Weird dreams since having baby

[ForAquaGuide]

I recently became a mother and I have found the new sleeping pattern to be difficult. What I wasn't prepared for were the weird dreams I keep having. I think due to the hormones and the fact that it's 2.5 or 3 hours I sleep each time between feeds, nappies and cuddles. I have started to dream about the babies safety.

This has caused me on numerous occasions to shoot up in bed, check on them to find they were absolutely fine, but then I struggle to get back to sleep after because of the shock and adrenaline going through me leaves me in high alert.

Today for example, I took a nap with little one in their moses basket on its stand right next to the sofa where I was. When asleep I kept dreaming about them being on the sofa for some reason and then rolling off and onto the floor. Immediately I shot up, scrabbling to the floor to grab them only to find they were safe and asleep in their basket right next to the sofa. This dream scenario happened 2 more times until I couldn't take it anymore and decided to stay awake and put the telly on whilst looking over at them, seeing they were happy and content.

I had a cry from the relief I felt that they were okay and I hadn't been careless with their safety, but still left worried by how real it was.

Has anyone else had these kinds of dreams after having their little ones and do they ever go away?

This is totally normal. It will help if you read this book. It explains it all.

What Mothers Do: especially when it looks like nothing by Naomi Stadlen (Author)

I deampt that I had to save my DS from a hoard of flatfish in the sea, from tropical fish in a tank and then from a bank robbery. It will stop soon for you. Take care there.

this is totally normal. it's just down to sleep deprivation, hormones, mentally adjusting to being a parent and responsible for a whole human etc etc. I used to call them stress dreams. The amount of time I'd shoot up in bed thinking I'd fallen asleep holding DS and he was right in the next to me next to the bed was countless. they started to stop once the sleep was a bit better and also when mentally I was just used to being a mum.
DS is 13 months now and if we go through a rough sleep patch because of teething or illness etc. I will start to get stress dreams again dreaming that he's crying on the monitor and then I wake up and he's not. It's just where your mind is on high alert. It passes.

Typical anxiety dreams. I still have dreams that I've gone abroad and forgotten my children - they are teens! Your hormones are heightened and you're sleep deprived, so they feel worse, and if you're waking up in a panic and having even more disturbances to sleep they feel worse. It will settle.

Congratulations on your baby!

It’s normal. I used to dream that my son was in bed with me (I don’t co-sleep) then wake up and search the bed for him, panicking that he must have fallen off or be under the covers, only to find he was fast asleep in his crib where I left him.