Presentation Information

Maternity Care for Autistic Parents: Practical Strategies for Inclusive Support

• Speaker: Aimee Grant , PhD
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits: 1 CERP, 1 ACM CPD, 1 ACNM CEU, 0.1 Midwifery CEU

Abstract:

Around 1 in 125 (0.8%) births are to a person with an Autism diagnosis on file. It is likely that other pregnant people (up to 3%) are Autistic and undiagnosed. That means if you support pregnant people, you support Autistic pregnant people. Being Autistic is associated with differences in communication and sensory processing that can be intensely disabling in a world not designed for Autistic people. This includes making accessing maternity care more challenging. In this session, I – an Autistic maternity services researcher - will provide clear, evidence-based recommendations for improving your care for Autistic pregnant people and new parents, including some ‘low hanging fruit’ which could be implemented with minimal cost. These will be grounded in the accounts of Autistic parents who have struggled to have their needs met. Recommendations include: existing frameworks which can be adopted to make services more neurodiversity affirming; how to better meet the needs of Autistic people in relation to pain, communication and the sensory environment; providing continuity of carer; and providing a clear referral route from maternity services to Autism diagnosis services. Overall any changes made to services are likely to benefit those who are otherwise marginalised.