Autism Spectrum Disorder in Pregnant women

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established pregnancy-specific
Is it more common among pregnant women? Pregnancy doesn't increase autism prevalence; autistic women have distinct pregnancy/birth experiences
Are pregnant women at higher risk? No increased prevalence established
How much higher is the risk? NE
How often can it be missed? Very high if undiagnosed before pregnancy
Does it show up differently among pregnant women? Strong Yes contextually
How might it look different? Sensory overload, communication needs, uncertainty, loss of control, unfamiliar healthcare environments
What commonly occurs alongside it? Anxiety; depression
What can it be confused with? Anxiety; ADHD; sensory processing differences
Common screening tool AQ-10
Separate screening tool for pregnant women None
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