Ep 221. How the Maternity System Is Failing Autistic Women and What Needs to Change
The Science of Motherhood · Dr Renee White
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Show Notes
Most women who are autistic don't find out until they're sitting in a room watching their child get diagnosed. And then everything clicks.
And yet most of them navigated pregnancy and early parenthood without any evidence-based support specific to their experience, often without even knowing why things felt so much harder.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Abbey Love, Educational Psychologist and Research Fellow at Autism Spectrum Australia, to explore the lived experiences of autistic parents through the perinatal period and the research that led to the creation of the Aspect New Parents Hub. Together they unpack what the evidence actually shows about pregnancy, sensory experience, healthcare barriers and what genuine support can look like.
The hub was built on Australian research co-produced with autistic parents themselves, and what they found has real implications for every neurodivergent woman navigating this season.
This is Part 1 of The Science of Motherhood's three-part autism series, stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 coming soon.
You'll hear about:
- Why sensory experiences intensify during pregnancy for neurodivergent women
- How autistic parents shaped the research behind the Aspect hub
- What healthcare providers say gets in the way of delivering good care
- Why continuity of care matters so much for neurodivergent families
- How a birth plan can become a communication and advocacy tool
You don't need a diagnosis to find something useful in this conversation. What Dr Abbey Love and her team found is that neurodivergent parents bring enormous strength and competence to this season, and the gap isn't in them, it's in the support around them.
If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need to hear it. And subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
About Dr Abbey Love and Aspect
🔗 Explore the Aspect New Parents Hub: Autistic Pregnancy and Parenthood Hub
🔗 Learn more about Dr Abbey Love and the Aspect research team: Aspect Research Team
🔗 Connect with Aspect on Instagram: @aspect_aus
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.