ADHD & Pregnancy: What No One Tells You (But We Should)

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: ADHD and pregnancy. Because when you Google it? You’ll get a lot of vague advice, conflicting opinions about medication, and very little about the emotional and hormonal chaos that can happen when you’re already managing a neurodivergent brain.

If you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or postpartum—and navigating ADHD on top of it—you’re not imagining it: everything feels a little (or a lot) harder.

Let’s break down what’s really going on, why ADHD can feel so different during pregnancy, and what can actually help.

April 2025, Rebecca Branham, ADHD Coach @ Agave Health

First Up: Hormones Are in the Driver’s Seat

ADHD is already impacted by hormonal fluctuations. So when you add in pregnancy-level hormone shifts—estrogen, progesterone, and all their moody little cousins—your symptoms can either temporarily improve... or go completely off the rails.

Here's what many people experience:

• Stronger emotional dysregulation (tears, rage, overstimulation, all of it)

• Harder time focusing—especially on anything that isn’t baby-related

• More forgetfulness & mental fog

• Increased sensory sensitivity (smells, sounds, touch—it can all feel too much)

• Difficulty with routines—because your body’s changing, your brain’s tired, and you’re adjusting daily

And while some people feel better in the second trimester, others feel like their brain just… leaves the building.

The Medication Question

Let’s address the big one: Can you take ADHD medication while pregnant? The answer is: it depends.

Every case is different, and this decision should 100% be made between you and your prescribing provider.

But here’s what we can say:

• Many providers will recommend stopping stimulant medication during pregnancy—especially in the first trimester—but it’s a nuanced conversation that should include your mental health and quality of life.

• Going off meds cold-turkey can be incredibly hard—especially if you rely on them to function. You deserve support through that process.

• Some non-stimulant options may still be considered safe depending on the situation. Again: talk to your doctor.

💡 If you’re off your meds right now and struggling, you are not doing anything wrong. This is hard. And you’re doing the best you can.

ADHD + Pregnancy = Executive Dysfunction on Hard Mode

Between hormones, sleep changes, anxiety about parenting, and maybe already managing other kids or work... You might find yourself:

• Forgetting appointments or losing track of time more often

• Overwhelmed by decisions (cribs, birth plans, baby names—so many tabs open)

• Struggling to stay on top of self-care

• Snapping at people you love, then feeling awful about it
  

This doesn’t make you a bad parent. It makes you a person whose brain needs more support, not less.

So What Can Actually Help?

• Body-doubling + accountability

  • Whether it’s your partner, a friend, or your coach, don’t go at this alone. Schedule gentle check-ins where someone can help you stay on top of your tasks without adding pressure.
    

• Visual reminders & simple routines

  • Pregnancy brain is real. Use sticky notes, phone reminders, whiteboards—whatever helps reduce the mental load.
    

• Prep for postpartum NOW (while you have energy)

  • Create a “future me” list—things like setting up meal trains, organizing support, and asking your coach to check in with you weekly after baby arrives.
    

• Be honest about what’s hard

  • Whether it’s overstimulation, intrusive thoughts, or forgetting to eat, you don’t have to mask it. Bring it to your sessions. Let someone see you so they can support you.
    

• Track emotional shifts

  • Use a mood tracker or journal to help spot patterns. ADHD + pregnancy + RSD = big feelings. Tracking helps you understand what’s happening before it feels unmanageable.

Recommended Resources for Pregnancy + ADHD Support

While we don’t provide pregnancy-specific care at Agave Health, we do want to point you toward trusted resources that do:

• 🧠 CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) https://chadd.org → Great for ADHD-specific insights, and they’ve published helpful material on ADHD across the lifespan, including during pregnancy.
  

• 📘 MothertoBaby https://mothertobaby.org → Evidence-based information about medication safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding. You can even speak with a trained specialist.
  

• ⚕️ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) https://www.acog.org → Science-backed guidelines on prenatal care, mental health, and medication during pregnancy.
  

• 👩‍⚕️ Postpartum Support International (PSI) https://postpartum.net → Incredible resource for both perinatal and postpartum mental health. Offers support groups and help finding providers.
  

• 📚 Book: "What No One Tells You" by Dr. Alexandra Sacks → Not ADHD-specific, but an honest, evidence-informed look at the emotional experience of pregnancy and motherhood.

You’re Not the Only One

Pregnancy with ADHD can feel like an emotional rollercoaster—but you are not alone in this.

You don’t need to be perfectly regulated, organized, or put-together to be a good parent. You just need support, strategies that actually work for your brain, and space to be human.

💬 If you’re navigating pregnancy and ADHD, come chat with your coach or therapist in the app. We can support you with emotional regulation tools, executive functioning help, and postpartum planning.

You’ve got this—and we’ve got you.