Do you think that you had stress during pregnancy with your autistic child - Autism Spectrum Message Board

sallzyx · 05-30-2006, 05:49 PM

Since mother's are the only ones who really know their emotional states (sorry, guys!)

Do you think that you had a lot of stress during your pregnancy with your autistic child?

Just curious, because I felt very stressed out during my pregnancy to the point where I was shaking, crying, driving around in the middle of the night. Similar to what I felt when I was a teen and had hyperthyroidism. The ob-gyn assured me that I couldn't have a thyroid problem and get pregnant.

People said that the stress wasn't good for the baby, but I thought, "What could possibly happen?" Now I feel like I have found out. I was reading a book called Parenting from the Inside Out, and it said a child's cortisol level has been shown to damage the neurons in the brain. Suddenly, I thought back to my pregnancy and wonder if the mother's stress hormone can do the same in utero.

TIA for your replies.

MOM23ANGELS · 05-30-2006, 06:21 PM

i wasn't stressed out at all while pregnant with my asd son. (if i was anymore laid back i'de be dead.) although, i think most mothers with a special needs child goes over her pregnancy and thinks it may have been something she did. so here's my thing:

1. couldn't stop eating processed cr*p. (packaged cookies, cakes,) no wonder i gained 70 pounds during that pregancy.

2. a lot of amniotic fluid. doc sent me for a test and everything came back ok.

3. traumatic birth. my son came fast and furious. i was induced and couldn't believe how quickly things progressed. i was given a lot of different drugs to get me started. (can't stop thinking about all those drugs).

JeepMom · 05-30-2006, 06:53 PM

No stress during pregnancy. Actually it was one of my happiest times of my life.

sallzyx · 05-31-2006, 12:04 AM

Thanks for your replies. Yes, I am definitely going over what I could've done wrong.

I guess I will get over it now.

Just to respond to Mom23angels, I ate really healthy. I followed the Bradley diet to a T, so I don't think eating a bunch of junk food had anything to do with it.

I was induced with pitocin only, but the birth was not traumatic for the baby whatsoever, as far as I know. He was suctioned out at the end because he was extremely large for my body, though. The only other drug I had was something for my bloodpressure.