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Dreamsabout pregnancy can take various forms. Maybe you’re pregnant or someone else is in the dream—it could be a friend, family member, or total stranger. The dream could be about wanting to get pregnant, finding out about a pregnancy, giving birth to a child, witnessing childbirth, or even experiencing pregnancy loss.
Either way, you might find yourself wondering why you had the dream and what it means. If so, you’re not alone. “Dreams about pregnancy are without a doubt one of the most common dreams I am asked about,” saysLauri Loewenberg, a certified dream analyst.
While it is common to dream about these things if you’re actually pregnant,these dreams can also have other meanings andinterpretations.
In this article, we explore what different types of pregnancy-related dreams could mean.
Do You Dream Every Night?
Decoding Pregnancy Dreams
Like all dreams, even pregnancy-related dreams can have multiple interpretations and may not be what they seem. Below, Loewenberg helps us decode what the different types of pregnancy dreams could mean.
If You’re Pregnant in the Dream
If you’re a person of reproductive age, a dream about pregnancy can be a reminder from your biological clock, says Loewenberg. On the other hand, if you’re already pregnant, it’s quitecommonto dream about it.
However, more often than not, having this dream (at any age) could mean that something in your life has just begun to grow and develop, Loewenberg explains. For example, she says it could be:
If Someone You Know Is Pregnant in the Dream
It’s not unusual to dream about pregnancy if you or someone you know is pregnant, since the topic is likely on your mind.
However, this dream could also have other meanings. For instance, if you dream that someone close to you is pregnant, it could mean that you’re starting to see growth in this person, says Loewenberg.
On the other hand, if someone who is not very close to you is pregnant in your dream, then that person may represent a part of yourself that is beginning togrow, Loewenberg explains. “For example, if you dream that someone you work with is pregnant, yet you don’t know them all that well, then there is likely some quality they have that you recognize in yourself that is beginning to grow. Perhaps that coworker is the best closer on your team. This dream could mean that your skill and know-how in closing deals is beginning to grow and get better.”
If You Dream About a Stranger Being Pregnant
A dream featuring a pregnant stranger can feel bizarre. However, the dream is probably about you in some way, although it may be a part of yourself you’re not very familiar with, says Loewenberg.
Lauri Loewenberg, certified dream analystA good rule of thumb to remember when it comes to figuring out your dreams is that almost everything and everyone in your dreams will represent some part of you. Dreams are a form of deep introspection and are almost always about the self.
Lauri Loewenberg, certified dream analyst
A good rule of thumb to remember when it comes to figuring out your dreams is that almost everything and everyone in your dreams will represent some part of you. Dreams are a form of deep introspection and are almost always about the self.
If You Dream About Childbirth
It’s common for pregnant people to dream about childbirth.
However, if you’re not pregnant, the dream could have different interpretations depending on whether you’re giving birth in the dream or witnessing it, says Loewenberg:
If Someone in Your Dreams Tells You That They Think You’re Pregnant
If you’re trying to get pregnant and you have this dream, it could be your body telling you that you have conceived, says Loewenberg.
However, if you’re not trying to get pregnant, she says this dream could either mean that others are noticing something new going on with you or that you’re hoping others will recognize that you’re working on something new and exciting.
However, you may even experience this dream even if you’re not thinking along those lines. If having children is definitely not in your plans right now, having this dream could mean that need to invest more time and effort into your relationship with your partner, or add a new element to your relationship that will help it grow, such as finding a newactivityyou can both do together, Loewenberg explains.
If You Dream About Miscarriage or Pregnancy Loss
It is fairly common to dream ofpregnancy losswhile actually being pregnant,says Loewenberg. In fact, nightmares and disturbed sleep are common symptoms of pregnancy, particularly in the last trimester.
A dream about pregnancy loss is not necessarily an indicator of what is to come but rather an expression of your concerns, especially if you’re experiencing your first pregnancy or a high-risk pregnancy, Loewenberg explains. “Rather, these dreams serve as a pressure gauge that allows your subconscious to fully express yourfearsin the dream state and help you get them out of your system.”
On the other hand, if you’re not actually pregnant, a dream about pregnancy loss could represent an idea, project, or goal that didn’t work out in real life, says Loewenberg.
She recommends paying close attention to how you felt in the dream and especially to what your thought process regarding the loss was in the dream because it will directly apply to a similar scenario in your waking life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. While pregnancy-related dreams could be indicative of a desire to have a child in some people, these dreams could represent different things for others.It can be helpful to reflect on the dream and see how it makes you feel. For instance, if you have decided not to have children, does a pregnancy-related dream make you feel relieved orregretfulthat you don’t have kids?
Not necessarily. While pregnancy-related dreams could be indicative of a desire to have a child in some people, these dreams could represent different things for others.
It can be helpful to reflect on the dream and see how it makes you feel. For instance, if you have decided not to have children, does a pregnancy-related dream make you feel relieved orregretfulthat you don’t have kids?
Why Can’t I Remember My Dreams?
3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Baddock S, Patterson J, Bilous E, Miller S. P012The content and impact of dreams during late pregnancy–a qualitative exploration.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(Suppl 1):A35. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.085Lara-Carrasco J, Simard V, Saint-Onge K, Lamoureux-Tremblay V, Nielsen T.Maternal representations in the dreams of pregnant women: a prospective comparative study.Front Psychol. 2013;4:551. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00551Schredl M, Gilles M, Wolf I, et al.Nightmare frequency in last trimester of pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):346. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1147-x
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Baddock S, Patterson J, Bilous E, Miller S. P012The content and impact of dreams during late pregnancy–a qualitative exploration.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(Suppl 1):A35. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.085Lara-Carrasco J, Simard V, Saint-Onge K, Lamoureux-Tremblay V, Nielsen T.Maternal representations in the dreams of pregnant women: a prospective comparative study.Front Psychol. 2013;4:551. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00551Schredl M, Gilles M, Wolf I, et al.Nightmare frequency in last trimester of pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):346. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1147-x
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Baddock S, Patterson J, Bilous E, Miller S. P012The content and impact of dreams during late pregnancy–a qualitative exploration.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(Suppl 1):A35. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.085Lara-Carrasco J, Simard V, Saint-Onge K, Lamoureux-Tremblay V, Nielsen T.Maternal representations in the dreams of pregnant women: a prospective comparative study.Front Psychol. 2013;4:551. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00551Schredl M, Gilles M, Wolf I, et al.Nightmare frequency in last trimester of pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):346. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1147-x
Baddock S, Patterson J, Bilous E, Miller S. P012The content and impact of dreams during late pregnancy–a qualitative exploration.Sleep Adv. 2022;3(Suppl 1):A35. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.085
Lara-Carrasco J, Simard V, Saint-Onge K, Lamoureux-Tremblay V, Nielsen T.Maternal representations in the dreams of pregnant women: a prospective comparative study.Front Psychol. 2013;4:551. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00551
Schredl M, Gilles M, Wolf I, et al.Nightmare frequency in last trimester of pregnancy.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):346. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1147-x
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