Research shows increase in ADHD in women post-pregnancy and when kids reach preschool age

For many women, the early years of motherhood feel overwhelming in ways that are hard to explain. Between sleepless nights, work responsibilities and the constant planning that comes with caring for a young child, it can seem like there is never a moment to catch up. But for some mothers, those struggles may point to something that had gone unnoticed for years. 

Recent research suggests that many women are diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) several years after becoming mothers, often when their children reach preschool age. Diagnosis rates tend to dip during pregnancy and in the first two years after childbirth, but they increase again when children are between two and five years old. Overall, women in this postpartum period have about a 24% higher chance of receiving an ADHD diagnosis compared with women before pregnancy. 

Tamar Gur, MD, PhD, explains why ADHD symptoms in women are frequently missed: 

• Girls and women are less likely to be diagnosed because the symptoms are underrecognized in them. Motherhood places significant strain on executive functioning, and sleep deprivation can amplify and unmask the core ADHD symptoms. 
• As children get older, the mental load of parenting tends to increase. Managing preschool schedules, activities, meals and everyday routines can make it harder to compensate for difficulties with organization or focus.  
• Challenges that once felt manageable may suddenly become more noticeable. 
• ADHD symptoms can overlap with postpartum anxiety or depression, which sometimes delays getting the right diagnosis.  
• Ongoing struggles with organization, attention or emotional regulation, especially when they affect both work and home life, can be signs worth discussing with a physician. 

Dr. Gur stresses the need for better awareness and screening so that postpartum women who are struggling can get the support they need sooner and connect with specialists and treatment options, including therapy, medication or both.