Expecting mothers might want to watch their sleeping habits a little more closely during and after their pregnancy. In a study conducted by American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and Sleep Research Society, they interviewed 273 women to determine the effects of pre- (null gravida), post-(postpartum) and inter-pregnancy stages with one's sleep pattern and the associated behaviors in between, such as dreams and nightmares.

The summary of the study's results are as follows:

• The percentage of women in all groups who recalled dreams ranged from 88-91 percent.
• Postpartum and pregnant women recalled infant dreams and nightmares with equal prevalence, but more postpartum women reported they contained anxiety (75 percent) and the infant in danger (73 percent) than did pregnant women (59 percent).
• Motor activity was present in twice as many postpartum (57 percent) as pregnant (24 percent) or null gravida (25 percent) women.
• Expressing emotion was more prevalent among null gravida (56 percent) than postpartum women (27 percent), but was not different from pregnant women (37 percent).
• Speaking was equally prevalent among the three groups (12-19 percent).
• Behaviors were associated with nightmares, dream anxiety and, among postpartum women, post-awakening anxiety (41 percent), confusion (51 percent), and a need to check on the infant (60 percent).