17 Strange — But Common — Pregnancy Dreams! What They Really Mean!

Do you dream that McDreamy is your OB/GYN? Or like Christina Applegate, did you dream about eating sand to lose the baby weight? Fluctuating hormones bring on wild dreams during pregnancy, and our BFFs at ivillage.com explain what some of the most common ones mean.

Just when you’ve gotten used to the food cravings, mood swings, and weight gain — pregnancy throws you another curveball: vivid, bizarre dreams. Some are happy, some are scary, some are just plain freaky. Here, 17 dreams mamas-to-be often have and what the heck they might mean. Recognize anything here?

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You Give Birth to an Animal or Insect
You may adore your pet, but even hard-core animal lovers are disturbed when they dream they’ve birthed a pure-bred cockapoo or a litter of kittens. But take note of what you dream-delivered — it can reveal the way you’re feeling about your baby right now. “Dreaming of giving birth to a puppy or kitten has a positive connotation — you’re thinking of the baby as something cute and cuddly,” says Kelly Sullivan Walden, author of I Had the Strangest Dream… The Dreamer’s Dictionary for the 21st Century. “If you dream you give birth to an insect, that could mean you view the unborn child as a parasite, the way a mosquito sucks blood.”Go easy on yourself if your dream falls into the latter category, though. “These dreams usually happen early on in the pregnancy, when the fetus doesn’t feel like a person yet,” says Gillian Holloway, Ph.D., author of The Complete Dream Book: Discover What Your Dreams Reveal About You and Your Life.

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You Give Birth To Twins Or Triplets
This one’s common among women who know they’re pregnant with one baby, but feel overwhelmed already by that little guy or girl (which, let’s be honest, describes all pregnant women at some point in their pregnancies). Dreaming about multiples can also represent anxiety over baby being incredibly demanding. “The mom is coming to terms with all the different ways this baby will need her, and she may be feeling as though she’s getting more than she bargained for,” Walden says.

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Your Partner Is Cheating On You
Your partner’s no Don Draper, so why are you dreaming that he’s running around on you? Is your woman’s intuition kicking in? Probably not. Experts say the dream could be one way you’re working through feelings of vulnerability as you realize how much you’re starting to lean on him for support, how much you need him. It could also be a manifestation of a fear that you’ll no longer be the center of attention.Either way, “this dream is a good one to share with your partner,” says Holloway. “It reveals your vulnerability and will allow your spouse to see what you’re going through.” And if you are feeling less attractive these days — which is totally normal — let him know. It will make you both feel better.