Nightmares - anyone else?

[Anonymous]

I had a series of very detailed and "realistic" nightmares last night, all about miscarrying - starting with some initial spotting, multiple trips to the doctor, and eventually expelling the fetus. In so much detail that I remember using the foaming hand sanitizer in the doctor's office after the miscarriage was complete!

I kept waking up, telling myself "you're dreaming!" and then trying to focus on something else, falling back asleep, and picking up where the nightmare left off. It was the dream version of episodes of a really terrible TV show - just jumping right back into the story and continuing until the dramatic conclusion. I woke up with tears streaming down the sides of my face - actually crying in my sleep. Horrible, horrible dreams! Is anyone else having really intense, really scary dreams, or is this perhaps an indication that I have a bit more anxiety than normal?

[Anonymous]

When I was pregnant, I had lots of detailed, realistic, horrifying nightmares (not about miscarrying, however). They were so graphic and terrifying that on more than one occasion, I woke up my husband - who normally sleeps like the dead - with my screaming or crying. I think they went away around month 5 or 6. I was pretty laid back during pregnancy, so I don't think it was a sign of anxiety for me. Just another nutty side effect.

[Anonymous]

it is due to the increase in hormones in your system. They cause you to sleep deeper and thus dream differently. The vivid dreams were my worst pregnancy system. I would wake up sweating every morning.

[Anonymous]

Not nightmares, but very very vivid and weird dreams...I get them every night, almost. Especially about my parents, as if I try to tell my mom what I want, and she is just smiling at me like I am nuts, and wouldn't say anything...and I am so so bitter about it!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I have had miscarriage dreams, too. I actually had a horrible one the other night, and I woke up drenched in sweat and just started bawling in the middle of the night at 2am. It was so vivid, and so graphic, and I can remember all of the details, right down to the physical feel, sounds a and even smell of everything. I'm not much of a dreamer normally, so this stuff is very unnerving. I've also had a lot of other non-pregnancy related nightmares about wars/alien attacks/other kinds of attacks, etc. Again, wakes me up every night. WTF?!?!? So, yes, you aren't alone. I'm so tired all the time to begin with, and these nightmares certainly aren't helping me feel rested.

[Anonymous]

Yes, absolutely. They came in waves, but when they came, they were excruciatingly vivid and intense, and I was told it was hormonally driven and normal. Then again the good dreams (including some fabulous naughty ones) were equally vivid and intense, at least!

[Anonymous]

I had 2 separate dreams that people were jumping up and down on my stomach. A few weeks later I miscarried. I can't help but think about those dreams now.

[Anonymous]

I am having them too, actually very similar to the one you are describing, OP. I think it must be some sort of suppressed anxiety because I am usually a terribly anxious person about everything, especially health related issues, but I have been surprisingly calm about my pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

I never had miscarriage dreams, but during my first pregnancy, I had a very vivid nightmare that my parent's vacation house was haunted and ate John McCain (ok, that part wasn't all that bad - it was during the 2008 elections and I had to stop watching election coverage because it gave me such weird dreams. This time around I've been better at avoiding things that are likely to agitate me like that.

[Anonymous]

Totally normal. I even called a doctor about them. Her advice was not too analyze them at all--just let them pass. When you wake up, ask yourself, "is it true?" This question seemed to help me.