Don’t drink a lot of fluids before you to bed. The more disturbed your sleep, the greater your chances of having disturbing dreams.   

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