Home / Pregnancy & birth / Your second trimester / Vivid dreams in pregnancy Pregnancy by week 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 3434 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 Baby By Month 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 Vivid dreams in pregnancy - why you have them and what they mean Medically reviewed by Dr Shauna Fannin 11th Nov 2022
Everybody has dreams. But when you’re pregnant you may find you start to dream more and that the dreams you have are particularly vivid. Nightmares in pregnancy are also common.
But what exactly is going on? Why do you have vivid dreams in pregnancy and are they anything to worry about?
Key takeaways
Vivid dreams and nightmares are common in pregnancy due to hormonal changes, disrupted sleep, and heightened emotions.
These dreams often reflect subconscious worries about birth, motherhood, or changing identity, and don’t mean anything bad will happen.
They are normal and not harmful, but improving sleep habits can help if dreams become distressing.
In this Article
Why do we dream?
Why am I having vivid dreams in pregnancy?
What do my dreams in pregnancy mean?
Why am I having nightmares in pregnancy?
Are vivid dreams in pregnancy anything to worry about?
Why do we dream?
To understand vivid dreams in pregnancy, it’s first important to understand why we dream.
There are a few theories on this. Some researchers believe that they are just a meaningless by-product of all the brain activity that takes place while we sleep. However, others believe that when we dream it is our brain having a sort out – where it orders memories, solves problems that may be playing on our mind, and deals with emotions.
Why am I having vivid dreams in pregnancy?
Everybody dreams – and if you sleep for eight hours, you will normally dream for around two hours of that.
It’s thought that dreams can occur during both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, but are more prevalent during REM, which occurs after the first three stages of NREM sleep, around 90 minutes after you fall asleep. You have around four cycles of REM sleep per night with each one getting longer as the night progresses. During these REM cycles you are likely to dream vividly as this is when your brain is most active.
And why does pregnancy make dreams more vivid? Pregnancy triggers changes in hormones, your sleep pattern and emotions and these have been cited as being the cause of vivid dreams. These changes may influence your anxiety levels as well as on the way your brain processes information and emotions.
What do my dreams in pregnancy mean?
It’s thought that dreams often express your subconscious worries, so your pregnancy dreams are likely to reflect your anxiety and worry about the impending birth and being a mum.
So, if you have a dream about leaving your child on its own, for example, or making a mess of feeding or nappy-changing, then this is simply reflecting your nervousness about what’s to come. But this doesn’t mean that you are going to struggle, rather it shows how much you care and worry about your baby – as your dreams are reflecting that. Equally, dreaming about running away, or being trapped in a room may tie into concerns you have about losing your independence. Your dreams in pregnancy may also reflect concerns over changes in your looks, or to your relationship, or about what your baby will look like.
You may also have lots of sexy dreams while pregnant, many women do as sex drive can increase around the 13 weeks mark. This could be due to pregnancy hormones or increased blood flow to the pelvic area, but is perfectly normal – just enjoy it!
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Why am I having nightmares in pregnancy?
Everyone has nightmares from time to time, but for some women nightmares in pregnancy are a common occurrence. These may be about something happening to the baby, or about problems during labour and birth.
This is completely normal, as it’s something you’re probably worried about anyway, but it can still be frightening and unsettling. Talking about your nightmares with your partner or midwife may help you come to terms with them. Relaxation and breathing techniques may also help you to reduce any anxiety you are feeling.
And try and remember that they are only dreams. Just because you have dreamt something, doesn’t mean it is going to come true.
Are vivid dreams in pregnancy anything to worry about?
No – they are completely normal and natural. But, if you find vivid dreams in pregnancy troubling, or are having nightmares, then it may be a good idea to try and get a more comfortable night’s sleep, so you wake less often.
Things to try include:
Experiment with different sleeping positions
Change the temperature of your bedroom
Develop a calm bedtime routine
Avoid screens in the hour before bedtime
Be physically active during the day
Avoid caffeinated drinks, especially in the evening
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Home / Pregnancy & birth / Your second trimester / Vivid dreams in pregnancy Pregnancy by week 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 3434 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 Baby By Month 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 Vivid dreams in pregnancy - why you have them and what they mean 
Medically reviewed by Dr Shauna Fannin 11th Nov 2022 
Your guide to pregnancy pillows 
Fatigue and tiredness in pregnancy 
How to tell your boss you're pregnant 
Pregnancy exercises 
Food cravings during pregnancy 
Antenatal Classes: What to Expect 
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