Women often find that they can recall their dreams more frequently and in greater detail during pregnancy. Many also notice that certain themes crop up in their dreams again and again, leading them to wonder about the meanings of dreams in pregnancy. Pregnant women may often wonder what meaning there is, if any, to what they experience in their dreams. In Women’s Bodies, Women’s Dreams, Patricia Garfield writes that there are a number of common themes, images and narratives that pregnant women may encounter in their dreams, all of which can have a subconscious meaning related to the process of pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
The themes a woman encounters in her dreams can change as her pregnancy progresses. I’ve tried to arrange some of the most common dream images and themes and their meanings by whether they usually occur in a woman’s first, second, or third trimester. Of course, dreams are never quite that neat, and this should be taken as at most a rough guide.
1st trimester- Dreaming of giving birth to an older or fully mature baby able to clothe and feed itself: this type of dream may express a pregnant woman’s anxiety about caring for a helpless newborn, especially if it is her first pregnancy. Conversely, this dream might represent a woman’s worries about missing out on a child’s growing up, for example if she knows she will have to return to work after the birth.
Driving a large, awkward vehicle like a truck or bus: Physical changes during pregnancy can leave a woman feeling clumsy and unwieldy as her belly expands to permit the baby to grow; the process of adjusting to these changes is probably what these similarly awkward dreams symbolize.
Dreams about buildings, especially places where things are built, such as factories: These kinds of “building” themes seem to represent the pregnant woman’s sense of her enlarging inner space, and also refer to the baby that is being made inside her. As a woman’s pregnancy continues, she may dream of larger and more complex buildings as she gets closer to delivery.
2nd trimester- Taking care of or being around an animal or pet: This kind of dream can have various meanings depending on the nature of the animal in the dream. As a woman comes closer to term, she may dream of more and more human-like animals such as mammals, while her dreams earlier in a pregnancy might incorporate marine life or other animals that are less like humans. Some psychologists think these dreams symbolically recapitulate human evolution from a marine ancestor into our current mammalian form, as the fetus takes a similar journey as it develops in the womb. Whether the animals in a woman’s dream seem friendly or threatening can indicate whether she feels more confident or more ambivalent about her pregnancy at the time she has the dream.
Having an affair with a former partner, or discovering that her partner is having an affair: Although on the surface these two dream scenarios are complete opposites, in their underlying meaning these dreams often reflect a woman’s anxieties about the effect of her pregnancy on her appearance. She may have a subconscious need for reassurance that she is still attractive, and a dream reconnection with a former partner might fulfill this desire. Likewise, anxieties about her changing appearance can spur dreams where her partner carries on a romantic affair. Reaffirming her connection with her partner in real life and sharing these (and other) dreams will usually alleviate these kinds of nightmares (Our article on Vivid Dreams in Pregnancy has more information on things you can do to deal with such dreams).
3rd trimester- Going on a journey to a foreign country or unknown destination: pregnancy is a journey whose outcome or destination is unknown each time, even to women who have been pregnant before. Dreams in which a woman embarks on a journey can express her feelings of newness, uncertainty, and even adventure that come with every pregnancy as she nears term.
Waiting for the baby to be brought to her, often by a partner: A woman who has a dream like this is likely anticipating her imminent delivery. The dream can embody a sense of letting go as the expectant mother realizes the baby will soon be separate from her and will be dependent on both her and her partner for care and love.
Encountering her child in a dream (as either a boy or girl): A dream experience like this usually means that the pregnant mother is curious about what her child will look like, whether the baby will be a boy or girl, and what features the baby will inherit from her and from the father. These are usually positive dreams, although sometimes a mother will dream about her baby inheriting an undesirable characteristic.
Dreams represent a powerful way that an expectant mother can work through the feelings, expectations and uncertainties of her pregnancy and impending motherhood. The above list chronicles a few of the themes and narratives (though by no means all) that a pregnant mother may encounter in her dreams, and possible dreams while pregnant meaning that may shed light on the subconscious processes behind them. The meanings of dreams in pregnancy, just like any other dreams, can be a vast and difficult topic to discuss. But, with such specific changes going on in the female body during pregnancy, it can be a little bit easier to discover dreams during pregnancy meaning. Something we always try to make visitors aware of is that no matter how strange, difficult, or nightmarish your dreams during pregnancy might be, you’re not alone. Look to other women who have experienced similar dreams during their pregnancies, and you may find more answers than you expected!
I’m 38 weeks and I keep having out of body dreams where I see myself having the baby and then dying…. I’m not sure what to take it as but I have consistently had this reoccurring dream since I was 34 weeks… Please help
One night I had a dream that I ran into a bear that just woke up out of hibernation and was about to attack me. One night I had a dream I was gunned down at work. One night I had a dream that I was walking in town with a little girl. One night I had a dream I was in a big house with Kurt Cobain. One night I had a dream I was floating straight through the moon into a parallel universe. Than last night I had a dream that I was looking at my stomach and my stomach was caved in. I’m scared I could possibly be pregnant. Do you think these dreams could mean that I possibly am?
I’m almost 18 weeks pregnant and I keep having dreams about me being thin and muscular. I’ve been overweight my whole life so seeing myself in a dream like that was pretty exciting. What does this mean with my pregnancy? Also I have dreams about me giving birth to twins and someone kidnapping the twins, I doubt I’d be pregnant with twins since into one in my family has had twins.
Hi, I’m 35 weeks and just had a dream were I could see my baby girl’s face, I fed her and was playing with her but then she disapierd, no where to be found around the house. All the sudden I go outside and under leaves I found a small kitten, fed him and helped him but I was devastated I couldn’t find my dayghter. Woke up scared!
I am 4 weeks pregnant and had a strange dream about driving with my husband seeing lots of accidents on the sides of the road then getting on a boat and getting lost and then getting in the car with the stranger driving down a very steep hill towards the water (i remember the smell of the cigar smoke) then i was reunited with my husband again
Hello, please assist me I’m 23 weeks pregnant. I’ve been dreaming of crops and harvesting more often now that I’m in my second trimester I’m wondering why?
@months pregnant and been been having dream of a moth chasing me?
Hi , I am 22 wks pregnant with my 2nd child , yesterday had a dream of a white small dog trying to bite me but not actually violent , looking at me with calm eyes . Actually I am scared of dogs . Pls help . Thnx .
My husband is currently deployed and I’m almost 30 weeks. I also have a two year old daughter. I had a lot of nightmares while I was pregnant the first time but they were never this bad.
I had a dream that my daughter was sick and she was coughing up blood but for some reason we couldn’t go to the hospital because they already told us she would die. So for some reason I had to go to the store and buy her all new toys and clothes and things she would like. She kept looking at me like I shouldn’t worry because she knew I would save her. I have never felt desperation like this before, even in real life. I actually woke up crying. The whole time my daughter was sick I had these horrible pains in my stomach but I wasnt pregnant in my dream. Please help me understand this.
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Hi I’m 23 weeks pregnant, 22years old and married. I keep having dreams that I dislike my husband. I love my husband dearly but these dreams are starting to get to me. Sometimes I wake up in tears and don’t want to be around him. Most of the dreams are about him not helping me in times of need or that his top priority is work. He isn’t so much like this now but I feel like it will happen when our daughter comes. I’ve tried talking to him about this but he takes it the wrong way and says I’m pushing him away. What should I do?
I have a recurring dream that the baby is puching his face against my belly and you can see his features, then he pushes right through and is born. There’s no mess. He’s just broken out and I’m holding him like “holy crap!”. I’m sorry but I don’t know how else to explain it 🙂
Thanks!
My Baby is due in next 15-20 days. Wife sees dreams of snakes regularly (different colored, but none bites her).
Last couple of days see dreamt of ghosts and on praying they ran away.
What to make out of these dreams?
I keep having different these of dreams sometimes about almost being incarcerated almost having sex and someone I’m madly in love with but have no communication wit…
I am 18 weeks pregnant with my first child and keep dreaming of rescuing sick or hurt dogs. I have four of my own and am a little concerned about how they will adjust to the baby so maybe thats where it comes from but why are all the animals i dream of injured and i have to save them because everyone else is just walking by like they dont see them?
Dear Lisa,
Perhaps your nurturing instincts are coming forth as you begin the journey of creating life. You recognize the lack of nurturing in our world at large (others walking by as if they don’t care), and are taking the time and energy to care for these beings, regardless of what others may think. These dreams seem very beautiful and natural given where you are in life. 🙂
Happy dreaming!
I had this dream the other night that we was at the pond and the next thing i know the baby is in his car seat falling into the water for no reason, and I made his dad go get him out of them water because I couldn’t do it! It scared me but then I had to laugh because I don’t go around water unless it’s a swimming pool.
Hello there iam a mom of two and preggo of my third i have 10 year old daughter and boy thats 2. I am 27 and 20wks preggo.
I just had a dream a few days ago and just cant get it out of my head. I was dreaming of my daughter not listinging and spanked her right in the mouth but some reson it wasnt good enough and i would keep hitting her over and over. Till i felt i got her right in the mouth. This hurts to thinking about it. Why is this??
Since I became pregnant I have felt so much resentment towards her. Its so ugly to say that about my bby love. Could it be because we might be having a girl??
Plz help need to get this off my mind
Thank u
Fear not Lori,
What your dream is working out is your current feelings of resentment towards your oldest daughter. Those feelings, although disturbing, are understandable.You naturally attach all sorts of feelings (good and bad) related to pregnancy to your daughter-your initial experience.
As far as the baby being a girl, it is very possible this is all a manifestation of your intuitive understanding of your baby’s sex.
Regardless, none of these things are cause for great concern. Allow yourself the space to feel what you need to feel, relax, and please let us know when the baby arrives.
Happy Dreaming!
I keep having the same dream over and over again I was hoping to find a meaning to it. I’m 8 and ahalf months pregnant and my dream consists of a baby with no face (I had a donor so not sure wat baby going to look like), and the number 27and then the scary part is my grandmother is in the dream but she keeps getting hurt or dies. I’m hoping that my grandmother isn’t going to get hurt just so my baby will be born please help my understand what’s the meaning of this dream.
Hi Shayna,
This is an exciting dream. The number 27 is one of the two supreme numbers in Chaldean Numerology (considered one of the most ancient forms, it was originally developed in Babylon over 5000 years ago). This would indicate your child will be a great master. Dreaming of your Grandmother died is often indicative of a new person entering your life. Sounds like a winner Shayna!
Best