I read about this in a magazine awhile ago! I am having weird vivid dreams too. It’s because your sleep is more interrupted (even if you don’t wake up)–you keep leaving REM sleep instead of staying in it for longer periods of time. REM sleep is when you dream. If you are interrupted in REM sleep, you tend to remember your dreams more. When you are pregnant, your sleep cycles get messed up a bit.
I completely sympathize. I woke up pissed at my boyfriend because I had a dream he left me for his ex (which he would not) lol, but the poor guy didn’t understand why I was so angry with him. It was just a very vivid dream!

I was about to ask this question on here..and my dreams are so realistic, and usually have people that I know in them in. Before I was pregnant I dreamt about people/places that I didn’t know. I’ve been having a lot of sexual dreams too, I wish it would stop..I’ve actually started to keep a pregnancy journal about my dreams, just b/c I’m sure I’ll find it interesting looking back..it is very weird what our horomones do to us!

I shared your symptoms and was told hormones but wanted more info. This website proved very helpful. http://www.webmd.com/
Hope this helps.
Oh and banana’s and canned pinapple helped me with the leg cramps. They were NOT fun to wake up too!

I have crazy dreams, most are good though. I have been having many of my father who I lost 2 years ago this coming July.. Im not sure why it is, you aren’t alone though =]

I believe the vivid dreams are caused by the drastic change of hormones in your body. Even though you are asleep, your body is hard at work with your developing baby and changing body. Wait until the sex dreams come! Oh boy, those are fun! )

Not too sure why, but I have the same thing happen to me. I hate it.

Hormones acting on the brain make those dreams happen. Those charlie horse leg cramps in the last trimester suck, I had that happen twice, the immediate pain went away when I bent my leg but I was sore all day after.

I believe I have heard that it was harmones. I have also heard that potassium helps prevent leg cramps. You may have a low level of this during pregnancy. Bananas are good for potassium. On the dreams, I think I would agree with sleep interruption. I have them too. But I know mine are from the cell phone ringing interrupting my sleep.

Seriously – I am almost as far along as you and the dreams are nuts! At times I just have to laugh at them. I can’t write what they were about because they are that crazy. Yes I have nightmares and the whole shabang.
I think it’s (everything is blamed on them) hormones! and also your brain’s way of working everything out regarding this new person entering your life before the birth.
At first it really freaked me out. But now I’m used to it. I go to bed and wonder what craziness will happen in my dreams tonight. And the next day I tell my husband my dreams – now THAT is funny, seeing the look on their face as they stare at their pregnant wife telling them they dreamt they gave birth to a kitten
hahaha.

HORMONES! I had all crazy dreams for the first three, four months of my pregnancy. Now I’m 34 weeks and it’s gone; occassional crazy dream. Often we will dream of dead or long gone loved ones; it’s normal. HORMONES! My niece died at 3 years old of brain cancer and she never ‘haunted’ me, but I’d dream of her; the good times we had at Grandmas, etc. But never nightmares. IF YOU ARE HAVING NIGHTMARES, there’s MORE to this…
Weird is what I call mine – where I was a spy running through mazes in a foreign land; or where I was married in a harem or where my Mother (who is alive) and Grandma (who is dead; her Mom) were talking in the living room and asking me about the baby! That’s weird…but IF you are having FRIGHTENING dreams, then you NEED to change your DAYTIME routines!
If you are having nightmares, per say, and not like strange dreams, then take a warm bath. Also, STOP watching scary movies or the news. Americans are really OVERDONE on the news! Did you know that you don’t need to watch the nightly local news every night. Try to watch it 3xs per week instead of 7. You will NOT die and you will not miss the latest rape or murderer on the lose! Stop with the murder TV shows, the CSI crap, etc. I limit my viewing of ‘negative’ or ‘murder’ tv to one show a day, if that. Some are interesting and informative, but MOST have no purpose in your life.
Also, why dread what hasn’t happened. Sounds like you are a WORRY WART. I’ve had a beautiful pregnancy because I stay positive. I don’t worry (or listen to) the negative crap women say about being pregnant. Stop LOOKING for tragedy, discomfort, horror, etc. Stop LOOKING for the bad in being with a child. Also Leg cramps can be cured by eating a banana. You are lacking potassium. So, increase potassium. And decrease the DRAMA!
The more drama you have (and that you create) the more frustrating your pregnancy will be. This is my first and I don’t buy into the ‘what’s next’ in this pregnancy. You need to start doing affirmations so you can stop THE DREAD and WORRY. Postiive affirmations like “I’m safe, this is a beautiful pregnancy’, just say it to yourself. You are making yourself crazy by thinking about what’s happening 7 months from now!! STOP with the drama! When the cramps come, then be prepared and go forth. Leg cramps, I had those, even when I wasn’t pregnant, I had a banana before bed or two and it was done!
CHILL OUT! You’re making yourself crazy!
I believe YOU are probably giving yourself nightmares due to so much DREAD. You seem to be dreading the now and dreading the future. I find that NIGHTMARES, even when no pregnant, tend to reflect alot of DAYTIME activity and thoughts.
Try a) soothing music before you go to sleep; b) watch a happy program or a craft program or cooking program; c) take a warm bath and relax; d) read the Bible or something spiritual; if you are Muslim read the Koran; read whatever INSPIRES you. e) read a GOOD BOOk; nothing about baby; something POSITIVE; no ‘what if’ this disease strikes book! f) get your hubby to give you a backrub.

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Deborah

http://maternitymotherhood.net