You are 26 weeks exactly

Dreaming is a natural, healthy part of sleep, but unsettling dreams are common at this stage.

98 days until your due date

Vivid dreams are common in the third trimester. You may not actually be dreaming more, but struggling to get comfortable and waking often to go to the bathroom means you remember more of them; normally you don't wake during dreaming sleep, so you don't recall your dreams.

It's common to dream about babies or small children in distress or danger, and many women find these dreams worrying. But they're no insight into what's in store for you. Dreaming is a way of filtering negative emotions so you don't have to experience them directly, and although disturbing, these dreams help you cope with your natural concern for your baby.

Good to know

Going on a hospital tour

You may be offered a tour of the hospital as the birth approaches. You'll see where you'll give birth and what the units are like, and can check practical details such as parking, admission, what to bring, and facilities like cafés and shops for visitors. It's a reassuring chance for you and your partner to prepare mentally for the big day and what follows.

Use it to gather facts. Ask how the hospital uses birth plans and when and why they might change; how many other moms will be on the unit and whether you can arrange a private room (usually for a fee); what support you'll have in the first 24 hours (most hospitals now expect the baby to stay with you overnight); and about visiting hours and numbers. You could also ask how many babies are born there each year and how many by cesarean, how long staff shifts are and how continuity of care is provided in labor, and ask to see a delivery room and the nursery.

Are birthing pools or baths available? TENS machines or other pain relief you're considering? What breastfeeding support is there, and are breast pumps available? Finally, although you probably won't need it, you may want to see the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); if your baby does need it, it helps to have seen the equipment and understand what it's for.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.

Going on a hospital tour

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