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Advice / Books for Expectant Father with ASD

NAS78650

Hi everyone,

How are you doing?

We just found out that my wife is pregnant and are very happy about this. This would be our first child! 

I was diagnosed with ASD and ADHD last year. It's been a really difficult period for us and I am currently signed off work sick as I develop better strategies for being autistic in a non-autistic world. 

Does anyone have any advice for an expectant father / parent with ASD or any books you would recommend? I guess I am most worried about letting my wife down or saying / doing something inappropriate. 

Thanks,

J

Parents

  • I am autistic and the father of two neurodivergent children (ADHD and ASC). I found that things happened quite naturally, I went to all the anti-natal classes and during labour I acted as a sort of cheerleader for my wife, as the midwife was a little distant. I cut the umbilical cord - I am not squeamish at all. There is an important difference between being a mother and being a father, the mother builds a relationship with the unborn that is unavailable to the father. As a result, you go into hospital with just your wife, who has a bump, and leave it with your wife and a brand new human being. So the bonding process is different. After the birth of my eldest my wife was taken off to have a shower and I was left alone with my new daughter. She was sleeping and I fell in love with her, it was a physical feeling like something opening inside my chest. After that, I knew I could be a father.

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  • I am autistic and the father of two neurodivergent children (ADHD and ASC). I found that things happened quite naturally, I went to all the anti-natal classes and during labour I acted as a sort of cheerleader for my wife, as the midwife was a little distant. I cut the umbilical cord - I am not squeamish at all. There is an important difference between being a mother and being a father, the mother builds a relationship with the unborn that is unavailable to the father. As a result, you go into hospital with just your wife, who has a bump, and leave it with your wife and a brand new human being. So the bonding process is different. After the birth of my eldest my wife was taken off to have a shower and I was left alone with my new daughter. She was sleeping and I fell in love with her, it was a physical feeling like something opening inside my chest. After that, I knew I could be a father.

Children