'She's so knowledgeable about autism': autistic women and birthing people's experiences of specialist perinatal mental health teams.

Authors

Verity Westgate, Caitlin Thompson, Doretta Caramaschi, Heather A O'Mahen

Published in

BJPsych open. Volume 12. Issue 4. Pages e187. Jul 14, 2026. Epub Jul 14, 2026.

Abstract

Autistic women and birthing people (AWBP) are at heightened risk of perinatal mental health difficulties such as perinatal anxiety and depression, yet little is known about their experiences of support from specialist perinatal mental health teams (SPMHTs).
We aimed to understand the experiences of AWBP engaging with support from SPMHTs.
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 participants from 4 SPMHTs in England to explore their experiences and perceptions of care. We used codebook thematic analysis to identify and develop themes that captured and explained patterns within the data.
We identified three themes: (a) seeing the whole person: for many, SPMHT involvement was the first time autism was recognised or explored in a mental health context. Participants valued opportunities for formal assessment, which supported self-understanding and highlighted the need for integrated care addressing both autistic and mental health needs. (b) Experiencing SPMHT care as an autistic person: participants valued care that accommodated their needs and preferences, particularly practical interventions, although several reported unmet needs and many found discharge challenging. (c) Ideas for service improvement: participants recommended access to autism-informed practitioners and peer groups tailored for AWBP.
This study highlights how SPMHT care that recognises and responds to the distinct needs of AWBP can make a meaningful difference. AWBP valued holistic, autism-informed perinatal mental healthcare that recognised their communication, sensory and cognitive needs. Accessing assessment for a formal diagnosis supported the development of identity as an autistic person, helping to make sense of challenges in the perinatal period.

PMID:
42444189
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Jul 2026.

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