A qualitative exploration of autistic mothers’ experiences II: Childbirth and postnatal experiences

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Hampton, S., Man, J., Allison, C., Aydin, E., Baron-Cohen, S., & Holt, R. (2021). A qualitative exploration of autistic mothers’ experiences II: Childbirth and postnatal experiences. Autism, 26(5), 1165-1175. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211043701

Publication date: 4 Sep 2021 Added to AutiHub: 15 Sep 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)
  1. Sarah Hampton *
  2. Joyce Man
  3. Carrie Allison
  1. Ezra Aydin
  2. Simon Baron-Cohen
  3. Rosemary Holt

Abstract

Navigating childbirth and the postnatal period may pose additional challenges for autistic people, who can face communication and sensory barriers to accessing healthcare. However, research exploring autistic experiences of parenthood is scarce. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 autistic and 25 non-autistic women 2–3 months after giving birth. Interviews concerned experiences of childbirth, postnatal healthcare and parenting. Thematic analysis revealed that sensory aspects of childbirth could be challenging for autistic participants; participants highlighted the need for sensory adjustments. Autistic participants stressed the importance of clear, direct communication from professionals during the birth. During childbirth and the postnatal period, autistic participants sometimes felt that professionals lacked knowledge of autism and this could hinder receiving appropriate adjustments. Both groups reported several parenting strengths and challenges. The findings indicate ways in which childbirth and postnatal healthcare can be improved for autistic people, including sensory and communication adjustments. They also indicate a need for greater autism-related training for professionals involved in childbirth and postnatal care. Lay abstract Very little research has looked at how autistic people experience childbirth and the first few months of parenthood. We interviewed 21 autistic and 25 non-autistic women 2–3 months after their baby was born, to find out how they experienced giving birth and being a parent. Some autistic participants found sensory aspects of giving birth difficult, such as noise and being touched. They also wanted healthcare professionals to give them clear information while giving birth. Participants sometimes thought that healthcare professionals did not know enough about autism. Autistic and non-autistic participants both found parenthood difficult at times and autistic parents sometimes had extra difficulties, such as with planning and organising. Autistic participants also felt good at understanding their baby’s needs. This research suggests that autistic people would benefit from changes to childbirth and postnatal healthcare such as being communicated with more clearly. It also indicates that healthcare professionals should receive more training about autism.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 20 Sep 2026 01:01.

Cited references
27
With a DOI
27
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
0
2 / 27 (7.4%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
0 / 27 (0.0%)
References with detected author names
27 / 27 (100.0%)
Without detected author names
0
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
0
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
113
From DOI or external metadata
113
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
31 / 113 (27.4%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 82 / 113 (72.6%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
8 / 113 (7.1%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 8 / 31 (25.8%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 5 / 105 (4.8%).
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