ADHD and perinatal mental health: Breaking the silence for neurodivergent mothers

Guest blog by Laura Spence, ADHD midwife, podcaster and founder of NeuroNatal® to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week

ADHD in motherhood: The missing conversation 

Motherhood is often portrayed as a time of joy and bonding, but for many women, it also brings unexpected mental health struggles. For those with ADHD, diagnosed or undiagnosed, the postpartum period can be particularly overwhelming. Yet, maternal mental health services rarely take neurodivergence into account, leaving many women struggling without the right care. 

ADHD affects more than just attention, it impacts emotional regulation, sensory processing, and executive function. These are the very skills that new mothers rely on to manage feeding schedules, lack of sleep, and the relentless demands of newborn care. For ADHD mothers, even the simplest tasks can feel impossible, leading to guilt, anxiety, and burnout at higher rates than their neurotypical peers (Chronis-Tuscano et al., 2011; McLoughlin et al., 2022).

Despite this, ADHD is rarely discussed in perinatal mental health settings. Many women don’t even realise they have it until motherhood. If maternal mental health care is to truly support all mothers, we need to start recognising ADHD as a critical factor in perinatal wellbeing. 

Why ADHD in motherhood needs more attention

For years, ADHD has been framed as a childhood condition, one that primarily affects hyperactive young boys. Because of this, women with ADHD are often overlooked, with many only receiving a diagnosis in adulthood, if at all. 

Motherhood is often the breaking point. The sudden increase in responsibility, unpredictability, and emotional load can expose ADHD symptoms that were previously masked. Yet, maternal healthcare services rarely consider how neurodivergence shapes the perinatal experience. 

Through my work at NeuroNatal®, I’ve heard from countless ADHD mothers who struggled through pregnancy and early parenthood without the support they needed. As part of my primary research study, I spoke to women navigating ADHD, motherhood, and postnatal mental health, and their experiences highlight just how much work still needs to be done to make perinatal care more inclusive. 

Why ADHD makes motherhood harder 

The transition to motherhood requires organisation, flexibility, and emotional regulation, skills that ADHD can make significantly harder to manage. 

Many ADHD mothers describe feeling like they are constantly failing at something everyone else seems to do effortlessly. 

• Executive dysfunction makes it difficult to manage feeding schedules, medical appointments, and household tasks. 

• Emotional dysregulation leads to intense frustration, guilt, and overwhelm. 

• Sensory sensitivities can make crying, touch, and breastfeeding deeply distressing. 

One mother in my research described the mental load of ADHD in early motherhood:

Another mother shared her experience of crippling self-doubt: 

"I constantly felt like I was failing and could not meet basic expectations. That negativity just snowballed and led to anxiety and panic." 

These struggles aren’t just anecdotal, studies show that ADHD is a major risk factor for postnatal depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts (Rönkä et al., 2020). Yet, because ADHD is rarely recognised in maternal mental health care, many women suffer in silence, blaming themselves for struggling in a system that wasn’t built for them. 

What needs to change in perinatal mental health care to better support mothers with ADHD? 

Too many ADHD mothers are left navigating overwhelming mental health struggles without the right care. If maternal mental health services don’t adapt, we risk leaving another generation of neurodivergent women isolated, unsupported, and at risk of serious postnatal mental health issues. 

Here’s what I think needs to change: 

1. ADHD must be recognised as a perinatal mental health risk factor 

Women with ADHD are more likely to experience postnatal depression, anxiety, and trauma, yet ADHD is rarely considered in maternal mental health assessments. 

• Perinatal mental health services should include ADHD screening and train professionals to recognise how it presents in women. 

• ADHD should be considered in birth planning, allowing women to communicate their needs for structure, sensory support, and emotional safety. 

2. Perinatal services must be designed with neurodivergent parents in mind 

ADHD mothers need clear, structured, and practical support, rather than generic advice that assumes all mothers process information the same way. 

• Structured recovery plans, visual aids, and sensory-friendly environments should be integrated into maternal healthcare. 

• Mental health interventions should be tailored, offering strategies that work with ADHD brains rather than against them. 

3. Integrate ADHD-specific peer support networks into perinatal care 

Many neurodivergent mothers feel isolated in their struggles because ADHD is not part of the wider maternal mental health conversation. 

• ADHD-informed peer support groups could provide validation, shared strategies, and reassurance. 

• Online communities and local meetups should be funded, creating safe spaces for neurodivergent parents to connect. 

No mother should feel alone 

Every mother and family in the UK should be able to access the perinatal mental health care they need before, during and after pregnancy, yet ADHD mothers are often left feeling unseen, unheard, and unsupported. This isn’t just an issue of diagnosis, it’s an issue of making maternal mental health services truly accessible and inclusive. 

ADHD in motherhood affects thousands of women who are currently struggling without recognition or support. The more we include ADHD in perinatal mental health discussions, the more we can change the system to support all mothers, not just those who fit into traditional expectations.

More information and support

It’s time for perinatal mental health care to evolve. Recognising the unique challenges faced by ADHD mothers is a crucial step forward. 

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is taking place 17-23 March.  

Visit the NeuroNatal website for further details about their work.

If you or someone you know is struggling, visit the MMHA support page for a list of services who may be able to help.