New-Mom Nightmares

New-Mom Nightmares
As many as 75 percent of new moms have anxious dreams about their infants' safety -- here's why...

By Jennifer Abbasi

Ever dream that your baby is lost under the covers in your bed, left on a train, or in some other danger? Join the club. As many as 75 percent of new moms have anxious dreams about their infants' safety that wake them in the middle of the night, according to a study in the journal Sleep. Researchers believe heightened emotions, sleep deprivation, and hormonal changes may cause the powerful hallucinogenic dreams. Studies are ongoing, but the scientists expect they subside around six months after a baby is born. Until then, if nightmares about your infant are interfering with your sleep, knowing you're not alone, and talking to your partner or a friend about the dreams, may help put the disruptions to rest.

Parenting, December/January 2008