Pregnancy Dreams: An A-Z Guide
Are your pregnancy dreams especially vivid (and strange!)? Scroll through our pregnancy dreams guide and decipher what your subconcious is trying to tell you!
Mysterious, exceptionally realistic, and sometimes just plain wacky dreams are a common occurrence during pregnancy. In the olden days, many confinement nannies believed that what you dreamt during pregnancy gave valuable insight into you and your baby’s health and well being.
Are you curious about your pregnancy dreams? Keep a journal stashed by your bed and jot down notes each morning, then use our handy A-Z guide to decipher what your baby might be trying to tell you!
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Acorns: “From little acorns big oak trees grow.” The acorn is a metaphor for pregnancy. (Also see Forests)
Animals: Animals in dreams remind us to trust our instincts. (Also see Attack, Birds, Cat, Dolphin, Snake, Whale, Zoos)
Airplanes: Airplanes symbolize travel, change, and a desire to be in a new and different place, either physically or emotionally. (Also see Attack, Cars, Flying, Journey)
Armor: A symbol of protection; a way to keep both mother and baby safe from outside elements. (Also see Attack, Castles)
Attack: Dreaming of being attacked has a fairly literal meaning. It could indicate fear or anxiety about some unknown part of your life. Perhaps you are feeling vulnerable, either at work or at home. Try to discern who your attacker is, as this will yield some powerful insight. (Also see Airplanes, Animals, Birds, Armor, Knife, Monster)
Babies: Expectant parents and parents of young children often dream of babies. These dreams take many forms, from babies who are born deformed or become lost, to dreams of abandonment and death. These dreams are not premonitions; rather they are simply a parent’s way of dealing with the anxiety and responsibility inherent in parenting. (See also Birth, Boy, Family, Girl, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Twins)
Bank: Dreams of financial institutions likely reflect an anxiety about finances.
Bath: This represents the womb and may be symbolic of your need to nurture yourself. (Also see Water)
Bed: Sometimes dreams are direct messages. If you find yourself dreaming of beds, it may be that you need to get more rest in preparation for the big event.
Bees: While pregnant, you may feel a bit like the queen bee, happy to get all the attention but exhausted from being the one in charge. (Also see Flowers)
Bird: Seeing a bird in your dreams can equate to freedom and success. You may have a sense after having a bird dream of feeling like you’ve risen above something, for example a pregnancy-related anxiety or some negative feelings about impending birth and motherhood (or something negative in your own past). (Also see Animals, Attack, Egg, Fleeing, Flying, Forest, Nest, Zoos)
Birth: This is a common dream as a pregnant woman approaches her due date. Such dreams act as a “trial run” and help prepare the mother for the big event. (Also see Babies, Boy, Family, Girl, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Twins)
Boy: If you dream of a little boy or giving birth to a boy it could be a premonition. But it may also symbolize your maternal power developing and an increase of power in your family. (Also see Birth, Girl, Pregnancy)
Boyfriends/Girlfriends: There’s nothing like pregnancy to bring ex-lovers back into your dreams! Don’t worry; this is simply your mind’s way of clearing them from your life once and for all. (Also see Infidelity, Marriage, Past, Sex)
Bridge: This is a classic symbol of transition. Water is often involved as well. The key to the meaning of the dream is whether or not you were able to cross the bridge. (Also see Journey, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers, Water)
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Calendar Date: This is one of the few dreams that could be prophetic, especially if you are closing in on your due date. (Also see Clocks, Past)
Candle: A candle is a symbol of spirituality—the “light” of the child inside of you. (Also see Fire)
Cars: Such dreams are related to the level of control you have in your life. The physical condition of the car, as well as your location in the car (for example: Are you the one driving, or are you a passenger?) are reflections of how in control you are feeling. (Also see Airplanes,Bridge, Journey, Traffic)
Castles: A castle could indicate a feeling of victory, an expression of joy at being pregnant. The thick walls, moat and drawbridge, and fortress-like aspect of the structure also suggest a feeling of protection or wanting to keep the baby safe and secure. (Also see Armor, Bridge, Home, Houses, Stairs)
Cat: Pregnant women often dream of giving birth to cats, possibly because a cat is about the same size as a baby. The cat is a feminine symbol. (Also see Animals, Zoos)
Caves: A cave symbolizes a haven and a retreat, and is a very powerful symbol of Mother Nature and the womb. (Also see Forest, Monster, Snake)
Circle: A powerful symbol that indicates completion of a journey or a feeling of completion. (Also see Earth, Egg, Ring)
Clocks: Time becomes a common theme as a woman gets closer to her due date. (Also see Calendar Date, Past)
Coffins, and other symbols of death, are not premonitions. Rather, they are symbols of change and moving on in a career or in a relationship.
Cooking: This is another metaphor for the process of pregnancy. (Also see Eating, Egg, Fire, Fruit, Harvest, Kitchen, Knife, Milk)
Dolphin: The dolphin is tied to feminine sexuality. Take note of how connected you feel to the dolphin in your dream. (Also see Animals, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers, Water, Whale, Zoos)
Ear: The shape of the ear closely resembles a fetus. The ear may be a metaphor for your baby.
Earth: A very common grounding theme, indicating a oneness with nature. (Also see Airplanes,Circle, Flying, Home, Island, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers, Water)
Eating: Dreaming of a particular food may be your mind’s way of alerting you to a deficiency in your diet. If you dream of oranges you might need to eat more vitamin C, for example. Similarly, dreams of blood and meat may indicate a need for more iron. Eating can also be symbolic of a woman’s state of mind about her pregnancy. If she is picking at her food, barely partaking, she may be ambivalent about motherhood. In contrast, if she is sitting down and eating a meal with gusto, this indicates she is fully prepared to embrace her role. (Also see Egg, Fruit, Harvest, Kitchen, Knife, Milk)
Egg: This is a classic symbol that often appears in dreams in the early stages of pregnancy—sometimes this is a woman’s first indication that she is pregnant! (Also see Birds, Eating, Circle, Cooking)
Elevator: Dreams of elevators often indicate movement or transition in our lives. (Also see Falling, Opening, Stairs)
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Falling: This is a common dream, indicating uncertainty about the future. Not surprisingly, it is especially common among pregnant women. (Also see Airplanes, Elevator, Fleeing, Opening, Stairs)
Family: This symbolizes a feeling of completion now that you are pregnant. Conversely, dreams of family could indicate that there are some issues that need to be resolved. (Also see Babies, Boy, Birth, Girl, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Twins)
Fire: Fire symbolizes passion and could also indicate concern over a major life transition. (Also see Candle, Cooking, Fleeing, Water)
Fleeing: This is connected with a feeling of helplessness, of being out of control of one’s life and one’s body. (Also see Attack, Airplanes, Birds, Falling, Home, Infidelity, Opening, Stairs)
Flowers: If in full bloom, the flowers are a positive symbol of the beautiful life growing inside of you. If the flowers are wilted, it could be a direct warning that you need to drink more water. (Also see Bees, Opening, Water)
Flying: Such dreams are fortuitous, and represent freedom and release. Dreaming of flying late in the pregnancy can signify an easy birth. Flying is a metaphor for personal power and overcoming obstacles. (Also see Airplanes, Attack, Birds, Earth, Falling, Fleeing, Journey)
Forests: Forests often represent unacknowledged fears. There is darkness, mystery, and just a bit of magic to a forest. Take note of what you find in the forest: Objects, other people, or animals may be hidden in the trees. They’re there for a reason! (Also see Acorns, Birds, Caves, Flowers, Journey, Monster, Nest, Snake, Walking)
Fruit: This is symbolic of life and could also represent the unborn child. (Also see Eating, Harvest, Kitchen, Knife)
Girl: The girl you dream of could either be yourself at a young age or a premonition of the sex of your child. (Also see Babies, Birth, Family, Hair, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Twins)
Gold: Gold is a powerful element and could be symbolic of the richness of the pregnant life.
Gun or other weapon: Both are a symbol of aggression and protection. If you are the one doing the attacking, take note of who you are fighting. If you are defending yourself, this indicates a strong sense of worth. A knife has sexual connotations. (Also see Armor, Attack, Knife)
Hair: Hair has many meanings. It is associated with beauty, where lack or loss of hair symbolizes passing youth. Long hair represents creativity, while short hair, or hair that’s been cut, indicates lack of creativity. (Also see Boy, Girl)
Harvest: This represents the cycle of nature, and the need for patience. (Also see Cooking, Eating, Fruit, Kitchen, Knife)
Home: Home is often a metaphor for pregnancy. The feelings you have toward the “home” are key. (Also see Castles, Houses, Kitchen, Stairs, Key)
Houses: House imagery is common in pregnancy, for obvious reasons. A pregnant woman is “housing” her child, and the house itself (i.e. her body), is in constant state of change. It is not unusual for a pregnant woman to dream of adding rooms to the house, tacking on porches or additional levels, both as a representation of making more room for the baby as well as a metaphor for the change in the size and shape of her body. (Also see Home, Castles, Kitchen, Stairs, Key)
Husband: The interaction between you and your husband is critical to the interpretation of the dream. If you dream of him being aloof and standoffish, it may be that you need him to participate more in your pregnancy. (Also see Boyfriends/Girlfriends, Infidelity, Marriage, Ring, Sex)
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Infidelity: Such dreams are not uncommon among pregnant women. They represent an understandable uncertainty about how the child will affect the marriage. (Also see Boyfriends/Girlfriends, Marriage, Past, Sex)
Island: Another great metaphor for the relationship between mother and her unborn child. (Also see Dolphin, Earth, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers, Water)
Jewels: Precious stones symbolize the inner self as well as the unborn child.
Journey: This is a fairly literal symbol of the nine-month journey of pregnancy. (Also see Airplanes, Bridge, Cars, Flying, Traffic, Walking)
Joy: Dreaming of joy may be your mind’s way of encouraging you to express joy more fully while awake.
Key: A phallic symbol as well as one that is representative of a new sense of freedom. (Also see Car, Home, Houses)
Kitchen: Cooking and baking symbols are rampant in pregnant women’s dreams. The analogy is of preparation and nurturing. (Also see Cooking, Eating, Home, Houses, Knife)
Knife: A symbol of aggression. A knife also represents a penis and may indicate the dreamer’s fear of intimacy or sexual relations. (Also see Armor, Attack, Cooking, Eating, Gun, Kitchen)
Knitting: This indicates nurturing and preparing for the baby’s arrival.
Laboratory: Analogous to preparation for childbirth and parenting.
Marriage: If you dream of marriage, take it literally. It is likely that you want to get married or are about to be married. (Also see Boyfriends/Girlfriends, Husband, Infidelity, Past, Pregnancy,Ring, Sex)
Milk: This is likely a literal dream as your body begins to prepare for milk production. (Also see Cooking, Eating, Kitchen)
Miscarriage: This is a typical anxiety dream, and in no way should it be considered a premonition. Check with your doctor if you are at all concerned. (Also see Babies, Birth, Boy, Family, Girl, Pregnancy, Twins)
Monster: Monsters appear frequently in children’s dreams and represent a feeling of insecurityor lack of safety on the child’s part. When adults dream of monsters, it represents some unresolved trauma or fear that needs to be overcome. (Also see Attack, Caves, Fleeing, Forest, Snake)
Movie Stars: When pregnant women dream of movie stars it represents the starring role they are playing in their own lives. (Also see Performing)
Mountains: Mountains represent challenges to be met, the stages of the pregnancy journey, the arduousness of the process and the ultimate victory at scaling the heights. If you dream of descending the mountain, rather than ascending it, you may be nearing the end of your pregnancy. (Also see Airplanes, Caves, Forest, Journey, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers, Snake, Walking, Water)
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Nest: This could be related to the classic nesting syndrome most pregnant women experiencearound their due dates. Dreams of a nest may be your mind’s way of alerting you to some important preparatory details left undone. (Also see Birds, Forests)
Nudity: Nudity represents feelings of vulnerability and symbolizes how a pregnant woman’s condition is exposed to the entire world. (Also see Pregnancy)
Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers: Water represents fertility, motherhood, and the flow and movement of life. A woman who dreams of water is likely experiencing a deep connection with her pregnancy, and is very tuned-in to the more primal aspects of it. (Also see Airplanes, Bridge, Journey, Water)
Opening: Dreaming of opening a gift, or opening a series of doors, could refer to the imminent birth and opening up of a new area of your life. (Also see Key)
Past: People, places, and events from your past likely represent unresolved issues that need to be addressed. (Also see Boyfriends/Girlfriends, Infidelity, Sex)
Performing: If you dream of being on stage or performing, it could represent insecurity about how well you will play your part as a mother. (Also see Movie Stars)
Pregnancy: If you dream of being pregnant, it is likely that you are attempting to conceive or have some unresolved issues surrounding having children. (Also see Babies, Birth, Family, Girl, Miscarriage, Twins)
Quilt: This could represent family and old-fashioned values, part of the nesting process.
Rainbow: This is a beautiful symbol representing your feelings about your pregnancy.
Ring: A ring symbolizes commitment and connection. Loss of a ring in a dream suggests disappointment in a relationship. (Also see Marriage, Husband)
School: This is a classic anxiety dream, reflecting insecurity about your abilities in certain areas of your life.
Sex: Just as dreams of eating food could indicate a lack of certain nutrients in your diet, dreams of sex could signify a need for more sex, or at least more romance! It can also represent a woman’s joy at the role she is playing in the life cycle. There is no denying it—sex is a critical component of pregnancy! (Also see Boyfriends/Girlfriends, Husband, Infidelity, Marriage)
Snake: Due to their phallic shape, snakes represent sex; they also indicate growth and wisdom. (Also see Animals, Zoos)
Stairs: Stairs appear frequently in dreams as a symbol of movement and advancement toward a goal. Stairs also represent sex, according to our friend Sigmund Freud, due to the rhythmic nature of climbing them. (Also see Castles, Homes, Houses)
Storms: Violent storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes reflect instability, especially among family members.
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Telephone: The telephone symbolizes communication. Difficulty using a telephone in a dream often indicates frustration or blocked communication.
Traffic: This is a common element in anxiety dreams as the subconscious plays through various scenarios of what could go wrong. (Also see Car, Journey)
Twins: Dreams of twins do not necessarily indicate that you will be having twins. More likely you are meeting your child, who in the dream is the other half of you. (Also see Babies, Birth, Family, Girl, Miscarriage, Pregnancy)
Trains: Indicates movement or motion in life, especially where career or relationships are concerned. (Also see Airplanes, Journey)
Uniform: Dreams that contain this symbol may be expressing your resentment at assuming the “uniform” of motherhood. Perhaps you worry you will be constrained by the role in some way.
Walking: If you are dreaming of going on long walks, it could symbolize the journey of pregnancy, or it could be a more literal meaning of needing to get more exercise. (Also see Journey)
Water: This is a common element in dreams. Water represents emotion, the womb, and fertility.The behavior of the water is key. Is it buoying you up, or pulling you along in a swift current? (Also see Baths, Bridge, Flowers, Journey, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers)
Weaving: This is a common metaphor for the process of producing life.
Whale: The whale is a powerful symbol of feminine power and creativity. (Also see Animals, Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers, Water, Zoos)
Zoo: A pregnant woman often feels as though she is in a zoo—everyone is looking at her and there is no place to hide! If zoos figure prominently in your dreams, it could be a sign that you need to create more private space for yourself. (Also see Animals, Birds, Cat, Dolphin, Snake, Whale)
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Vivid Dreams
Have you been experiencing a lot of strange dreams lately? Perhaps you have dreamt about walking around naked in front of a crowd? Maybe you have dreamt that you have given birth to a chipmunk or even a fish? Though these dreams may be strange, rest assured they are a very common occurrence during pregnancy. In fact, the majority of pregnant women report an increasing number of vivid dreams throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy. But why do these vivid dreams occur so frequently during pregnancy and what can you do about them?
Dream Deluge
Pregnancy is a time of many changes, both physical and emotional. From morning sickness to breast tenderness, mood swings to constipation, the changes often seem limitless when it comes to pregnancy. And one of the biggest changes that pregnant women notice is an increase in their number of dreams. You may notice that you experience an increase in all types of dreams, including:
● joyful dreams
● anxiety dreams
● nightmares
You may also notice that your dreams appear to be more detailed than normal, and are filled with fantastic colors and more vivid features than prior to pregnancy.
Are Pregnancy Dreams Normal?
Though these vivid dreams can often be confusing and even frightening, it is entirely normal to experience a large number of dreams during pregnancy. There are a variety of reasons that can help explain this dramatic increase in dreams:
● Pregnancy Hormones: Throughout your pregnancy, your body pumps out a variety of different hormones, including progesterone and estrogen. It is thought that these hormones affect the way we sleep at night, causing us to experience longer periods of REM sleep. It is during REM sleep that our minds begin to dream.
● Increased Waking: Pregnant women are much more likely to wake up during the night than women who aren’t pregnant. Whether you have a leg cramp or a backache, you may find that you wake up several times every night. When your body wakes up from a deep sleep, it has better dream recall than it would had you slept through the night. This means that you may be experiencing more vivid dreams simply because your body is better at recalling them.
● Pregnancy Anxiety: Pregnancy is a time of distinct changes, many of which are scary and overwhelming. You probably have a number of anxieties over becoming a parent: for instance, you may worry how you will handle having a baby and if you will be a capable mother. Our subconscious mind often works through these anxieties while we are sleeping, in the form of dreams.
Common Pregnancy Dreams
Many pregnant women experience dreams that are similar in content or theme. Some commonly-reported pregnancy dreams include:
● dreams of falling
● dreams of running
● dreams of being trapped
● dreams of baby’s gender
● dreams of baby’s appearance
● dreams of labor and delivery
Don’t be surprised if many of these are unpleasant in nature. Because of all the anxiety and stress that pregnant women experience, dreams often take on a frightening tone. But this is simply your mind’s way of working out your worries and fears. You will also find that much of your excitement about pregnancy also translates into your dreams.
Dream Development by Trimester
Many dream studies have shown that dreams tend to change from trimester to trimester of pregnancy. During the first trimester, women have reported dreaming of water and water symbols. This may be because of the increased amniotic fluid inside of your womb. During the second trimester, women report an increase in dreams about animals. This could be triggered by the your baby’s increased development and movement inside of your body. And during the third trimester, dreams are much more likely to be about baby himself, and may focus on giving birth or caring for baby after he is born.
Dealing with Your Dreams
Many women find that their vivid pregnancy dreams are quite enjoyable, while others find them disturbing and worrisome. However you feel, it is important not to take your dreams literally.
Dreams are made up of various images and emotions that are present in the subconscious, and don’t contain literal meaning. However, you may find it useful to record the basic themes of your dreams, so that you can discuss them with your partner or friends. Discussing dreams is a great way to make sense of them, and can often help take the worry out of frightening ones. It can also be good for a much-needed laugh sometimes too!
If you find that you are still worried about your dreams even after discussing them with your partner, discuss them with your health care provider. She can reassure you that everything is just fine with you and baby.
Goodnight, Sleep Tight
If you are finding that your pregnancy dreams are really interrupting your sleep patterns, here are a few tips to ensure that you get a good night’s sleep!
● Try to ensure that your room is cool and dark. Remove all electronics (such as radios and televisions) and put away anything that might increase your anxiety (like that pile of laundry waiting to be washed!).
● Avoid exercising before bedtime. Instead, find time to exercise during the day.
● Avoid drinking a lot of water right before bed. If you drink a lot, you will find that you wake up during the night with a full bladder, which could actually increase the number of dreams that you experience.
● Do your best to clear your mind of all anxieties and worries before bedtime. Try a few relaxing stretches or breathing exercises to help clear your mind.
In the next article, we will share with you if your dreams will tell you the gender of your baby! Stay tuned!
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