**By Kirstie - Chief Executive Officer**

Pregnancy has brought many joys, challenges, plot twists, and one very persistent internal dialogue:
“Is this ADHD… or is this just pregnancy?”
A question I now play daily like a game show no one asked to be on.

Hyperfixation? ADHD.

Forgetting my keys, my lunch, and what room I’m standing in? Could be either.
Crying because someone ate the last banana? …honestly, unclear.

But through all of it, I’ve been navigating this wild combo of ADHD + pregnancy with curiosity, worry, humour where I can find it, and a lot of support: both medical and personal.

💊 Medication Changes (aka: My Brain on New Settings)

Early on, I worked with my psychiatrist to swap my usual medication to now having dexamphetamine twice a day. I also dove into research mode (thank you, hyperfocus) to understand what this meant for me and the baby.

Here are some key findings from the evidence I read:

Using dexamphetamine as prescribed does not appear to increase the chance of birth defects. [mothertobaby.org]
A large study from Western Australia found that continuing dexamphetamine during pregnancy was not associated with increased adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes, and stopping mid‑pregnancy was linked with a higher risk of threatened abortion. [www1.racgp.org.au]
Another WA cohort study showed no major differences in outcomes between dexamphetamine and methylphenidate during pregnancy. [journals.sagepub.com]

Did the medication feel as effective for me?

Nope. Not even close. I suspect this is the ultimate combo of pregnancy hormones, placenta‑induced chaos, and baby brain, and honestly even my meds seem to be shrugging like, “You’re on your own, champ.” Mind you, I can’t imagine how on Earth my brain would be functioning without it!

And because every mum’s ADHD, pregnancy, and medication choice looks different, I want to be super clear:

👉 There is no one right option.
I know women who stopped meds completely, and women who continued. We all just do what’s safest and makes the most sense with our doctors.

If you want more info from trusted sources, RACGP summarised the research really well:
Should ADHD medications be stopped during pregnancy?

🔍 Playing “Is This ADHD or Regular Pregnancy?”

Pregnancy is basically ADHD on steroids. Or is ADHD pregnancy on steroids? Hard to know.

Examples from my personal bingo card:

Can’t remember what I walked into the kitchen for → ADHD? Pregnancy? Both?
Emotional meltdown because my toast broke in half → likely pregnancy but ADHD certainly didn’t help.
Losing my phone while I'm holding it → classic ADHD.
Needing three naps one day → pregnancy with ADHD seasoning.

Honestly, someone should make a poster.

📦 Preparing for Baby… ADHD Style

(Yes, There Was Hyperfocus)

One of my biggest early worries was forgetting something important for pregnancy or the baby. So I recruited my sister for some body‑doubling, and we spent a whole day in deep ADHD hyperfocus mode:

Researched what was actually “essential” for a newborn
Compared brands (with 47 tabs open)
Worked out where I could save money
Found secondhand gems on Facebook Marketplace
Made a master list that finally made sense to my brain

Then I set a weekly calendar reminder, and now each week I just pick one thing from the list to buy/organise. Honestly? This has been chef’s kiss for reducing overwhelm.

I feel calmer. More prepared. Less like I’m free‑falling through the world's most confusing scavenger hunt. If you’re interested in my list, connect in and send through an email 😊

👩‍⚕️ Support From My GP & the Midwife Team

The moment I found out I was pregnant, I booked fortnightly sessions with my GP, who conveniently has an obstetrics background (bless). She linked me straight into the local government midwifery program: which, in Australia, is free for anyone with a Medicare card.

I also get extra ultrasounds because of my ADHD (executive functioning support, reassurance, check‑ins: all very helpful). And honestly? The team at King Eddie’s has been phenomenal. Every appointment feels like an exhale.

Here’s a link where women in Australia can learn more about midwife programs and referrals through public hospitals:
👉 https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Pregnancy-care-options-in-WA
(This is a WA Health resource for pregnancy care and midwifery pathways.)

Highly recommend getting your GP to put in a referral ASAP if you’re pregnant, neurodivergent, anxious, or, like me, all three!

⚡ The Energy Crash (Goodbye Motor, My Old Friend)

As someone whose internal motor is usually set to “go at all times”, the pregnancy fatigue hit me like a tranquiliser dart.

The first 17 weeks?

Nausea
Vomiting
Lying horizontal like a fainting Victorian heroine

Work and social life?
Back seat.
Maybe even the boot.

Now at 30 weeks, even with flexible work hours, full‑time days feel like climbing a sand dune. My body is demanding slow. Soft. Rest. And my ADHD brain is like:

“But… doing nothing is illegal???”

Still adjusting.

🍫 Gestational Diabetes: The Plot Twist That Broke Me

Two weeks ago, I was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I cried my eyes out thinking I’d done something wrong.

But the midwife team quickly reassured me:
It’s caused by placenta hormones, and it can happen to any woman, even those who eat perfectly. It’s not your fault. It’s biology being dramatic.

I’ve been able to manage it through diet so far, but I’m being monitored closely.

And listen…

Asking a pregnant woman with sugar cravings to go on a low‑sugar and carb diet is cruel and unusual punishment.

I miss desserts with my whole soul. Especially chocolate lava cake. The gooey middle haunts me.

🌈 Final Thoughts From This Wiggly Journey

Pregnancy with ADHD is unpredictable, hilarious, emotional, frustrating, tender, and full of identity shifts. But it’s also deeply human.

If you’re navigating this too, I hope you feel seen in even a small way.

You’re not alone.
You’re not failing.
Your brain and your body are doing an incredible amount of work all at once.

And you’re doing beautifully.

Read Kirstie's Staff Profile