Great Expectations
Written by Patti Allen

While we might argue about which stage of life is the most important to an individual’s growth, most would agree that the transition that comes with pregnancy is certainly at the top of most women’s lists.

When pregnant, the physical changes that a woman’s body undergoes are obvious. The savvy expectant mother will usually take great care to discontinue all unhealthy habits that may harm the growing fetus, as well as start new health promoting habits like vitamin supplements, proper diet and appropriate exercise.

I wonder how many would take their dreams as seriously as their diet?

What is not as obvious as the physical changes, are the emotional changes that a woman undergoes during the nine months of pregnancy. And what is even less obvious than that are the changes to a woman’s dream life. If your body is changing, then your emotions are going to be part of that transition. And if your emotional state is in transition, then your dreams will reflect those changes. It’s a sure thing…..just as sure as there is a body-mind-emotions and spirit connection.  It’s just that no one is talking about it!  

Well not too many at any rate. You can Google “dreams during pregnancy” and find only 4,650 entries on the topic. Compared to a Google search on “dreams” which turned up 15,500,000 entries, there is quite a long way to go until pregnant women feel their dream life is not unusual and that their intense dream life is normal. 

During pregnancy, thanks to her hormones, a woman can expect her dreams to practically explode in number, vividness and intensity. And because a pregnant woman will be sleeping more, she will have many more opportunities to catch dreams than her non-pregnant sisters. 

Her changing sense of self will be reflected in her dreams, along with ambivalence and confusion. As well, issues of dependency, sexuality, careers vs. motherhood, sacrifice, relationships and fears for herself and her baby’s safety are all played out on the screen of her nocturnal adventures in dreamland.  

According to Raina M. Paris, author of The Mother-to-Be's Dream Book, a pregnant woman's dreams tend to change with each trimester and often follow a predictable pattern that reflects the progression of the pregnancy. It is also clear that the psyche is rehearsing and readying the new mother for her new identity and role. So by the time she gives birth, the process of bonding has already begun through the mother’s dream life.  

As the time of birth nears, many women will dream of labour and delivery or of actually meeting their future child. Sometimes these dreams include information about the time of birth, the child’s health, and even the future name. Many of these dreams take on a very soulful, spiritual feel to them as this information is passed on to the mother-to-be. 

In “Dreaming for Two, the Hidden Emotional Life of Expectant Mothers”, Sindy Greenberg, Elyse Kroll, and Hillary Grill, the authors give a very clear and readable account of this time and what to expect of dreams during pregnancy. One thing the authors stress is that unusual and sometimes disturbing dreams are quite common and that no pregnant woman should feel they are alone in their dreaming experiences.  

If you have recurring dreams, especially dreams that communicate physical difficulties, be sure to discuss them with your physician. You are not alone.  If you are pregnant and experiencing vivid dreams, write to us at Well Now, and we will do our best to answer your questions. Or start a dream group for pregnant women. We can help you get started with that too.  

The transition to motherhood is an exciting time for women and it can be enriched by an awareness of all the physical and emotional changes from the “inside-out”. It truly is a time of great expectations that can be viewed nightly and is better than any television show. In fact, it’s the original reality show. Just don’t overdo the popcorn.  

Sweet dreams.