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Experiences of pregnancy and birth after getting ASD diagnosis?

lemondifficult

Wasn't sure whether to post in the 'medical' forum or here! Anyway - 

I'm 34, got my formal diagnosis of ASD earlier this year. I'm very skilled at masking/social mimicry, to the extent most people I know wouldn't ever believe I was autistic. My life looks very 'normal' on the surface - I'm married and have a full-time job. My husband and I would like to have a child but I am absolutely terrified of my diagnosis not being taken seriously by medical professionals when I'm pregnant and when discussing birth choices, as I seem to be coping so well with life and I don't fit the autism 'stereotype' that most people are familiar with.

I have a really low pain threshold, and I am terrified of having my concerns dismissed and being made to give birth in a way which I know will send me into meltdown and traumatise me for life - not to mention being hugely dangerous to the baby as I will be in such a state and unable to respond to the midwives' instructions. 

I'm wondering if there's anyone on here who already had a formal ASD diagnosis before you got pregnant, and whether midwives/consultants actually took it into account, especially with regards to birth choices? If you expressed anxiety about labour/birth, did they take your concerns seriously? 

Thanks so much to anyone who feels able to share their experiences.

Parents
  • in reply to NAS75629

    Autistic people have the right to choose to have children, same as anyone else. You've made your choice not to have them, which is your right, and this lady is considering having them, which is her right. Let's not tear each other down. Let's allow people to make their own choices, free of judgement. If we all didn't have babies for the fear they'd be Autistic, then plenty of NT parents would also have a reason to be 'concerned', because plenty of NT parents end up with ND children. As long as parents of Autistic children aren't torturing them with ABA and the like, then I think it best not to judge other, official or potential, mums/dads.

    Also, this could just be me being ignorant, but I'm pretty sure there is no 'blood test for the markers'. Not yet, anyway. I'm open to being wrong about that, though. Anyway, I could be wasting my breath – you could be a spambot as someone else suggested – but I just don't want the OP to be hurt by these comments, and I don't want any other potential parents who may be reading this to be hurt either. If I can at least mitigate that hurt, I will.

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  • in reply to NAS75629

    Autistic people have the right to choose to have children, same as anyone else. You've made your choice not to have them, which is your right, and this lady is considering having them, which is her right. Let's not tear each other down. Let's allow people to make their own choices, free of judgement. If we all didn't have babies for the fear they'd be Autistic, then plenty of NT parents would also have a reason to be 'concerned', because plenty of NT parents end up with ND children. As long as parents of Autistic children aren't torturing them with ABA and the like, then I think it best not to judge other, official or potential, mums/dads.

    Also, this could just be me being ignorant, but I'm pretty sure there is no 'blood test for the markers'. Not yet, anyway. I'm open to being wrong about that, though. Anyway, I could be wasting my breath – you could be a spambot as someone else suggested – but I just don't want the OP to be hurt by these comments, and I don't want any other potential parents who may be reading this to be hurt either. If I can at least mitigate that hurt, I will.

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