Diagnosed autistic 7 weeks before first child

[yondertwice]

Hi!
I was recently diagnosed as autistic. My due date is 7 weeks away.
I'm really worried that this will affect my ability to parent, my ability to adapt to the huge changes which baby will bring.
I live a long way from family so it will only be me and my husband with very little support network.
Am I going to be able to cope?

The only thing I would say is that you are the exact same person now, after the diagnosis as you were before the diagnosis. Before the diagnosis you felt able to cope with being a mother so you will.

I would take the diagnosis and put it to one side, if you struggle with some things, being autistic may be the reason why but it may not. Being a mother is tough on everybody. I would just say maybe try to be kind to yourself, don't put too much pressure on and really try to enjoy being a mum. That's advice I would give everybody, we all feel that we have these impossible ideals to live up to but actually being happy and having good mental health so we're better able to cope with the challenges is the most important thing we can do for our children.

You've got this. You're still you, with all the same (many, many) capabilities and skills you had before. Your diagnosis is hopefully something you can use to facilitate understanding of certain aspects of your life, and that will, I'm sure, include parenthood. It'll be difficult, for sure - you're having a baby! That's always difficult! But know that many, many autistic people are wonderful and successful parents, and they're no reason at all why you shouldn't be the same.

Best of luck - and congratulations on your impending arrival!

Did you feel before you got your diagnosis that you be would a good mother? Nothing has changed now! Winston Churchill had autism and he ran a country. Did you feel that you couldn't do things before your diagnosis? Were some things difficult? Also congratulations on your impending arrival

Autistic mother raising 4 autistic kids - I like to think I’m doing alright like everyone else has said you’re the same person now as before diagnosis so whilst new parent doubts are normal - it’s not to do with being autistic.

It doesn’t change a thing OP. You are the same person you have been all your life. Hopefully the diagnoses helps you to understand yourself better.

Autistic mother here too, one autistic kid, 2 waiting for assessment for autism and/ or adhd. You can do this, you are exactly the same person you always were, just now you have an explanation for some things. Also you have the advantage that you now know, and can put things in place at home to help you before baby comes, like planning a set time in the day where your husband takes the baby for an hour and you can do something for you- explore your interests, sleep, eat chocolate, whatever helps you feel centred for example. And congratulations on your diagnosis (if that doesn't sound too strange!) I know I felt a huge amount of relief when I was diagnosed about 2 years or so ago.

One of my very good friends is an Autistic mother and is doing a great job of raising her son. My husband is also Autistic and has found the change hard, as have I, but is such a wonderful dad.

Do you have any friends close by you could bubble with for support?