Autistic People Are More Likely To Experience Depression & Anxiety During Pregnancy

Autistic people were around three times more likely than those without autism (9% versus 24%) to report having experienced depression during pregnancy. Autistic people were also approximately three times more likely than those without autism (14% versus 48%) to experience anxiety during pregnancy. Individuals with autism also reported feeling significantly more overwhelmed by the sensory environment of prenatal appointments (76% versus 14%).

Autistic people were significantly more likely than those without autism to report a higher frequency of experiencing meltdowns and shutdowns during pregnancy. Approximately one third of the autistic group indicated that meltdowns and shutdowns occurred twice a week . . .