Autistic People's Perinatal Experiences II: A Survey of Childbirth and Postnatal Experiences.
S Hampton, C Allison, S Baron-Cohen and 1 others
PMID 35445371WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic parents reported birth and postnatal care was harder than for non-autistic parents.
They were more likely to feel overwhelmed by sensory input, find home visits stressful, and feel professionals did not understand their needs or take their concerns seriously.
Key findings
01Autistic parents were significantly more likely to feel overwhelmed by sensory input during birth (65% vs. 29%) and on shared postnatal wards (88% vs. 61%).
02Autistic parents were less likely to feel professionals listened to their requests (57% vs. 75%), took their concerns seriously (59% vs. 82%), or treated them respectfully (71% vs. 90%).
03Autistic parents were more likely to be told they had postnatal depression (30% vs. 13%) and postnatal anxiety (19% vs. 7%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relied on retrospective self-report, which may be less accurate for events that happened years ago. Participants were recruited primarily through online channels, potentially excluding autistic people with lower verbal ability or intellectual disability. The sample was predominantly white and Western, limiting generalisability. Some autistic participants self-identified without a formal diagnosis, which may affect the consistency of the 'autistic' group. The study did not compare autistic parents to parents with other disabilities, so it is unclear if these experiences are unique to autism.
Declared interests
The study was funded by various organisations including the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, and Autism Research Trust. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that autistic parents are less likely to breastfeed or have worse physical birth outcomes. The study found no significant difference in breastfeeding attempts or delivery methods. The disparities lie in the sensory experience of care, communication with staff, and access to support, not in the physiological outcomes of birth.