Overlooked Sensory Experiences of Pregnancy and Postpartum
Overlooked Sensory Experience in the Perinatal Period
From Sensory Awareness to Neurodivergence: Why Pregnancy and Postpartum Change Everything
Sensory Awareness & Neurodivergence: Why Pregnancy and Postpartum Change Everything
Pregnancy and postpartum do not cause neurodivergence, but they often make it more visible.
For many women who have spent their lives functioning well, adapting socially, and managing responsibilities with competence, the perinatal period becomes the first time their nervous system feels truly overwhelmed. What once worked no longer does. Recovery takes longer. Sensory input feels louder, heavier, and harder to escape.
This is particularly true for women with high-functioning autism, whose experiences are frequently missed, minimized, or misunderstood until the demands of pregnancy and postpartum exceed their capacity to compensate.
Emotional Safety - the foundation for everything else
Emotional safety is not about always feeling calm or positive. It’s about knowing that your internal experience is allowed—without judgment, minimization, or pressure to “fix it” quickly.
The Caregiving Continuum - Emotional Labor of Caregiving
The Emotional Labor of Caregiving: What No One Sees But You Feel Every Day
Whether you’re soothing a newborn through their first night or helping a parent remember your name, the emotional labor of caregiving runs deep, and often it’s silent.
Caregiving isn’t just what you do. It’s what you hold…the guilt, the worry, and the invisible decision-making. It’s the way you keep showing up, even when no one sees how hard it is.
What Is Emotional Labor in Caregiving?
The emotional labor in caregiving refers to the constant, internal effort required to:
Regulate your own emotions
Anticipate the needs of others
Suppress frustration or resentment
Stay patient when you’re emotionally exhausted
It doesn’t matter if you’re a new parent adjusting to sleepless nights or an adult child managing a loved one’s memory decline; this labor builds up.
And often, it doesn’t feel like a “choice”—it feels like love. Which makes it even harder to talk about.
Shared Experiences Across Life Stages
Early Parenthood Experiences:
Constant vigilance
Loss of personal identity
Overwhelm and isolation
Guilt for feeling frustrated
Unpredictable emotional outbursts (baby or self)
Feeling like no one understands
Early Parenthood Experiences:
Constant vigilance
Loss of personal identity
Overwhelm and isolation
Guilt for feeling frustrated
Unpredictable emotional outbursts (baby or self)
Feeling like no one understands
These aren’t isolated experiences. They’re mirrored patterns of emotional labor.
The Hidden Cost of Carrying It All
Some potential consequences may be:
Suppressed resentment that can lead to depression or anxiety
Physical exhaustion and chronic stress
Emotional disconnection from partners, family, or self
Identity confusion (“Who am I beyond this role?”)
Compassion or empathy fatigue
Burnout
These responses aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signs that you’re running on emotional overdrive.
You’re Allowed to Need Support Too
Validate the caregiver’s need for space, boundaries, and healing:
You’re allowed to grieve the version of life you imagined.
You can love someone and feel overwhelmed by them.
You can want a break and still be a “good” caregiver.
Introduce therapy as a container for:
Naming your emotions without judgment
Processing guilt, grief, and anger
Learning tools to regulate, restore, and reconnect
Understanding behavior patterns (yours and theirs)
Rebuilding identity and internal boundaries
Section 5: Bridging the Gap—Why This Isn’t Just a “Phase”
Caregiving is a role that changes, but the emotional imprint can last a lifetime.
Therapy helps you make sense of:
Why you react the way you do
How past and present roles shape your current identity
How to carry your emotional labor without being consumed by it
Conclusion & Gentle Call to Action
Emotional labor doesn’t have to be invisible.
You deserve to be supported just as deeply as you support others.
Let’s talk.
I offer therapy for caregivers at every stage—whether you’re at the beginning of the journey or navigating the long road of letting go.
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