Pregnant women often experience heightened dream recall, which can serve as a mechanism for emotional regulation. In a study of 118 women in their first trimester, increased depressive symptoms correlated with more frequent nightmares and distress from those dreams. Notably, higher levels of alexithymia—difficulty identifying emotions—predicted greater nightmare frequency and distress. Additionally, unplanned pregnancies were linked to increased nightmare distress. These findings suggest that addressing emotional regulation could be crucial for supporting maternal mental health during pregnancy.
Pregnant women in their first trimester experience fewer nightmares than non-pregnant counterparts, with 100 participants in each group revealing significant differences. While only 23% of pregnant women reported frequent nightmares, this contrasts sharply with 43% in the control group. Additionally, those with depressive symptoms and greater dream engagement were more likely to have nightmares. The findings suggest that hormonal changes during gestation may reduce oneiric activity, supporting the continuity hypothesis that links depression with nightmare frequency.