Question for the autistic/neurodivergent mums out there

5 comments

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  Alzared1

  Posted 08-03-25

  I hope someone has some advice for you. For some woman it takes a bit of getting use too and then after a while you begin to live for those movements and rely on them throughout the pregnancy. In your case with the autism this is something that might be harder to overcome and I don't have advice on how to do that. Talking with your nurses or OB / healthcare provider is a must and don't be shy to bring this up with them, they may have some tricks and tips and have other patience that are having the same dilemma. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

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  Ezekiell Original Poster

  Posted 08-03-25

  Alzared1 said:

  I hope someone has some advice for you. For some woman it takes a bit …

  I’m really hoping an autistic/anD mum pops up here with advice. My OB knows I’m autistic but when I brought up I was not liking the movement feelings they just told me to “get used to it”. Sadly, lots of medical professionals don’t understand the impact of autism, especially autism in women. And it gets super tiring trying to educate people
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  Janm

  Posted 09-03-25

  Hi, another autistic mum to be here! Im now 35 weeks, and have a range of texture/pressure sensitivities... Unfortunately for you, my autism comes with the added body disconnection feature, so it took me a while to associate the movement with baby, now at this stage, it gets surprised but it's not upset. For me with feelings/sensations that did upset me, I worked through identifying EXACTLY what the 'tism was getting upset about with that thing (eg (to pick a near universal one:) my problem with microfibre: too light for its size, catching on my skin, warmer than it should be) and then I'd address those specific things to help my body not freak out as much, esp if I knew I would encounter it semi regularly (eg exposure type therapy: I asked someone to wet and freeze a mf cloth and I'd handle it until it got it's yuck properties back, then moved on to pressure work, and kept doing that process until I had assimilated it into the "not going to make you want to cry and feel unsafe" box) Maybe a similar process of identification and action could help you with your baby's movements? I hope what I have said helps, but I'm one person, one experience: I'd strongly recommend connecting with a group for autistic women, then finding in that group those who are pregnant/have had kids.

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  Ezekiell Original Poster

  Posted 10-03-25

  Janm said:

  Hi, another autistic mum to be here! Im now 35 weeks, and have a rang…

  Thank you so much for the detailed response! That was actually super helpful! My interoception for internal sensations is usually pretty terrible but being pregnant has given me ‘normal person’ interoception so I’m noticing more. I accidentally discovered yesterday when singing to my music in the car when baby started moving that doing that seemed to help. I’ll see if I can modify your suggestion to pair movement with some other familiar enjoyable/ok sensation and see what happens. I’m trying to find an autistic mums group in Australia, just not having much luck because my searches tend to throw up groups for mums with autistic children rather than autistic people with children. I’m definately keeping looking though.

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  Anonu0864b

  Posted 10-03-25

  Ezekiell said:

  Thank you so much for the detailed response! That was actually super h…

  A lot of the groups for mums with autistic children will have autistic mums! No harm trying :)