Introduction and Context
Pregnancy and labor are high-stakes, time-pressured periods in which clear, effective communication is essential to safe care, informed consent, and positive patient experience. Standard approaches to counseling and rapid decision-making in obstetrics presuppose relatively uniform information processing and sensory tolerance. However, neurodivergent patients—those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing differences, and related cognitive communication profiles—process information and sensory input in ways that commonly differ from neurotypical expectations. These differences are common, frequently unrecognized in pregnant people, and can become clinically consequential during transitions in care such as admission to labor and delivery, urgent intrapartum decision-making, and postpartum discharge counseling.
In April 2026 the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a Clinical Opinion by Grünebaum and colleagues presenting a practical, evidence-informed framework for neurodivergent-responsive obstetric care. While not a formal evidence-grade guideline, the article synthesizes qualitative research, established communication science, and patient-safety best practices into actionable recommendations that can be integrated into routine prenatal and intrapartum care. This summary distills the core recommendations and practical steps clinicians can use immediately across prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum settings.
