Pregnant

[Amity]

Hi, I have just found out i am expecting my 3rd child. My first is ASD and second NT. I have fears of having another ASD child and wondering if there is any testing that we can do to find out.

[tomel]

There is no genetic testing for autism.

[Amity]

Yes..I am feeling quite stressed at the moment...and come to think of it I closed a business when I was pregnant with my first. I didn't think I was stressed, but maybe I was deep down.

I love both my kids very much,and both of them where given to us for a reason, us I'm sure this one has been too, but I am feeling a little scared..

I would not think about abortion,but I would like to now my odds. As I said my second is NT so that is good.

Anyway time will tell, and yes I need to put my head in the clouds a bit more and ask for more help...
Which I find very hard to do.

[888mom]

Oh, something that helps deal with stress... I know saying just don't be stressed during your pregnancy is easier said than done... Two or three things actually.  Prayer.  Pray for yourself, pray with others, have others pray for you.  Other thing, ask people for help.  If you are stressed out even over just worrying about possible autism, ask relatives and friends to help you out with your routines like cleaning/picking up around the house or making the dinner for the evening.  If you are working, possibly cut back on your hours.  It's hard to ask for help.  I have lupus, and it took me a lot of years to learn to admit I needed extra help and now with a child with needs, I really need help.  But when you have kids with special needs, you need extra help, whether you yourself are totally healthy or not.  You don' t have to do it alone.  You shouldn't have to.  

[888mom]

I am sorry that you are going through a stressful time right now.

You can google genetic testing and autism and pretty much find out that there is currently no test out there prenatal.  You shouldn't be too stressed during pregnancy.  I think stress during pregnancy can cause more problems than anything else.  If you google pregnancy stress autism, you can find studies about that possible link.  I found a page that cited an Ohio State study that linked autism to stress during pregnancy.  My husband and I moved long distance when I was 3 months pregnant, and before that there was a lot of uncertainty of him finding a job.  So 3 months of a lot of stress.  So, don't get stressed out during your pregnancy.  Just accept what comes as it comes.  

Nobody knows what causes autism, but genetics does play a factor.  They also don't know the statistics for sure on if siblings get it.  I have seen figures either 1 in 10 or 1 in 20.  You could try skipping the immunizations on your 3rd child.  I mean, that's not great either if he dies from getting measles or mumps or rubella or whatever else, but if you're going to kill him anyway from abortion because of the autism fact, then at least he has a shot at living with not being immunized.  And I keep reading stuff about how immunizations don't cause autism, but children with autism can be made worse by having them with mercury.  

I would be against genetic testing for autism during pregnancy.  I mean, you can't do anything to stop it, so what would testing accomplish?  Unless you're thinking about abortion as an option, and that is a sad state our world will be in, if we can just abort every child who has problems.  I mean, you have to ask yourself, if you knew your first two children would have problems, would you want to give them back now? I am sure you love your first two children.  Why would you feel any different about your third child?  And yes, I know it makes life a lot harder.  It's something you have to discuss with your husband/partner/father of the child.