The bad news: Being a pregnant woman with autism can feel overwhelming and unintuitive. Good news: Having a healthy baby is an evidence-based approach.

There is a lot of research on how to give birth to a healthy baby, and You can take control of your health and your baby’s development during pregnancy.

possible Keep risk loweven though most pregnancy books and caregivers imply that safe pregnancy and delivery depend more on luck. Sometimes complications do occur, but you can largely prevent them.

What to expect during pregnancy

Most people know that a baby grows in the mother’s womb during pregnancy. This seems obvious! They also realize that a woman’s belly will get bigger and she may eat more. Finally, the baby needs to come out!

But it does end most people’s understanding of pregnancy (!!!)

In fact, Pregnancy brings a lot more changes than the growing baby. Your baby and his or her placenta are fully developed during your pregnancy. add Every system in your body adapts and changes to help your baby grow and prepare for your birth. It’s not just a growing uterus!

Supporting this change is key to having healthy babies and safe, low-risk pregnancies and births.

Your physical health is the key to a healthy baby

All your systems change during pregnancy:

As you might guess, there are many changes taking place as pregnancy affects all of these systems. I List the circulatory system last because ultimately this is the system that does the hard work Promote change in all other systems.

It also provides important nutrients to your baby. The uterus is full of blood vessels, some of which flow into small “blood lakes” that bathe the maternal side of the placenta, allowing nutrients to perfuse through the membranes into the placenta and then into the baby’s blood vessels. The waste products produced by babies are also filtered through this mechanism.

Your circulatory system is responsible for distributing all nutrients to you and your babyand waste disposal. It does a lot of things. Actually, To facilitate this process, your blood supply increases by about 50-60%, what is known as the physiological increase in blood volume during pregnancy.

This is very important because Here’s what you need to support during pregnancy to keep your risks low. Primary way to support blood volume expansion? through diet during pregnancy.

In addition to multi-system support, your body requires more energy during pregnancy. Recent studies estimate that pregnant mothers need approximately 50,000 additional calories throughout pregnancy96% of its needs are used solely by your body system (baby only needs about 4% of calories!).

I present this information from a more technical perspective because I know that many autistic women, like me, are motivated by understanding research perspectives.

While it’s important to be aware of your physical health, It’s also great for viewing pregnancy as a spiritual time or a time to focus on personal development. This may or may not resonate with some autistic moms, but I feel like both angles of pregnancy are important and complementary.

I’ve written numerous articles and podcasts about diet, click here to read the basics of pregnancy diet and click here to listen to more about prenatal nutrition. Also check out my healthy pregnancy diet on the budget post!

A proper pregnancy diet can prevent complications such as preeclampsia, pregnancy diabetes, and baby’s growth restriction!

I know food sensitivities can be difficult for autistic women and if you would like help designing a meal plan and schedule that works for you, please click here.

move

Daily exercise is important. I always say “exercise” rather than “exercise” because the latter word brings to mind a lot of things – and usually they’re negative or exhausting!

Labor and delivery is an endurance activity (the equivalent of a 50-mile hike!). Not only do you need to be well-nourished, you also need to be prepared to work with your baby throughout the entire birth process, which can vary (usually longer for first-time moms).

Taking short walks every day from now on can help you increase your activity. This may also help if you are feeling tired from morning sickness as it will increase your circulation.. If you can take a walk outside on a nature trail, even better—slightly uneven terrain is good for realigning your joints and preparing your baby for a smooth delivery.

As you get used to being physically active (or you’ve started being physically active), you can do more hiking or other activities you enjoy.

Prenatal yoga and prenatal belly dancing are also great, especially for autistic women. The advantage of both is that it focuses on both understanding how your body moves and focusing on your breathing. They also emphasize the connection with their baby.

Click here to learn more about choosing pregnancy exercise.

Sometimes neurodivergent women find it difficult to connect with their bodies, so movements that support gentle exploration and understanding can help you feel more comfortable. Stretching, moving, and breathing work are also good preparations for labor.

Quantum biology and your pregnancy

Quantum biology is an emerging field, especially as it relates to pregnancy and childbirth. Essentially See your health at the smallest level (cellular and molecular). This means you are paying attention to the energy.

A nourishing diet is one way we provide energy to our bodies.

Resting in nature and paying attention to circadian rhythms can also help balance our bodies and restore energy.

Women (and men) on the spectrum often struggle with disorders and uncertainty about their bodies. Living more in tune with your circadian rhythm and spending time in nature can help. Here are some basics:

Bedtime arrangements can help. Choose bedding that makes you feel good, too.

Daily contact with nature helps, even if you have to start slowly. Bare feet are also ideal if your feet can tolerate the feel of the ground. You may choose to go barefoot only on surfaces that you feel comfortable with. Or, try putting your feet in the water at a lake, ocean, or creek!

All of these help nourish your body on a cellular level and can help you feel more regular and relaxed overall.

9 months for a reason

As I shared in my article about coping with life and pregnancy when you’re on the autism spectrum , you can Take the first step in all these things.

I believe we got 9 months for a reason!

It’s okay to take the time to eat a good pregnancy diet, get more exercise, and find ways to adjust your daily routine.

Small changes can make a big difference over time. when you Focus on the evidence that shows how you can help your baby and choose to take just one small step every day and you can create a huge difference.

Remember, if you need someone to guide you throughout your pregnancy, help you with daily routines, create meal plans, and be there to help you, click here to schedule a time with me.

your mental health

Your mental health is also important to your baby’s development. Stress and anxiety are often part of the experience for women with autism. Masking can take a lot of energy, and being overwhelmed on your own can be a real struggle.

Pregnancies where moms feel relaxed are good for babies, but experiencing some stress during pregnancy won’t hurt your baby. In fact, when you feel stressed and deal with it in a healthy way, your baby Better able to cope with stress after birth.

this may mean you Balance high-energy activities with activities that rejuvenate you. this may mean When you need to recharge, find a calm, quiet place. This could mean excitement or enjoying a funny movie or book. It doesn’t matter if you enjoy an ice cream cone here and there!

If you are struggling with chronic stress, I recommend working on building a support network. You can start with family members. Or, if you qualify for services because of a disability or pregnancy, you may be able to contact a social worker who can help. I discuss some of these options in detail here. A doula or pregnancy coach can also assist.

Taking time to relax and journal about your feelings can also be helpful. Journaling is powerful because you can write about your anxieties and you can Also explore what it would be like if things were better. How would it feel if you didn’t have to stress about a situation? Giving your brain a chance to “write” or imagine the content can help you start to understand how to achieve this goal.

Baby steps to feeling better physically can also help you feel better emotionally.

Is having an autistic mother good for your child?

Many women worry about being autistic and becoming mothers because they worry they won’t be as “good” as their neurotic mothers.

New research on neurodiverse people shows that people with the same neurodiversity, such as autistic people and people with autism, tend to communicate well with each other…It’s also possible that your baby is neurodiverse.

However, even if your child is not, having an autistic mother brings many advantages to the mother. First, Autistic mothers are often research-based and often overcome difficulties with breastfeeding and nurturing because they know it benefits their babies.

they also Carefully consider the choices they make for their babyleading to intentional decision-making.

Many things that can soothe an autistic person: dim/soft lighting, a cozy or slightly cooler area, white noise, rocking, etc. can also soothe babies.

Many mothers with autism also say they initially feel like their children are an extension of themselves. Therefore, wearing baby clothes and keeping your baby close feels right, and Babies often thrive when kept close.

Of course, like all mothers, autistic women feel “touched.” If you feel this way, put your baby somewhere safe (I actually do this when I feel overwhelmed and need a few minutes to calm down and find a plan to calm my fussy baby!).

I just wanted to share some positive thoughts about autistic moms!

Don’t miss the rest of the videos and articles in this series – let me know if you need support!

Want personal support to stay healthy and low-risk during pregnancy? Desire true guidance to make your divine birth dreams a reality?

Click to schedule a pregnancy and birth preview call with me. We will discuss your hopes and dreams and explore whether my pregnancy coaching program is right for you.