Matryoshka System: Toward an Autistic-Affirming Perinatal Sensory-Support Protocol

Introduction: Autistic motherhood/parenthood has historically remained invisible within research, which has tended to prioritize male profiles and deficit-based models. This study explores sensory experiences associated with motherhood among Autistic mothers in Spain, across its distinct stages—pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and early parenting—using what we call the “Matryoshka system,” a framework moving from outer, social layers to inner, personal ones. The aim is to identify preliminary items for the future development of a sensory care protocol grounded in an Autistic-affirmative approach and centered on maternal agency. Methods: Drawing on a participatory research approach, 10 Autistic mothers with a late diagnosis described their experiences of motherhood through semistructured interviews. For the analysis, we used the Framework Analysis approach. Results: We constructed four themes: (1) Pregnancy and sensory Matryoshka mothers. (2) Autistic birthing triad: uncertainty, miscommunication, and overload. (3) The self in parentheses: postpartum tensions and demands. (4) A maternity of their own. Findings indicate that sensory processing is central to the experience of motherhood, shaping both significant challenges, including sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, and lack of accessible communication in health care settings, and key strengths in early bonding. Whereas previous research had framed sensory experience exclusively as a barrier, this study also identifies it as a facilitator of attuned responsiveness to the newborn’s needs. Conclusion: These findings challenge normative models of parenthood and highlight the urgent need to transform health care systems to reflect the full diversity of the maternal experience. The items identified constitute a foundational step toward a sensory protocol for Autistic mothers and birthing parents, with the potential to inform both broad clinical guidelines and stage-specific protocols, ensuring individualized and neurodiversity-affirming support across the perinatal period.