Author: Alicia

TRANSCRIPT

INTRO

Welcome to Preggo Dreams, the storytelling podcast that brings real pregnancy dreams to life.  Each episode tells one dream as a short story complete with sound design, so you can step inside the weirdness of the pregnant mind.

I’m your host Alicia, and in this dream, an attempt to confront my fears triggers a desperate search for my missing cousin. But as typical in the dream world, the things we search for might not be what they seem.

Let’s dive in…

STORY

I peered over the edge of the balcony, scared for my life. My stomach twisted, and my palms felt slick as I gripped the railing. One wrong move and I could fall ten stories to the quiet street below. I couldn’t believe how unsafe this was. The balcony had a railing, but it simply stopped halfway across the front perimeter, leaving the rest of the ledge wide open. To the right, a set of concrete stairs hugged the side of the building, leading down the street below.

It was a beautiful, sunny day, but a chill overtook me. I dropped my water bottle and watched it bounce before rolling toward the unprotected edge. Then it vanished.

That could have been me. That could have been anyone. I sat down to steady myself, and for a moment all I heard was the drone of the distant traffic. Then suddenly I heard my toddler cousin bolting out from the apartment. I watched in slow motion as she neared the exposed drop, giggling and unaware of the danger. I desperately reached out to grab her. I missed, my heart beating in my chest, but just before she reached the edge, she pivoted and ran to the right edge of the balcony where the stairs were.

I tried to stand up to follow her, but I couldn’t move. I looked down and saw that I was stuck to the chair. I looked toward the stairs in a panic as my cousin’s giggles and footsteps faded away.

I screamed for help, and shortly my mom came outside to carefully peel the fabric of my pants from the chair. Once freed, I threw myself toward the stairs, taking them three at a time in pursuit of my cousin.

Only a few seconds later, I reached the bottom and was surprised to see that the street was gone. In its place was a large grassy field surrounded by the apartment complex. A festival was underway, and it was bustling with energy. There were so many people. Hundreds of vendor stands were aligned in neat rows, selling a variety of handmade items. Food trucks were lined up on one edge. A large stage was set up in the distance.

I pushed through the huge crowd, calling out my cousin’s name. I scanned left and right and all around me. I jumped up to see over people’s heads, and even crouched low to look through their legs. But there was no sign of her.

Eventually I reached the outdoor stage at the far edge of the grounds. I stopped short and realized my husband was on stage, in costume and performing a monologue for a play. He’s not an actor, but I somehow didn’t think this was strange. I pulled out my phone and took a quick picture of him, then headed backstage to continue my search.

The back of the stage was cordoned off with ropes and thick black curtains. Two tall security guards stepped in front of me and blocked my path before I could slip through. I told them I was the lead actor’s wife, and they pulled the curtain aside to let me in. I immediately got on my hands and knees and looked under the metal stage, but still no sign.

I ran back out to the field, trying to find areas I might have missed, but I exhausted my search. My eyes started to water, and I wandered back into the heart of the crowd. Blinded by tears, I bumped into someone. I apologized, then realized it was my aunt! She was watching the stage, oblivious to the fact that her daughter was missing.

Fumbling over my words, I explained desperately that my cousin ran off the balcony and disappeared. That I searched everywhere, but I couldn’t find her. But she only smiled and said she was right there. I looked down at her arms, and was something bundled in a pink blanket. 

I stared at it, completely unconvinced that my cousin was in there. It was way too small. So I reached out and lifted the corner to peek inside. Relief washed over me as I realized I had only imagined my cousin as a toddler, because there she was, only a tiny baby. She wasn’t in danger of falling off a balcony or getting lost in a crowd. She was safe and warm in her mother’s arms.

OUTRO

Thanks for tuning in to Preggo Dreams.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about it.

And if you’ve had a weird or unforgettable pregnancy dream of your own, I’d love to hear it! Submit your dream for a chance to be featured on a future episode. Visit the website at preggodreamspodcast.com to learn more.

Until next time.

TRANSCRIPT

INTRO

Welcome to Preggo Dreams, the storytelling podcast that brings real pregnancy dreams to life. Each episode tells one dream as a short story, complete with sound design so you can step inside the weirdness of the pregnant mind.

I’m your host, Alicia, and in this dream, I somehow missed my own birth and tried everything I could to recreate the memories. But this strange occurrence helped me see the bigger picture.

Let’s dive in…

STORY

My due date was here, and I was ready to have my baby.

But day turned to night, and nothing was happening. So as it approached midnight, I decided to drive myself to the hospital to get things going. And when I arrived, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep before I was seen by anyone.​

When I woke up, I was surprised to find that I wasn’t in a delivery room. Instead, I was lying on a couch in a brightly lit office. Gray filing cabinets lined the walls, and hospital staff were sitting at desks, clicking away on keyboards. A handful of nurses were chatting quietly by a water cooler. Everyone was pretty calm, and nobody paid me any mind. This was kinda strange, but I figured they brought me here to wait until labor started, since I got to the hospital too early.

Then out of nowhere, a nurse walked in and she was pushing a bassinet. She smiled when she noticed me.

“Here you are!” She said as she rolled it over to me.

I blinked in confusion. “What?”

“Your baby! It’s a boy, by the way!”

I shook my head. No, I was still pregnant and waiting for labor to start. But then I looked down at my belly and gasped. My bump was gone!

I looked at her again. “What? That baby’s mine?”

She nodded cheerfully. I stood up and stepped closer to her. Then I peered down at the cutest baby I’d ever seen. He was all bundled up in a pink and blue hospital swaddle and sleeping peacefully. His head was covered in a white knit hat, and a few stray curly hairs peeked out. I immediately picked him up and cuddled him. He fit perfectly in my arms, and an incredible peace washed over me.

I stared at him for several minutes, rocking him calmly. Then I looked up at the nurse, who was watching me silently.

“When did I have him?”

“A bit earlier,” she said unhelpfully.

“How come I don’t remember?”

She shrugged wordlessly.

“Huh. Did I name him yet?”

“Yes, Jackie!”

Jackie. Hmm. That wasn’t on my shortlist of names. But it was cute.

“Hi, Jackie,” I whispered to the bundle still in my arms. He gave out a soft yawn. It was so perfect, and nothing else mattered in that moment.

But then, peace turned into anxiety as the reality of the missing moments hit me. I had no memory of giving birth at all. No contractions, pushing, first cry, nothing. I felt robbed of my birth plan. I missed out on the golden hour, where he should have been placed on my chest for skin-to-skin contact for bonding immediately after being born. I missed out on taking the perfect newborn photos.

I jumped up suddenly. “I need a cute hospital gown, right now!” I exclaimed.

There was still time to capture some memories, so I put Jackie back down in the bassinet and started going around the office, rummaging through cabinets and drawers. Everyone looked at me, puzzled. But surely they had to have some spare gowns somewhere.

I finally found one in a drawer in the corner. I pulled it out and unfolded it, then my heart sank. It was black, wrinkled, and looked like a heavy-duty contractor garbage bag.

I threw it on the ground in anger, then pulled out my phone. I was determined to now order one online and not leave the office until it arrived. A quick search led me to a popular maternity website, where I found a cute deep plum-colored hospital gown, and a cute swaddle blanket adorned with elephants to match.

And immediately after I clicked “order”, a delivery guy showed up at the office door with a package for me! Thanks, dream convenience! Excitedly, I grabbed it from him and tore it open.

But as I pulled the fabric out, my stomach dropped. The gown was filthy, and the swaddle wasn’t much better. They were both tattered, covered in mysterious stains, and smelled weird.

I held them up in disbelief and began to search the office again frantically. There had to be a way to salvage this. I found a bottle of stain remover and desperately began spraying the fabric.

As I drenched the fabric, one of the nurses walked over to me.

“You know that’s not a swaddle, right?” she said.

“What? What is it, then?” I asked.

“It’s a canopy. For a car seat.”

I froze, still pointing the spray bottle at it. So, no matter how hard I tried, I wasn’t going to get the beautiful memories I was dreaming of.

Defeated, I walked back over to the bassinet where my baby was still sleeping peacefully. I picked him back up, and my frustration immediately faded away. He opened his eyes momentarily, gave a sleepy blink, and another tiny yawn. I smiled despite myself, kissed his tiny forehead, and felt at peace again.

So what if I didn’t remember giving birth. At least I didn’t remember any pain. And so what if I didn’t get the perfect newborn  pictures? I had a lifetime of opportunities to create memories .

The most important thing was that my baby was here.

OUTRO

Thanks for tuning in to Preggo Dreams.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about it.

And if you’ve had a weird or unforgettable pregnancy dream of your own, I’d love to hear it! Submit your dream for a chance to be featured on a future episode. Visit the website at preggodreamspodcast.com to learn more.

Until next time.

TRANSCRIPT

INTRO

Welcome to Preggo Dreams, the storytelling podcast that brings real pregnancy dreams to life. Each episode tells one dream as a short story, complete with immersive sound design, so you can enjoy them too.

I’m your host, Alicia, and in this episode, I resort to organized crime in order to satisfy a pregnancy craving. Was it a successful endeavor? Let’s dive in and find out.

STORY

Tonight was the night we would steal a bunch of broccoli.

Not a bunch like you would buy at the grocery store. I mean, A BUNCH.​

It was just past midnight, and my gang of thieves and I were parked outside of the largest broccoli warehouse in the country. We were crammed shoulder to shoulder in the back of an unmarked van, dressed in black from head to toe. This wasn’t our first rodeo, but the mood was tense. They probably were thinking that this was the dumbest assignment yet, but I couldn’t deny my pregnancy craving.

I looked out of the tiny side window, waiting for the signal.

Finally, the gate opened. We donned our black masks and gloves, then quickly exited the van and entered the fenced in area. Carefully avoiding the security cameras, we slipped inside the building through the loading dock. So far, so good.

The warehouse was huge and fridge-cold. The hum of giant refrigerators filled the air, while misters sprayed every couple of minutes. Stacks of produce boxes with bright green stickers labeled “BROCCOLI” lined the walls and aisles, towering toward the ceiling. Jackpot.

We searched the aisles until we found the forklift along the back wall. The keys were still in the ignition, just as planned. It always helps to know someone on the inside.​

With no time to waste, one of my guys hopped aboard while the rest of us split up and into our positions. We loaded the broccoli pallets one by one and brought them to the loading bay, where a large truck waited with its back doors wide open. I stood outside it, supervising everyone and making sure the plan ran smoothly. So far it seemed to be working. It felt like we might actually get away with this.

But suddenly, a shout echoed through the warehouse. We’d been caught! A security guard had just rounded the corner, flashlight in hand. He yelled into his radio, and a blaring security alarm erupted through the warehouse. 

Mayhem ensued. My guys scattered in every direction. The forklift driver panicked and slammed into one of the aisles, sending them crashing down like dominoes. A hailstorm of broccoli went flying, knocking some of us out.

“Go, go, go!” I knocked on the side of the truck, signaling to the driver to speed off. The back doors were still wide open, and my nearest accomplices jumped in. Some boxes fell out, showering me with broccoli rain and leaving a trail of green florets on the road. I turned around and saw the forklift speeding toward me. I grabbed it desperately, hanging off the back as he drove out through the loading dock. How the forklift was able to reach highway speed, I have no idea.

Miraculously, no one pursued us, but we didn’t want to tempt our luck. “Ditch it! Ditch it!” I yelled as we eventually turned onto a quiet street. Without bothering to turn off the engine, we jumped off and sprinted away on foot.

We ran through the neighborhood until we reached our destination. A house party. That was our backup plan all along. Surely no one would expect thieves to come here.

​The house was packed, even at this late hour. I scanned the room, and noticed that the entire gang was there. I grabbed a drink from the fridge and tried to blend in. 

But then I started to hear whispers and comments with my super sharp hearing. People were starting to talk about the robbery. I started to panic, wondering how word of it spread so quickly. After the next few comments, I understood how:

​“Did you hear? They found an abandoned forklift around the corner.”

​“Yeah, there was even a trail of broccoli leading right to their getaway truck!”

They started laughing, and it spread throughout the party. How embarrassing. ​I tried to play it cool, and tried to covertly tell my guys to do the same. But soon our botched robbery was all anyone was talking about, and I became more nervous.

“​Let’s bounce”, I whispered. Trying to be inconspicuous, I made my way to the front door. But with every step, I could see from the corner of my eye that everyone was staring at me. When I reached the door, a partygoer stepped in front and blocked me. He looked down. I looked down. And then I saw it peeking out from under the tongue of my left sneaker. A large, green broccoli floret. There was no denying it.

​Broccoli bandits. Busted.

OUTRO

Thanks for tuning in to Preggo Dreams.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about it.

And if you’ve had a weird or unforgettable pregnancy dream of your own, I’d love to hear it! Submit your dream for a chance to be featured on a future episode. Visit the website at preggodreamspodcast.com to learn more.

Until next time.

TRANSCRIPT

INTRO

Welcome to Preggo Dreams, the storytelling podcast that brings real pregnancy dreams to life. Each episode tells one dream as a short story, complete with immersive sound design, so you can enjoy them too.

I’m your host, Alicia, and in this episode, an accidental purchase leads to an underground discovery and a change of heart.

Let’s dive in…

STORY

I watched through my living room window as a delivery driver parked a Mazda minivan on my driveway.

And immediately, I felt my coolness evaporate. I didn’t mean to order it. This was the result of a late-night, sleep-deprived shopping spree. I was about to be a new mom, but I wasn’t quite ready for soccer mom status. 

I went outside to inspect my accidental purchase. I ran my fingers along the electric blue exterior, and stopped short when I reached the back. Something compelled me to open the trunk. So I did, and I found a mysterious ornate box inside.

It was pretty small and didn’t have a lock. I picked it up carefully and was surprised by how heavy it was for its size. I opened it, and inside was a small, glowing stone. It emitted a soft, pulsing yellow light when I took it out. It was warm, and had several cracks that looked like veins. I stood there and somehow understood that this was something rare and special. 

A voice inside me said I needed to return it to its source, which conveniently lay beneath my house. 

I went back inside and approached the basement door. I’d never been down there, so I didn’t know what to expect. I opened it cautiously, and a snaking network of tunnels greeted me.

I ventured forth. The stone walls were damp, and the air was musty. Thick cables ran across the ceiling; they looked like roots. The tunnel was dark, but the stone illuminated the way.

Eventually, I reached a small chamber where the cables converged. It was empty except for a small electrical panel on the wall. I opened the panel and found a single slot inside. This must be where the stone belonged.

I placed the stone into the slot, and electricity instantly surged through the chamber. Lights flickered on as far as I could see. But I didn’t need power down here right now, so I pulled the stone back out and headed back upstairs.

But when I crossed the threshold, the house was gone. In its place was a daycare.

Bright-colored art covered the walls. Children were playing and rolling around on the floor. They looked like cartoon characters. This was so strange, but I brushed it off and decided to hang out with the teachers in the corner. We ended up talking about work, and I casually mentioned that my job was keeping me around for a reason.

Well, that was the wrong thing to say! ​Suddenly, the children stopped playing and looked at me with frozen stares. The teachers got angry because they thought I was saying other people at my job weren’t good enough. That’s not what I meant at all! But they weren’t having it, and they banished me back down to the dungeon!

Back beneath the house, the air was different than before. It felt alive, as if it was the breath of some creature. I wandered the tunnels again, going deeper than before. And when I reached another giant cavern, I found a giant troll!

It was as ugly as the legends say. Its skin was dry and scale-like, and covered in boils and scabs. Its head looked too small for its body. I would have been terrified, but as I peered into its face, it just looked so sad.​

I watched it reach inside its chest cavity, grabbing desperately at the space where a heart should be. But it was empty.

​The troll then noticed me, and looked down at the box I was still holding. I felt it vibrate, and I immediately understood. This was the true source. The glowing stone was, in fact, the troll’s heart.

I opened the box and carefully extended it out in front of me. The troll picked up the stone, and all of a sudden it grew in size. Then he placed it inside his chest and immediately relaxed as the light pulsed through his body.​

I strangely felt sorry for it. The troll was completely naked and vulnerable. So I grabbed a large piece of fabric that was conveniently hanging from the cave wall, and very carefully draped it around him, making sure it was secure and comfortable.

I stood back, and after a silent acknowledgment, the troll ventured out of the cavern, deeper underground. I decided not to follow, and I made my way back upstairs.

​My house was back, and I looked out the front window. Yep, the minivan was still there. I contemplated the strange way the stone, or heart rather, made its way to me. With a change of heart, I no longer thought the minivan was uncool. It led me to an interesting discovery, and I wondered what other life might be calling my basement home.

OUTRO

Thanks for tuning in to Preggo Dreams.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about it.

And if you’ve had a weird or unforgettable pregnancy dream of your own, I’d love to hear it! Submit your dream for a chance to be featured on a future episode. Visit the website at preggodreamspodcast.com to learn more.

Until next time.

Transcript

INTRO

Welcome to Preggo Dreams, the storytelling podcast that brings real pregnancy dreams to life. Each episode tells one dream as a short story, complete with immersive sound design, so you can enjoy them too.

I’m your host, Alicia, and in this episode, I’ll tell you the very first dream from my first trimester. A simple housesitting gig got weird quickly, and my mounting anxiety was calmed by an unexpected visitor.

Let’s dive in…

STORY

The scenic drive turned shady as I took my last exit. I was on my way to housesit for the Kardashians, and though I never kept up with them, I was excited to see how they lived. I expected to approach a massive gated property with beautiful landscaping, so when I ended up at a narrow alley beside a rundown apartment building, I thought I had typed the address wrong. I triple-checked, but I was definitely in the right spot. And surely I was being set up. 

Because a group of kids was staring at me while I parallel-parked my car. One of them was leaning against the building, arms crossed, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Another was cleaning his fingernails with a pocket knife. I checked the instructions again, and under the address was a 6-digit code with the message, “Enter through the basement door.”

I could have driven off, but the money was too good to pass up. So I took a chance. I got out of the car, grabbed my bags from the trunk, and walked past the intimidating kids as confidently as I could. They minded their business, though, while I found the door, entered the code, and stepped inside.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. For a basement apartment, it was luxurious. Giant crystal chandeliers hung from 12-foot ceilings, expensive-looking art adorned the walls, and full-sized windows let in the light from outside. Maybe the Kardashians really did own this place. This must be a secret hideout, I thought.

I set down my bags, reached for the coat closet, and paused. What was that sound? There was a faint commotion coming from inside. I strained my ears. Something was scratching repeatedly against the inside of the door, getting faster and more desperate. I wondered whether it was a good idea to investigate or just nope out, but I gathered my courage and opened the door.

Out jumped my cat! What in the world?! Did the Kardashians steal my cat and lock him in the closet?! Before I could fully process what was going on, he bolted across the apartment, crashing into furniture and knocking over expensive vases, which shattered on the floor. I blinked in disbelief. This was definitely coming out of my paycheck. Then my cat disappeared deeper in the apartment. I called out to him, but he didn’t emerge. I promised I would find him and take him home as soon as my gig was finished.

I put most of my bags away, then started getting ready for a night out. Because I apparently forgot that housesitting meant staying at the house. I grabbed my makeup bag and gasped at the disaster waiting before me. My foundation was my winter shade. My lipstick was too intense. My mascara was clumpy. I really should have tossed it last month.

Oh well. I made do with what I had, then went to the bathroom to pee. And as soon as I sat down, I heard loud banging at the door. Someone was trying to break into the apartment!

My stomach dropped and joined my pants around my ankles. I remembered I had forgotten to bolt the front door. The banging grew stronger, and the handle rattled violently. Were the kids from outside coming to get me after all? I ran to the door, pants still down, and slammed the deadbolt shut. The rattling stopped instantly. I stood still for a few minutes while I gathered my bearings, and listened intently for another sound.

That other sound was a gentle, normal knock.

About to pee my pants, I realized I wouldn’t because my pants were still down. I pulled them up, then peered through the peephole. I blinked in confusion. I recognized the man on the other side from a show I was watching.

It was Piper’s brother from Orange Is the New Black.

I unlatched the deadbolt and opened the door to let him in. He walked in, hugged me, and asked how I was doing. Shocked but appreciative of his friendliness, I told him about my crazy day and bombarded him with questions. Was this alley sketchy, or was it just me? Does he know the Kardashians? Why was my cat imprisoned in their closet? Is my makeup looking crazy? Did you see who was trying to break in just a moment ago?

He listened calmly and assured me that everything was fine. Okay, if he said so. Then he offered to help me housesit. I accepted graciously and appreciated the company.

We had just sat down on the plush couch when the doorbell rang. What was it this time??

This time, it was my brother at the door.

By that point, I stopped questioning the events of the day. I didn’t wonder how my brother knew of this place. I let him in, and we gathered in the living room. The guys agreed to hold down the fort for a few hours so I could go out. So I finished getting dressed, only to find one more misfortune.

None of my shoes matched my outfit! All the shoes I brought had warm tones, while my outfit had cool tones. Which was even worse! I have warm undertones, and it didn’t suit me at all!

Exhausted, I accepted my fate and put on the least offensive shoes. And as I headed out the door, passing the group of sketchy kids again, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this had all been some weird dream.

OUTRO

Thanks for tuning in to Preggo Dreams.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about it.

And if you’ve had a weird or unforgettable pregnancy dream of your own, I’d love to hear it! Submit your dream for a chance to be featured on a future episode. Visit the website at preggodreamspodcast.com to learn more.

Until next time.

What happens when pregnancy hormones take over your dreams? Your dreams might become more intense. Weirder. More emotional. But one thing’s for sure: you’ll remember every detail.

Welcome to Preggo Dreams, the storytelling podcast that brings real pregnancy dreams to life. Each episode tells one dream as a short story, complete with immersive sound design and vivid narration. Because dreams this strange deserve to be shared.

So get comfortable… and enjoy the wild and weird adventures of the pregnant mind.

Preggo Dreams launches July 1st, 2026!