Antenatal/birth choices - autism prevention?

[RockinSockBunnies]

So, as I spend far too much time trying to pinpoint what caused DSS's autism, and why there are so mnay autistic children around now, I came across the following article online about steps a woman can take prior to getting pregnant to reduce the odds of having an autistic child.

Since I'm planning to have children with DP in the next few years (I have DD, 10, NT, from previous relationship) I am researching, as much as possible, various ways as to minimise the risk of having a child with ASD.

www.ageofautism.com/2010/03/what-can-be-done-to-prevent-autism-now.html

Can anyone comment, in any way, as to its merits? Has anyone had a child/children with ASD and a subsequent NT child, having made lifestyle changes?

Is there anything you would do differently prior to conceiving if you were to have more children?

Or is it totally down to chance?

Thank you

My lifestyle hasn't really changed from conceiving my first ds to having my second dd (fifth child). I'm fit and healthy have a good diet regular exercise, never smoked, don't drink, been teetotal for 25 years. My first three children are NT my last two are ASD. With ds3 had an horrendous pregnancy with hyperemesis but an easy birth and with dd2 had a breeze of a pregnancy and another easy birth but they still have autism. For me I don't think maternal health had anything to do with the autism I think it's most likely genetic in our case tbh.

Have to say reading some of your link that it really sounds like bollocks to me. Of course try to eat more healthily etc but there's no scientific proof of any of those recommendations (from a nurse?). Genetics, possibly age of father, and other environmental factors as yet unknown and a good dollop of chance, IMHO.

My DS1 is NT, my DS2 has ASD, my DS3 is just a bit quirky. No difference at all in my health, food choices, partner etc except for being 2 years then 3 years older.

I have five too (pregnant with number 6) my third child has ASD the rest are NT. Did nothing differently in his pregnancy - it was by far my easiest/least complicated/well-est, I don't drink or don't smoke but apart from folic acid I made no lifestyle changes at all.

Personally I think it is the luck of the genetic draw - several of their cousins are on the spectrum as are siblings on both mine & dh's side.

The numbers with autism haven't changed at all. What changed are two things - much better diagnostics, and a world where there are no rules any more so we can't cope any more. In the Old Days we were just considered rude eccentric shy people with strange mannerisms. No-one thought that it wasn't related to IQ at all (which it isn't- can happen for any child with any IQ)
There is no answer to what causes brains to choose different designs. The one we have is designed to be very very highly specialised and highly focused, with three times greater detail available through our eyesight, hearing etc (all generalising). Those are not faults - they're enhancements to abilities that other people have. Getting us to use them, and making it possible for us to do so - that's the knack.
Hard work if people don't realise how to make a difference for us, or why we behave as we do.

Thank you for messages. I think the fact that it's DSS that's autistic, not DD, makes a significant difference to my ability to cope (or not cope as the case may be). I am sure that I would feel differently if my biological child had any kind of health problem, as opposed to feeling so helplessly overwhelmed, particularly as DSS's mother refuses to acknowledge the issues and actively undermines anything that we endeavour to do to help DSS (ABA for example).

I have to agree that it's just a load of rubbish. It's not been decided (as far as I'm aware) definitively what causes it - so how can you prevent it? All the advice listed on that link is just basic "be healthy prior to and during pregnancy" advice that is standard for anyone for the most part.

I have to say that I don't like the way it keeps cropping up that people are pushing for tests to see if a child is autistic during pregnancy in order to "have more choices" as some say. To me, that's just a PC way of saying that if the child isn't perfect, you're going to get rid. (and no, I am not a pro-lifer, this has nothing to do with that) Trying to figure out autism seems to be much like trying to tack down smoke...

Our DS2 is SN, others are NT. No major change in lifestyles, but did try to be healthy as possible for any and all pregnancies. We know our limits and are not planning on having any more children. As in most circumstances in life, nothing is guaranteed - so I suppose I then have to agree with NorthernSky that you may need to consider whether or not you have time/energy to handle another child at the moment.

Oh my god just attempting to try and change my life by all those things on that list would be enough to give me a coronary! I didn't drink or smoke during conception or pregnancy and ate healthily but I think using green beauty products is pushing the limits a little. I think sometimes we have to let nature take it's course and what will be will b sometimes. Special kids are only given to special mothers

Also the whole tone of the article seemed to be saying, 'if you don't do all these things then you will have caused your DC to have ASD.' Back to the 'blame the mother' ideology of the past. It wasn't my fault, shit happens!

(though I would suggest we're not actually shit?)

hmmph

DS has AS DD is NT, I did nothing differently, other than I mix fed DS and FF DS - that'd make them the wrong way round then eh? lol

I have three children - DS2 has ASD and is my middle child. My pregnancy with him was definately the easiest, although I had to take daily asprin and heprin injections because of previous m/c x 3.

In my heart of hearts I believe that DS's problems have something to do with his delivery. He got stuck and had to be pulled out very hard by ventouse. When he was born he has a massive cone on the left hand side of his head which hasnt fully disappeared.

Sorry, amberlight. Of course not, and neither is my adorable if completely off the wall DS! (not my favourite, oh no! Shhh)

If anything I ate more healthy and 'did everything right' with DS1. He was my first and I was in my element counting seeds, eating oily fish (tho I don't like it!), doing yoga class. He has a diagnosis of ASC. I felt so tired and sick with DS2 that it was all cake, stodgy carbs and diet coke. He is NT (so far!).

What a load of twaddle!
Add: Go on a massive guilt trip if you can't fulfil all 101 pieces of 'advice'

I puked when it said 'wear your baby' [puke emoticon] and stopped reading.
As if most sensible mothers don't eat more healthily, stop alcohol and smoking when pregnant!
There is a big genetic factor in a large proportion of children and better diagnosis and awarenessaccounts for most of the others. There needs to be more research not guilt inducing rubbish like this - no one can fulfil all those conditions.

What an UTTER load of bollocks!
While I got a bit bored wading though it all it was ridiculous enough to keep me reading just because it is so daft. It's more like an instruction sheet on how to have a neurotic pregnancy and how to be a paranoid new parent!!!

Eat a healthy diet, don't drink or smoke in pregnancy and keep sane....

I have four children, 3 of whom are neurotypical and bright, able young adults now. One has moderate learning difficulties, autism and mild physical disabilities...and is absolutely wonderful WITH all of the above. No change in my diet or lifestyle for any of them...

This is such utter guilt inducing, anti disability claptrap it makes me really cross. Not one of us I'm sure would WISH our children to have lifelong neurodevelopmental disabilities but neither do any of us go into pregnancy thinking 'if I do X Y Z my child is guaranteed to be fine' because life isn't like that.

Either you decide to try for a child and accept the uncertainties that it entails or you don't have children.....

Incidentally I do think genetics played a part in my son's ASD etc... but then maybe instead of looking into having a hermetically sealed pregnancy (maybe in a bubble?!) you should look at ensuring a perfect partner who hasn't already produced a child with ASD....

grrrrrrr

Another one who feels genetics played a role. However my son is without doubt the very best part of my life & if I could change him I wouldn't. Yes he needs more work than an "NT" child but you shouldn't have kids if you are scared of hard work, or unable to accept imperfections. Medusa has one solution for you.

I have friends with NT children who have got into drugs as teens and caused their parents far more worry than my son's disability ever could. Nothing is guaranteed when it comes to parenting.

There are a myriad of disabilities any future child of yours could have from short sight to sociopathy, asd is only one thing. Being sensible in pregnancy makes sense, but beyond that it's down the luck of the draw.

If I were your partner I'd be finding your attitude a little disturbing - a rejection of my child, which is far more hurtful than a personal one. Do be careful if you want to remain with this man.

That last comment is a little harsh. Biological mums post on here saying "why me, why my child, I want to walk away" etc. Stepmums are no different, they struggle just as much but with the added guilt factor that this isn't their own child, so feel that maybe what they're feeling is wrong and unfair and that maybe they wouldn't feel that way if the ASD stepchild was their own. Building a bond is hard with any stepchild, because you didn't have that initial bond from birth. Building a bond with an ASD child who finds emotions confusing and difficult and who can be kicking, biting and hitting you, screaming at you, telling you they hate you, is also difficult. Combine the two, and it is very hard at times to keep going. You have your own feelings to deal with and you have to sit and watch your dp/dh being torn apart by their own child. There is sometimes that little voice at the back of your mind that tells you you don't have to be doing this. Lots of biological parents post at times saying they want to just walk away but can't, but as a step-parent you really could do it, you don't have to stay... but you do stay and you do care, you work hard to learn how to deal with the ASD (just like the biological parents) and you do your best for the child that just hit you and told you he/she hates you because you love your dp/dh and the times when you get it right, and dss/dsd is feeling good, doesn't meltdown and does show affection make it worth it and you do grow to love them. And your dp/dh needs to appreciate that too. Just wanted to show a bit of support for RockinSock.

Guess I'm on my own but I don't think it's rubbish and I don't think it's trying to blame the mother for 'causing' autism. I agree it would be really too hard to implement fully though.

With autism, so much is unknown about its cause(s) that environmental triggers certainly cannot be ruled out. And because talk these days tends to be of 'autisms' then everything that has already been said on the thread could well be absolutely true for each individual but that does not necessarily make it the explanation for all cases. In some cases maybe an environmental factor is the deciding one.

I wouldn't have done anything differently Rockinsockbunnies, ds1 (nt), ds2 (hfa/adhd/s&l difficulties) dd3 (suspect apd) - well, apart from maybe having a No4 but I'm too old now.

I understand that you have worries/fears, I'm sure my sis had them too when she was expecting her little ones as she saw how stressful the dx etc was for us.

I really don't have any earth muffin words of wisdom that can reassure you because I think there is always uncertainty - so it's up to you really! I love and adore all my dc's and as I said earlier wouldn't have done anything differently!

This makes me a little uneasy on several levels.
I constantly wonder whether my son's autism is a result of my being a very mature mother.....first child aged 38. We have no other autism in our family. I have one sibling who had 3 NT children but, she started young.
I wonder if it's because, at the time of conception I was very stressed. My husband didn't want children "then" but wanted to wait. I WAS 38!!! I didn't have time for "wait and see" so, we made the decision to come off the pill as it could take a while to conceive at my age. I got pregnant straight away and my husband was not pleased.

Prior to conception, I exercised regularly, drank rarely (my husband, not at all). I ate well. I was a healthy 38 yr old. But, my stress levels were through the roof. I wonder, did I "cause it"?

The pregnancy was troubled by a bit of high BP which needed treating medically and the medication prescribed, game me asthma. Did that have anything to do with "it"?

My scans showed a lack of amniotic fluid. Everyone joked about "baby" being thirsty at the weekly scans I had to have to check there was ANY fluid. The birth was induced although I'd admitted myself during the night before the scheduled inducement. They asked me if my waters had broken.....I said "I'm unsure as there was only a little". The midwife laughed and said "this is your first baby.....believe me, when your waters go, you know about it. You're not in labour so, we'll continue with induction drip". That was 8am. At 2pm I was in agony..... the midwife told me to "get off the bed and walk around" as I was in the very early stages of labour. I asked them to contact my husband as I felt I was closer than they were telling me. But they said I should go take a shower..... they'd ring my husband later.....

I remember losing my temper and screaming that someone should ring my husband AND get a doctor because if this wasn't labour then I was in big fucking trouble when it WAS!!! Then some, 20 mins later, The midwife seing out a "baby in distress" call and all hell broke lose. Three midwives, a Dr (me asking for some pain relief but they said "it's too late now!"), my husband arriving JUST in time; me telling them the gas and air wasn't working so could I have SOMETHING ELSE? I remember them telling my husband to "take the gas off her, she's having too much" and me telling him to back the fuck off!!

Anyway, my son was born 55 mins after them telling me, I wasn't in labour properly yet and should take a shower.

Up on the ward, I had the nurses come visit me from delivery suite 5 times to see "everything is OK now". I thought then, NO it wasn't OK, it was a fucking shambles.

Did this contribute to my son's condition? I'll never know.

My point is, maybe it really is a random/genetic thing. I THOUGHT I'd done everything properly. I still blame myself for the delivery process.

Oh and by the way, the young 15 year old girl opposite me on the ward (afterward) was talking about how her gas and air was faulty AT THE WALL and they had to get a portable canister for her.

No body listened to me, they told me to "pull myself together".

So, my first and only most precious child came into the world in this 3 ring circus scenario after my trying to make it all so perfect.

He's ten now.....diagnosed ASD at 4yrs. Has OCD/Tourettes. Is very clever and artistic and fantastic but....all the good stuff I did prior to conception and throughout pregnancy didn't help me when I got to the hospital.