Traditional medicine

Why do pregnant women and children have bad dreams? Scary dreams in women while expecting a child: pathology or normal How to properly combat insomnia.

When was the last time you had bad dreams? Agree, in the morning they leave not the most pleasant impression. And if nightmares come constantly at night, then normal rest is out of the question. Unfortunately, many expectant mothers experience a similar condition. Moreover, bad dreams during pregnancy do not directly depend on either the period or the physical condition of the woman. So what are the reasons then?

Features by period

Anxious dreams during pregnancy in most cases appear for psychological reasons. Moreover, most often they come in the first and third trimester. But this is not a pattern - bad dreams may not appear at all, and for some they do not allow them to sleep peacefully almost throughout the entire pregnancy. What internal reasons can they be provoked in each period of pregnancy?

First trimester

The emotions that a woman experiences when she learns that she is expecting a child can be different - from a feeling of boundless happiness to absolute horror. But such news will not leave any woman indifferent. And since dreams always reflect our psycho-emotional state, how a woman experiences her upcoming pregnancy will certainly affect their content.

A happy expectant mother may dream of angels, charming toddlers, pleasant and bright dreams. Women who are stressed about the upcoming birth of a child often have dreams about disasters, accidents, and destruction.

This is understandable - the expectant mother perceives what is happening as a personal disaster. In addition, toxicosis is often present in the first trimester, which also does not contribute to a good night’s rest.

Second trimester

During this period, the woman has already fully realized the fact of impending motherhood, and the unpleasant sensations associated with toxicosis are significantly reduced or disappear completely.

Therefore, bad dreams during this period are infrequent guests during a normal pregnancy. If they appear, it is mainly due to physical changes in the body that begin to cause inconvenience.

Third trimester

In the later stages of pregnancy, almost everyone experiences bad dreams. And they are most often associated with the upcoming birth. Although the plots of the dreams themselves are completely different and reflect the main problem only indirectly, in individual symbolism. Women experiencing extreme fear may have dreams of torment and torture, hospitals, operations, etc.

Those who fear for the health of their unborn child are often haunted by visions in which they save or, conversely, lose their babies. In any case, anxiety increases greatly in the last weeks of pregnancy and this is reflected in night dreams.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The reasons that can cause bad dreams during pregnancy are much more varied.

Physiological factors

The plots of the dream indirectly reflect the physical condition of the woman. With each month during pregnancy, the load on a woman’s body increases. At the same time, the number of various inconveniences and restrictions that she has to put up with increases. If in the early stages you can sleep in any position, then, starting from the 5th month, a woman cannot spend the night on her stomach.

In the second half of pregnancy, you can no longer sleep on your back, since in this position the greatly enlarged uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm and internal organs, disrupting normal blood circulation.

Sometimes a woman turns around in bed for hours, trying to find the optimal body position for sleep. And as soon as she manages to do this, the baby “wakes up” and begins to become active in the stomach.

The following reasons can provoke poor sleep during pregnancy:

Pregnant women need to remember that bad dreams themselves are not at all dangerous. This is just a reaction of the subconscious to the changed physical and mental state of a woman. But we cannot ignore them either.

In particularly impressionable women, bad dreams often become the cause of insomnia - they are simply afraid to fall asleep.

What to do

Healthy, restful sleep is extremely important for a pregnant woman. Moreover, the closer to childbirth, the more the importance of a quality night's rest increases. Therefore, it is advisable to do everything possible to ensure that during this period your sleep is sound and your dreams are only pleasant. Simple preventive measures can help with this:

If you cannot get rid of bad dreams on your own, be sure to tell your doctor about it and under no circumstances use sleeping pills or sedatives. The doctor will definitely find a quick and harmless way to solve the problem for you and the child.

Features by period

First trimester

Second trimester

During this period, the woman has already fully realized the fact of impending motherhood, and the unpleasant sensations associated with toxicosis are significantly reduced or disappear completely.

Therefore, bad dreams during this period are infrequent guests during a normal pregnancy. If they appear, it is mainly due to physical changes in the body that begin to cause inconvenience.

Third trimester

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The reasons that can cause bad dreams during pregnancy are much more varied.

Physiological factors

In the second half of pregnancy, you can no longer sleep on your back, since in this position the greatly enlarged uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm and internal organs, disrupting normal blood circulation.

The following reasons can provoke poor sleep during pregnancy:

In particularly impressionable women, bad dreams often become the cause of insomnia - they are simply afraid to fall asleep.

What to do

Bad dreams during pregnancy are not uncommon. There are many reasons for this. However, they should not be taken as a prediction or a bad sign. Moreover, it’s easy to get rid of frightening night visions; sometimes it’s enough to adjust your usual lifestyle and get rid of negative thoughts.

In most cases, sleep during pregnancy reflects the expectant mother’s fears regarding pregnancy and the upcoming birth. This is due to the fact that at this time a hormonal change occurs in the female body, which provokes sleep disturbances.

Important: Problems with poor sleep often depend on the period of pregnancy. The fact is that every month adds new reasons for excitement. In order to minimize the negative impact, doctors recommend that you familiarize yourself with the course of pregnancy in more detail.

Anticipation of the birth of a baby causes a feeling of worry and anxiety in the expectant mother. Against this background, bad dreams may begin to bother you during pregnancy. You can solve the problem yourself or seek the help of a doctor.

Types of insomnia

Typically, insomnia is divided into three types. Depending on what time the pregnant woman is worried about:

starting pathology. With this type, it is not possible to fall asleep in the evening, tossing and turning in bed for hours;
loss of sleep state. With the second type of insomnia, a woman easily falls asleep in the evening, and after a few hours she wakes up and can no longer close her eyelids throughout the night;
morning insomnia. The expectant mother wakes up closer to dawn and can no longer fall asleep.

During pregnancy, most often the fair half of humanity complains of the first type of sleep disorder. As a rule, it is not possible to fall asleep due to the state of pregnancy itself, the rounded belly and the sensations of the baby moving.

Important: While expecting a baby, a woman should sleep at least 10 hours. If you can't sleep at night, go to bed in the morning or afternoon. The main thing is to eliminate chronic lack of sleep.

At the same time, regardless of what type of pathology progresses, it needs to be gotten rid of. To do this, go to rest at any time of the day when drowsiness occurs.

Reasons for the development of pathology

The lack of proper rest at night in a pregnant woman most often has the nature of an internal state. So, it happens due to strong feelings provoked by thoughts about the upcoming birth. In other words, representatives of the fair half of humanity cannot get used to the new situation, hence the nightmares.

As a rule, at each stage of bearing a child, several reasons develop that provoke the appearance of nightmares or insomnia:

hormonal imbalance due to changes in the body;
the appearance of nervousness and emotional stress;
discomfort of a physical nature caused by a number of diseases;
disorders of a mental nature;
difficult pregnancy;
discomfort from an uncomfortable sleeping place, external sounds, as well as incorrectly adjusted temperature in the room where the woman sleeps;
and the last reason is frequent urge to go to the restroom.

In addition, a nightmare often bothers the expectant mother after watching films with elements of horror, a number of existing everyday problems and work activities accompanied by frequent stress.

The terrible nightmare that a pregnant woman had is not dangerous, even if it is repeated with enviable regularity. In fact, this state is our body’s response to the changes occurring in it.

It should be emphasized that if nightmares began from the beginning of pregnancy and do not stop throughout the entire period of waiting for the baby, insomnia develops from this. The expectant mother is afraid to fall asleep, as a result of which she feels tired and depressed. A somnologist will help eliminate this condition. Moreover, you need to contact him immediately.

First trimester

Pregnancy for a woman is a wonderful time of her life. However, such news is always accompanied by stress. After all, a future addition to the family requires completely changing your usual lifestyle and giving up certain habits. For this reason, pregnant women often begin to suffer from nightmares.

In most cases, in the first trimester of pregnancy, anxiety appears for the following reasons:

whether the expectant mother will be able to bear the baby;
whether her body will change, and how negatively the changes will affect her figure;
whether the child will be born healthy;
how loved ones will react to the news.

Even a happy representative of the fair half can have a terrible dream. Moreover, as practice shows, all women who are expecting a child become overly superstitious and try to hide their interesting situation from strangers. But this behavior provokes discomfort.

Second trimester

Poor sleep during pregnancy in the second trimester is quite rare. Because during this period comes awareness and acceptance of one’s position. If a negative dream does appear, it is more often disturbing for the following reasons:

identification of a certain pathology;
threat of pregnancy failure;
before the upcoming ultrasound.

Important: Starting from the second trimester, a pregnant woman should stop sleeping on her back. This position disrupts normal blood circulation.

In addition, it is worth mentioning the psychological factor. Sometimes the second trimester is accompanied by poor sleep due to physiological changes in the body, such as:

breast and abdominal enlargement;
the appearance of stripes on the body;
weight gain;
swelling caused by fluid retention in the body;
the appearance of pigment spots.

Such changes in the body are natural and should not be feared. At the same time, in order to exclude poor sleep due to physiological changes, the expectant mother should mentally prepare and learn in more detail how the entire pregnancy proceeds, and what needs to be prepared for during this period.

Third trimester

As a rule, the third semester is often accompanied by nightmares. This is due to the fact that childbirth and the first meeting with the child are just around the corner, and the expectant mother catches herself thinking about her unpreparedness for the upcoming motherhood. In addition, reviews from many women indicate that fears often appear before labor.

How to properly fight insomnia

We found out why nightmares of expectant mothers are disturbing. Now let's figure out how to eliminate this condition. After all, healthy and proper rest is important for pregnant women.

The closer you get to labor, the more the need for proper rest increases. Therefore, it is important to ensure good rest for the expectant mother. To do this, use the following tips:

the expectant mother should receive constant psychological support;
it is advisable to talk with the pregnant woman about the upcoming labor and about all the fears and doubts that gnaw at her;
ventilate your sleeping area before going to bed;
Find time for a walk every day;
good sleep will be ensured not only by the correct posture, but also by bed linen, as well as loose-fitting clothes made of natural fabric;
Proper nutrition will help you fall asleep easier;
You should not drink large amounts of liquid before bed, this will relieve swelling and frequent urination at night.

If following these rules does not bring results and the expectant mother is still afraid to go to bed, it is necessary to visit a doctor. It is important to understand that treating such a pathology with the use of sedatives is strictly prohibited, as it can have a bad effect on the child. Only the doctor will select the best option to eliminate the condition that has arisen.

How to prevent pathology

It’s easier to eliminate frightening night visions by warning them. To do this, expectant mothers need to think less about the bad and reconsider their lifestyle. In addition, while waiting for a child, you need to stop listening to aggressive music and watching movies with elements of horror.

share your experiences with loved ones;
read literature regarding changes in the female body that occur during pregnancy;
even if you suddenly have a nightmare, remember, it reflects your fears and negative thoughts and is certainly not a harbinger of bad things;
think only positively;
listen to pleasant music.

The emotional state of the expectant mother has a strong influence on the child. Therefore, you need to think as positively as possible. Just don’t pay attention to negative dreams and remember, once you see a nightmare, you won’t need a dream book to decipher it, since such dreams are not a harbinger of trouble.

So, we looked at why the expectant mother is bothered by nightmares and insomnia. It remains to be emphasized that while waiting for a new addition to the family, a woman needs psychological support from family and friends. This is the only way to minimize the negative consequences of nightmares.

Many women complain of insomnia and poor sleep during pregnancy. For some, their biorhythm is disrupted: they want to sleep at lunchtime or after eating, but at night, as luck would have it, they cannot sleep. On the one hand, the reason for such changes is clear: the body is being rebuilt, and the expectant mother lives according to the baby’s schedule. But, on the other hand, constant insomnia, poor sleep, drowsiness and night cramps exhaust a pregnant woman, undermining her nervous system. As a result, irritability, aggressiveness, and apathy towards everything that happens appears.

So, it happens differently, some complain about sleep, others, on the contrary, about poor sleep.

Is it possible to do something to normalize the regime during pregnancy and give the body the opportunity to get enough sleep, because good sleep is necessary for the health of both the mother and the unborn child.

Physical activity. Good sleep has to be earned. The body must spend a certain number of calories per day, and the body must receive the required load. A special set of regular exercises will help you spend excess energy profitably and give you healthy, restful sleep. However, it should be remembered that physical activity before going to bed is contraindicated.

Don't eat at night. A full stomach can give you a feeling of heaviness, causing you to roll over from one side to the other in a futile attempt to fall asleep. Another possible problem due to a hearty dinner is heartburn. Because of it, you will definitely not fall asleep soon.
, which can be placed under the head, knees, hips and to support the back.

Don't watch TV until late. The optimal time to go to bed is 22:00. At this time, the body is ready for complete relaxation and rest.

Relaxation before bed. Calm music, a favorite book and a warm bath with thick foam - is it really possible not to fall asleep after all this? Don't wait until sleep comes if you suddenly wake up in the middle of the night. Read something, do some things that don’t require much effort (knitting, washing the dishes).

Avoid stress and negative emotions th, don’t watch horror films and thrillers, skip reports about military operations and natural disasters, don’t replay negative information you’ve ever heard or seen in your head. Surround yourself with everything beautiful: put flowers in a vase, change the curtains in the bedroom to more colorful ones, buy yourself a funny sundress and a cup with funny drawings, watch children's shows and cartoons.

Pregnancy progresses in different ways; during this period, women face difficulties. Many people complain that they experience unreasonable insomnia during pregnancy, which causes weakness, drowsiness, lethargy, and overall poor health.

Carrying a fetus causes hormonal changes; proper sleep at such moments is simply necessary. If you periodically do not get enough sleep and do not rest during the night, over time, irritability, nervousness, and exhaustion of the body will appear, which negatively affects the development of the baby. This condition is dangerous and can provoke psychological and physical problems, so you need to fight insomnia.

Types of insomnia during pregnancy

Depending on what specific time of night there is poor sleep, or its complete absence, insomnia is conventionally divided into three types:

Evening (starting). Sleep does not come, the woman tosses and turns in the evening, turning from back to side. He lies for hours without closing his eyes, going over in his head what happened during the day, what will happen tomorrow. Usually, at such moments, a woman immediately feels that she will not be able to fall asleep, sleep will not come.
Loss of sleep state. In the evening, as if nothing had happened, the pregnant woman falls asleep. She sleeps peacefully, nothing seems to bother her or bother her, but after a certain time she wakes up. She just opens her eyes and it’s as if she hadn’t slept at all before. It’s impossible to sleep until the morning; some people manage to sleep for two hours, others a little more – 5, 6 hours throughout the night.
The final phase of morning insomnia. It’s almost dawn, the night is ending, I still haven’t been able to fall asleep, and in the morning I don’t feel drowsy. You feel weak, lethargic, and overwhelmed. Sometimes, on the contrary, severe drowsiness sets in in the morning, which is very difficult to fight.

During pregnancy, expectant mothers most often complain of evening insomnia. They complain that the very state of pregnancy, discomfort, and a large belly prevent them from sleeping. Sensation of fetal movements. Regardless of what type of insomnia progresses, you need to cope with the unpleasant phenomenon, properly and sufficiently rest. It is believed that you need to sleep at least 10 hours during the day, so “lack of sleep” must be compensated at other times, for example, in the morning or afternoon.

Causes of insomnia during pregnancy

Anxiety caused at night, first of all, has the nature of a woman’s internal state. No matter how it looks from the outside, the expectant mother, somewhere inside herself, worries deeply in her soul and constantly thinks about what is to come. Many cannot get used to their situation at all, hence the nightly torment. Analyzing the general condition of women at one or another stage of development of the gestating fetus, several reasons are identified that cause sleep disturbances during pregnancy:

hormonal imbalance caused by ongoing slow changes in the body;
emotional stress, nervousness;
physical discomfort associated with the development of certain diseases (heart, digestion);
mental disorder;
difficult pregnancy;
development of chronic pathologies;
discomfort caused by an uncomfortable bed, sounds, noise, or lights on;
the room is stuffy, hot, cold, too humid air, damp, dust;
at night a lot was eaten, tonic drinks were drunk;
the woman has been taking some medications that affect sleep for a long time;
frequent urge to go to the toilet;
sleeps a lot during the day;
My sides hurt from constantly lying in front of the TV and reading while lying down.

Along with this, we can note other single factors that can excite the nervous system and cause insomnia, for example, frequent viewing of horror films. Hectic work life, unsettled family life.

Poor sleep during pregnancy in the first trimester

Most women do not sleep well during pregnancy due to hormonal changes in the body. Usually this is noted in the early stages and is considered to be the first signs of an “interesting” situation.

This phenomenon provokes anxiety and discomfort at night. Heartburn and shortness of breath occur. The frequency of changes in body position causes lumbar pain and limb cramps. All this leads to chronic fatigue and lethargy. Terrible thoughts come to mind, fear of the upcoming birth. At such moments, women are irritable, prone to nervousness, and susceptible to stress. Some people are not at all happy about what is happening.

In the second trimester

Closer to the second trimester, the main cause of insomnia remains a woman’s emotional imbalance. Anxiety increases, and along with it irritation. Women, pondering the upcoming events of motherhood, still remain restless. It’s impossible to rest properly at night; everyday issues take over the excitement.

The majority of women complain of shallow sleep, an overly sensitive state during sleep, and a clear perception of what is happening around them. The stomach, as a rule, does not yet interfere with sleep, but the tension is increasing. Given the characteristics of pregnancy, sleep disorders may be associated with them.

In the third trimester

Poor sleep in the third semester provokes nightmares. Some are tormented by dreams about the upcoming birth, obstetricians. Restless sleep provokes profuse sweating; a woman in a dream seems to be experiencing a parallel reality, waking up in sweat, complaining of chills and discomfort. This happens as a result of the mental state of the pregnant woman at this stage, apprehension, fear of the upcoming birth. Constantly thinking about the future, many people cannot sleep under such emotional influence, especially during pregnancy, because there are other unpleasant factors in family life.

Physiological causes of poor sleep begin to emerge. In the third trimester, the uterus is already significantly enlarged, the stomach becomes quite large. Difficulties arise with how to lie down comfortably, especially in the 8th and 9th month. Lying on your back is uncomfortable, and in some cases it is generally undesirable. The fetus puts more and more pressure on the bladder, causing frequent urges to go to the toilet. It becomes difficult to breathe as the fetus puts pressure on the respiratory organs. Increased sweating and fever occur.

The child begins to move more and more often, the movement is increasingly reflected by discomfort, even pain in some organs. In addition, if the fetus becomes very active during sleep, you need to change the position of the body, since, most likely, the woman is lying down uncomfortably and the child is uncomfortable, something is squeezing him.

What to do

Realizing that you have not been able to sleep properly for a long time, the state of sleep deprivation is chronic, you need to learn to control your sleep. It is important to understand that the phenomenon cannot be treated in this situation, nor can you take any medications (sleeping pills), even if you were constantly taking them before pregnancy.

First, you need to visit your doctor, get a consultation, tell him how the phenomenon manifests itself, and what worries you about it. Together with a specialist, try to find out the cause of the phenomenon, and then he will tell you what to do. Sometimes, in extreme cases, it is permissible to prescribe a certain number of drugs to improve the condition of the body and regain lost sleep.

In such cases, it is recommended to drink soothing decoctions prepared from medicinal herbs: valerian, mint, chamomile, thyme, motherwort, licorice. Dry ingredients must be steamed and brewed strictly following the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you have a bad reaction to the decoctions, stop taking it.
It is necessary to eat little in the evening, trying not to overload the stomach, which provokes poor sleep during pregnancy. Include fresh salads, radishes, black currants, asparagus, beets, and melon in the menu; these products are believed to promote sound sleep. In general, reconsider your daily diet.
Avoid drinking tonic drinks, especially at night. In general, drink less fluid so as not to increase the urge to go to the toilet at night.
During the day, and especially in the evening, do not worry, do not get irritated, and avoid stressful situations. In general, a person who is “ruffled” by the evening will rarely be able to sleep peacefully, and even more so in this state.
If your heartbeat begins to increase in the evening and shortness of breath appears, it is enough to drink a mug of sweet tea, but warn your doctor about such symptoms, especially if they are constant. Most likely there is a lack of sugar in the body, hence the reasons.
It is useful to eat a spoonful of natural turnip juice shortly before bed. It is prepared simply by squeezing the turnips into pulp and adding an equal amount of honey. Leave for a couple of days before taking and store in the refrigerator.
Take a contrast shower shortly before rest. Warm your feet in warm water.
In the morning you need to get up earlier, walk more in the fresh air, move, and not lead a passive lifestyle.

When faced with restless sleep and insomnia, you need to think about whether the pregnant woman’s overall lifestyle is correct. Perhaps the woman sleeps a lot during the day and gets up late in the morning. Perhaps, in general, throughout the day, a woman is inactive, passive, practically does not expend energy during the day, so sleep does not occur.

Creating a favorable atmosphere

Only in the most favorable conditions will a night's rest become useful and comfortable. Therefore, before going to bed, you need to:

ventilate the room;
wear appropriate pajamas to stay warm or, conversely, not to freeze;
it is convenient to put pastel accessories, purchase a special orthopedic pillow for pregnant women;
It is better to turn off the light, the room should be calm and quiet.

When going to bed, you need to emotionally tune in that today you will have a good dream, try to fall asleep.

In general, when a woman decides to give birth to a child, she is emotionally in the right mood, does not worry too much about anything, does not have problems with sleep, but if the expectant mother increasingly complains about poor sleep, then she needs to tell the supervising specialist about this. No one will immediately say why a pregnant woman can’t sleep at night; sometimes it may even take a series of tests to understand.

A specialist who often monitors pregnancy advises seeking help from a psychologist, neurologist, somnologist and other doctors, who can, after identifying the cause of anxiety, establish a normal, full night’s sleep. However, the problem becomes more serious when other symptoms of a slowly developing pathology appear along with nighttime insomnia. That is why we cannot delay dealing with such a phenomenon. You shouldn’t deal with it on your own; in any case, you should first consult a doctor.