A qualitative exploration of autistic mothers’ experiences I: Pregnancy experiences

Abstract

Pregnancy may pose a number of physical and healthcare-related challenges for autistic people, who experience differences in sensory processing and can face barriers to accessing healthcare. However, little research has explored autistic pregnancy experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 autistic and 21 non-autistic women during the third trimester of pregnancy. Thematic analysis revealed that the autistic group experienced heightened sensory and physical symptoms during pregnancy compared with the non-autistic group. Autistic participants were sometimes reluctant to disclose their diagnosis to healthcare professionals and felt that professionals lacked autism knowledge. While both groups appreciated clear information about their care, autistic participants further highlighted the need for detailed information and being given time to process verbal information. The autistic group also highlighted the need for sensory adjustments in healthcare settings. The findings indicate ways in which prenatal healthcare can be improved for autistic people, including sensory and communication adjustments. There is a need for greater autism-related training for prenatal healthcare professionals to ensure that autistic people receive appropriate support. Lay abstract: Little is known about how autistic people experience pregnancy. We interviewed 24 autistic and 21 non-autistic women during pregnancy to find out about their experiences. Autistic participants had more physical difficulties, such as nausea and pain, during pregnancy than non-autistic participants. They also sometimes felt that healthcare professionals, such as midwives, did not have a good understanding of autism and they did not always feel comfortable telling professionals about their autism diagnosis. Autistic participants told us that they needed professionals to communicate with them clearly and to make changes during appointments such as dimming lights. This research shows that autistic people would benefit from changes to pregnancy appointments and that more training about autism would help maternity care professionals to support autistic people during pregnancy.