Is she ok? Should I be worried?.

[CupidNeedsANewJob]

My DD is 5 months old, very happy smiley baby. Very social and active.
My problem is.... I think she's having nightmares
It's usually around the same time she seems to be having them. She goes to bed at 7pm and around 9pm the "nightmares" start. They last for about 15 mins...at least that's when she stops screaming.
It starts with a loud shriek, like as of something has scared her, stops for a second and then there's more screams and cries like she's really distraught. But there's little breaks in between them she also does this sobbing thing and her breathing gets heavy. Her eyes are still closed, she's definitley still sleeping because if I pick her up and she wakes up she looks around confused for a few seconds and then she's smiling. Sometimes she'll just go back to sleep, sometimes she'll be awake for a little then sleep and sometimes she'll have a bottle then sleep. But she doesn't seem a to have any more after this time.
Is there something I can do? I'm worried these nightmares will have an effect on her they sound pretty scary for her.
Are they even nightmares? Do babies have them? Is there something else I should be worried about? Should i take her to the doctor? It's horrible to see her like that. Any help would be appreciated.

They sound like night terrors. Try waking her up a bit 15 mins before the approx time to bring her out of deep sleep and break the pattern.
They are quite common. My eldest daughter had them . The good news is they normally outgrow them and dont remember them the next morning!

Thanks for replying, so they won't affect her in anyway? Like she won't start having a fear of sleeping or it won't affect her personality?
I'll try waking her up before it starts happening and see how it goes.
How long did it take for your daughter to grow out of them?
Thanks for the advice!

My ds has had this since about 3 months. He's under a pead for allergies and I asked about it. They said it's not confirmed that babies have nightmares - not an easy thing to test. But as long as he's in a safe, calm and familiar place and able to mostly self soothe back to peaceful sleep then not to worry. Ds is 10 months now and he still has them most nights. I'd say maybe once a fortnight he gets too wound up and wakes himself up needing a cuddle back to sleep. But he still loves his cot and his bedroom so I'm pretty sure it's not something he remembers when awake.

I think my daughter was about 4 when she stopped but she didnt start until 2 or so. She has no memory of them as an adult at all and was a happy little girl so i wouldnt worry too much.