May
5
Mon
2025
10. The Childbearing Experiences of Autistic Persons in Aotearoa New Zealand: Opportunities and Challenges for Continuity of Care(r)
May 5 @ 07:00 – 07:50
10. The Childbearing Experiences of Autistic Persons in Aotearoa New Zealand: Opportunities and Challenges for Continuity of Care(r) @ Zoom

Speaker: Bronwyn Rideout

Facilitator: Zalfa Dinah Khairunnisa

Background: During pregnancy and early parenting, autistic adults contend with increased sensory demands and services ill-suited for their needs. How Aotearo’as unique maternity system fares with this cohort is unknown due to the dearth of local data.

Methods: 15 autistic people who gave birth in New Zealand between 2012-2022 were recruited through social media. Participants predominantly identified as female but represented varied backgrounds and childbearing experiences. Using Kathy Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory, verbal and written semi-structured interviews were conducted by the lead author, an autistic midwife-researcher, utilising inclusive practices.

Results: Autistic birthing experience in Aotearoa shares many of the same hallmarks found in international research, including heightened sensory sensitivities and late diagnosis. Participants reported varied benefits from continuity of care models but also demonstrated significant self-determination in navigating childbearing by prioritising their physical health, mental well-being, or the needs of others during decision-making and support-seeking.

Conclusions: This study has highlighted various challenges autistic parents negotiate during childbearing and the transition to parenthood. Midwifery-led, continuity-of-care models can ameliorate some challenges, but decision-making was chiefly informed by the participant’s awareness of their individual physical, mental, and domestic needs. The findings will assist in the provision of enabling and empowering care to autistic clients and can improve the morbidity and mortality rates seen in the broader autistic population.