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Hi everyone, I was just wondering if anybody was scared to have more children after their first was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. My oldest is 6 and has PDDNOS. I also have a 2 year old girl that so far appears to not be affected. My husband and I are considering on having a third child but I can't help but be nervous. Did any of you have these worries and how did it work out for you? ↓
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| Name: ruth | Date: Mar 26th, 2007 7:49 PM |
| Hi, i have a son his is autistic and i have a daughter she is 2 and she is just fine, the only problem i have she have started to copy her brother behavior to get attention because she can she when he has his moments he gets the attention, so i have to deal with that, trying to make her understand that is not right to do those things althought her brother does it so at this point i can't see my self bringing another baby and not be able to have the patient and don't be able to give him/her the attention he/she will need, God bless our lifes with our special little boy and a sweet little girl to love and to care and to do my best for there future so at this point i'm not sure to have another baby although i would like to have more. This is something that deserve a lots of thinking and something that you and your husband have to talk a lot about it, good luck. ↑ |
| Name: mtene5 | Date: Mar 27th, 2007 12:20 AM |
| Are you kidding, you should absolutely have another child if that is what you want to do. I don't know if you have ever read any of my postings but i am a mother of five, two of my children have autism, one high functioning and one severe, and i am pregnant with number six. You should do what you want and do not let your fear of autism control your life. I believe in my heart that autism is a very random disease despite what the medical field is saying and I will not let autism determine if I am going to have that large family that my husband and i always dreamt of . ↑ |
| Name: missheather | Date: Mar 28th, 2007 12:43 AM |
| That is a hard question and I don't blame you for being nervous. I work for various families and all have both autistic and nuerotypical children so I guess it's a chance you take. ↑ |
| Name: puddin | Date: Apr 10th, 2007 9:24 PM |
| Thank you for your replies. When my son was diagnosed at age 5 the Dr. said that family will be most important in his life. I've thought a lot about all the extra support he might need as he gets older. What happens when we as his parents might not be around any longer? Is it fair to my daughter to be his only sole supportive family member? My son is very connected to his family and loves his sister dearly. He says that she is his best friend. Does anyone else worry about when their child is an adult and not having the extra family around to love and support them? ↑ |
| Name: dianna | Date: Apr 11th, 2007 5:53 PM |
| Hi Puddin, yes I think we all wonder what are children face as autistic adults and it is a very tough choice because on the one hand you don't want to leave the burden all to one sibling but let's be honest, there is no guarantee that you may not get another autistic child as it is more prevelant once you already have a child on the spectrum to have another. I pretty much decided no more. That was the decision for me but may not be for all. I just imagaine if I did have another child and god forbid it happened to be autistic again, I would have to leave the burden of two autistic siblings on their only brother who is typical. But in the end, I think you'll know what's best for you. Hopefully, with the national statistic being 1 out of every 150 children with autism and in boys alone 1 out of every 100, they will probably have to consider more group homes as and if needed and other ways to partially support the abundance of people affected with this disorder. As we all know they will all grow up one day. Take care- ↑ |
| Name: mtene5 | Date: Apr 12th, 2007 3:47 AM |
| I was talking a few weeks ago with my husband about what is going to happen to all the autistic children when the parents of the young generation start to pass away. So many have special needs and too many are autistic. Homes are obviously an option but are there going to be enough, can there be enough. Can there even be enough live in help for the autistics who will need a conpanion. Have have several typical children and I hope they grow up to be wonderful successful people and will take care of their siblings once my husband and I are gone but the country is going to have to start preparing for this autism epidemic. Right now I believe there is a three year waiting list for assisted living in the DDD program in NJ. Can you imagine how long that list is going to become. The future is the hardest thing to think about for me. Maybe this country has not paid a lot of attention to autism now but wait for ten or twenty years from now when 1 out of every fifty men are collecting SSI benefits for autism. Those will be the numbers soon enough. This country and this world will eventually get their slap in the face for ignoring autism. I am gonna leave now before I work myself up anymore. ↑ |
| Name: tinydancer | Date: May 18th, 2007 1:40 AM |
| I have a four year old son with PDDNOS. My pediatrician said it is very rare for a couple to have a second child who is delayed. I would very much like to have a second child. I don't know how "normal" my son will be when he gets older, and I would like him to have someone to watch out for him when my husband and I are gone one day. My husband is still too afraid to try to have another child. I'm heartbroken. This disagreement has put a strain on our marriage. If your daughter is fine, I think you should go for it. The benefits of having another child seem to out weigh the risks. I only wish I knew how your husband had the strength to have a second child. Good luck with your children whatever you decide. ↑ |
| Name: threenme | Date: Jun 1st, 2007 12:57 AM |
| I have 3 and my middle has mild autism. He was a normal functioning child until he had his immunizations. After that he slowly drifted into his own little world. My suggestion to you is, if it runs in your family, do what I did. Spread out the vaccinations, and pick and choose the most important. Your health care provider will tell you, mine did. There is a genetic link for autism, but it triggered mostly by overlaod on the immune system from the vaccinations. I would love to have more, and the threat of autism is not there for me. They are all a a gift!! ↑ |
| Name: mom2twins25 | Date: Jul 26th, 2007 5:51 PM |
| We have 4 year old twins girls that are not autistic and our 3 year old son has been diagnosed with it. So I think it may just be different for everyone:) ↑ |
| Name: wallflower | Date: Aug 21st, 2007 5:48 AM |
Hi Puddin,
When my oldest ASD son was diagnosd 10 years ago there was nothing to support that it was genetic. Then I had a seond child diagnosed with autism. What I heard then was " Maybe it is genetic ", but there was no proof to stipulate that. But I knew. 7 years later I got pregnant again, he also has autism. 4 boys, 3 ASD. I would say it's genetic. I was told there is only a 10% chance of having a second child with autism and a 3% chance to have a third. I must be the 3%. I would talk to your doctor and someone who specializes in autism/genetic research area. I wouldn't change the fact I had more kids. I just wish their lives could be easier for them. That's a tough call. Take care.
shawn ↑ |
| Name: pevansmum | Date: Aug 22nd, 2007 3:04 PM |
i was really nervous to have another child. my 9yo son was diagnosed with autism at 2. when he was four, we had another son, who wasn't as bad off as the first. he was more alert and oriented, yet standoffish in a lot of ways. anyway, the second one died at the age of 3 1/2 (it was a massive seizure, sorry, you probably didn't need to hear that) but the good news is 7 months ago we had a little baby girl and she seems to be developing normally, with no traces of autistic traits. the only advice that i can give is if you are Rh positive, get a good perinatologist and have them keep a very close eye on you. that's what i did...
my aol screen name is evan45rj if you would like to chat, or you can email me at [email protected] ↑ |
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