The Proprioceptive Birth: A Doula Framework for Neurodivergent and Chronically Ill Pregnant Clients

Pregnancy and birth are profoundly proprioceptive experiences, yet nearly all perinatal models assume a neurotypical sensory baseline. This session introduces a groundbreaking framework for understanding pregnancy and labor through the lens of neurodivergent proprioception, interoception, and sensory integration. Autistic, ADHD, trauma-impacted, and chronically ill pregnant people often inhabit bodies that process space, time, touch, pressure, and internal cues through different neural pathways. These differences shape pain perception, labor rhythms, emotional regulation, tolerance for medical environments, and early lactation, yet are rarely addressed in traditional doula education. Grounded in embodied neuroscience and enriched by culturally rooted Caribbean somatic frameworks, this session challenges the “neurotypical canvas” of mainstream birth support and equips doulas with practical tools to create truly individualized, sensory-affirming care for non-neurotypical pregnant bodies.