Many parents go through profound changes during the transition to parenthood.
While experiences may be similar, some aspects of pregnancy, birth, and early parenting can feel more intense for people who are neurodivergent.
People with autism and/or attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) can face unique challenges due to different ways of processing and functioning, as well as healthcare services that don’t meet neurodivergent needs.
We provide some advice to support your mental health as a parent with neurodivergence and make this transition a little smoother.
Neurodivergence and perinatal mental health
Parents who are neurodivergent are more likely to develop perinatal mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety compared to neurotypical people.
A 2023 study found:
16.76% of women diagnosed with ADHD were diagnosed with depression disorders postpartum, compared to 3.29% in those without ADHD
24.92% of women diagnosed with ADHD were diagnosed with anxiety disorders postpartum, compared to 4.61% in those without ADHD.
“Neurodivergent individuals are more at risk of birth trauma and postnatal PTSD - and this is something I certainly experienced. I have experienced a lot of anxiety throughout my life, but it became extreme in the perinatal period.”
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by increased sensory input, anxious about what could happen to your baby, and having difficulty regulating your emotions, you’re not alone.
These were among the most reported factors impacting parents with neurodivergence in our PANDA survey 2025.
“Looking back, I think I was completely overstimulated sensorially (bodily fluids everywhere, loud crying/noises, lack of autonomy, mess, lack of alone time), not to mention being particularly sensitive to the rollercoaster of hormones and the sleep deprivation.”
Looking after your mental health in the perinatal period
Wherever you are on your parenting journey, there are strategies and supports to help protect your mental health.
Self-care and social support
It can be easy for self-care to take a backseat once a baby takes centre stage. But prioritising your mental and emotional wellbeing in any way you can is one of the most important ways you can support your family.
This might include:
- Showering and brushing your teeth every day
- Eating nutritious foods and drinking enough water
- Making a playlist of calming and/or uplifting music
- Having social contact with a friend or family member every day
- Going for a short walk or simply getting some fresh air outside every day
- Asking for help with meals, household chores, and childrearing responsibilities
- Accommodating your sensory needs with tools such as earplugs and fidget toys
- Organising a mental health care plan through your GP, or reaching out to professional support services.
- We explore self-care in more detail and provide some more helpful examples in this article.
Neuro-affirming resources
The Aspect Autistic Pregnancy and Parenthood Hub offers guidance, stories, research, and resources to support people with autism and their families during the perinatal period.
If you’re currently pregnant, the Aspect neuro-affirming birth plan template may be a good place to start.
If you’re in the postnatal period, you might find the Aspect baby settling checklist template helpful.
Advocating for your needs in care
Unfortunately, the healthcare system often falls short in meeting the needs of people with neurodivergence, posing barriers that make it hard to get the specific and appropriate care they deserve.
Wherever possible and comfortable for you, advocating for needs throughout your perinatal journey can help your healthcare providers make the essential adjustments to fill some of these systemic gaps.
For example, you might consider discussing how you prefer to communicate and receive information, whether you’d like to bring a comfort person/item to appointments, and any sensory needs your healthcare provider can accommodate.
“The perinatal period can be confusing enough at the best of times, so having a care provider who is neuro-affirming provides stability in a time of uncertainty.”
Finding support
Many new and expecting parents need some extra support during this rewarding yet challenging journey.
Our PANDA counsellors can help you find strategies that work for you. They offer a safe, caring, confidential space to talk, and can also provide information about appropriate specialist services.
You can call the PANDA National Helpline on:
1300 726 306
Monday to Friday, 9am - 7.30pm
Saturday, 9am – 4pm (AEST/AEDT)
Managing sensory overload
For more practical tips, we provide a toolkit of useful skills for managing sensory overload in this article.
Articles
Stories
Stories from neurodivergent parents
Mental health checklist
How are you going?
Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges.
Complete our online mental health checklist to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be a reason to seek help.
