A genetic dead end

[Kate]

Well this past weekend I went to an autism conference that was at the University near us... and I almost wish I didn't.

One of the keynote speakers was talking about 'autistic phenotype' which basically means that parents and immediate blood relatives who have psych histories or one or more autistic like characteristic most likely contributed to the autism that and medications consumed during the first trimester of pregnancy.

So with my psych history.... major depressive disorder, OCD, ADD, GAD- and medications I took for HG during first tri---- I just felt horrible like I was some genetic dead end and what was I thinking having kids in the first place.... let alone trying to have more.

I was just so hurt and felt like I was being blamed.... even though I genes are not something I can control.

He went on to say how we have come such a long way from back in the day when autism was blamed on mothers who didn't want their kids and didn't love them the right way.... and now I feel like he just moved away to a scientific based blame the mothers.

[Schatje]

I have a psych disorder and I took meds during my first trimester with both my kids. I fit the same profile you do and yet my 7 year old is not autistic and it doesn't look like my 1-1/2 year old is showing any signs either. There is risk in everything we do. Don't be put off or blame yourself for something that isn't your fault. Who knows, perhaps 10 years from now they will find something or someone else to blame. It has happened before.

[Atsie]

[Rachel]

I have a low-functioning autistic cousin. My aunt, his mother, took no drugs during the pregnancy and had none of the genetic markers you talk about, nor any of the conditions you have.

So she did everything 'right' theoretically and still ended up with an autistic son.

Basically, there's nothing you can do or could have done to change this. You had to take the meds you took to survive, and to cope, and to bring him into the world in the first place. Don't beat yourself up for that.

You are a really good mom. It comes through in every post you make. Truly.

[justme]

My sister in law has 3 out of 4 autistic boys and had no pregnancy complications whatsoever. I believe she has never really taken any medication at all - ever. They all had genetic testing done and it was deemed that it was not genetic.

I have been reading a lot and it really to me seems like it is a combination of digestive disorders which affect immunity and cause children to be unable to properly detoxify their bodies which causes neurolgoical difficulties. Extreme diet changes and detox programs work for around 75% of people to minimize the symptoms. Coupled with therapy - like ABA or Floortime - lots of kids are later deemed "typical".

There are so many kids these days being diagnosed with autism and their parents all have such vastly different histories - please don't blame yourself. Plus, alot of women have posted here in the 3 years that I have been here and they do not have statistically higher rates of autism in this community than the rest of the community.

Have you read Healing the New Childhood Epidemics? It is about detox and diet for autism, adhd, asthma and allergies. It is really good and some of the stuff has really worked for Isabella's reflux/MSPI issues. She is a very different baby now. I know you are doing a lot of research, I recommend reading it and deciding for yourself.

Karen

[MichellevsHG]