Due to the hormonal changes that happen in the brain during pregnancy, this changes how the brain processes and prioritizes incoming information. Because pregnant women are subconsciously more in tune to their environment (primal survival instinct) pregnant women tend to have more realistic, and memorable dreams. Also there is a change in the sleep cycle, as sleep is more often disrupted by the need to reposition or pee. This can result in more stress, or rapid fire changes in the REM cycle, which does not allow the brain to fully reboot itself.
Key Takeaways:
- Pregnant women report being up to 2.5 times more likely to have nightmares, especially when further along in pregnancy, and that their nightmares are more vivid than normal.
- Pregnancy changes your sleep cycle by increasing REM sleep, when you are more likely to have and remember vivid dreams.
- The stress and strong emotions associated with pregnancy also create potent fuel for vivid dreams or nightmares.
“When pregnant, your body produces more progesterone and estrogen. These hormonal changes impact how your brain processes information and emotions, which can disrupt sleep.”
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