Just like with “pregnancy brain,” experts are not 100 percent certain what could be behind any weird or vivid “pregnancy dreams” you might have. Here, however, are some common hypotheses as to why these strange dreams might occur:

Over the course of your pregnancy, your body goes through significant physical changes, including changing hormone levels. These changes can affect your mood and also the way your brain processes information. This might be what triggers unusual dreams, especially in the third trimester.
The changes you’re going through during pregnancy can also influence your sleep patterns. For example, you may not be able to get quality sleep if you have a pregnancy symptom like frequent urination through the night. Waking through the night can affect your REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, which is when most dreams occur. When REM sleep is inconsistent or disrupted, it can influence how much you dream and increase your ability to remember your dreams. This can give you the impression that your dreams are more vivid than normal, even though you may be dreaming the same way you did before you were pregnant.
While you’re pregnant, you may find you’re under more stress or have heightened emotions. This may lead to anxiety-filled dreams. Experts think that these dreams could be your subconscious trying to cope with or work through any fears or doubts you might have about pregnancy or becoming a parent, especially if you’re a first-time mom.

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