Anonymous wrote:I respectfully disagree with the previous post that said there is nothing you can do about it. If I had it to do all over again, there are many things I would have done differently. Make sure you take plenty of vitamin D. This will prevent maternal bone loss that occurs during pregnancy and the release of maternal toxins like heavy metals that collect over your life span and can be released from bone storage to the developing fetus through the placenta. Don't get any dental work done while pregnant and wear a night guard if you have mercury amalgam fillings, especially if you grind your teeth or drink a lot of hot liquids. Drink filtered water only. Don't get a flu shot. The flu shot is one vaccine that still contains thimerosol/mercury preservative. Don't eat fish, especially large species. Avoid high fructose corn syrup. Eat adequate cholesterol (eg eggs) since cholesterol is so important for the developing brain. Eat lots of organic leafy greens. Determine your MTHFR gene status. If you have this common mutation you should not take folic acid, but metafolin/folate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have 3 kids on the spectrum, two are 21 months apart, the last one is 5 years younger than the middle child. Both genders. Spacing made absolutely no difference in our case.

That must be hard, I'm sorry. Do they have the same severity levels?

Anonymous wrote:We have 3 kids on the spectrum, two are 21 months apart, the last one is 5 years younger than the middle child. Both genders. Spacing made absolutely no difference in our case.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think spacing is a magic bullet either. As someone who works in the field I have seen many scenarios of age gaps between siblings that are diagnosed (or are NT).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I respectfully disagree with the previous post that said there is nothing you can do about it. If I had it to do all over again, there are many things I would have done differently. Make sure you take plenty of vitamin D. This will prevent maternal bone loss that occurs during pregnancy and the release of maternal toxins like heavy metals that collect over your life span and can be released from bone storage to the developing fetus through the placenta. Don't get any dental work done while pregnant and wear a night guard if you have mercury amalgam fillings, especially if you grind your teeth or drink a lot of hot liquids. Drink filtered water only. Don't get a flu shot. The flu shot is one vaccine that still contains thimerosol/mercury preservative. Don't eat fish, especially large species. Avoid high fructose corn syrup. Eat adequate cholesterol (eg eggs) since cholesterol is so important for the developing brain. Eat lots of organic leafy greens. Determine your MTHFR gene status. If you have this common mutation you should not take folic acid, but metafolin/folate.

I'm not going to address most of this, but I did want to point out: You should be very aggressive about dental work while pregnant. Definitely get regular cleanings, and some women while pregnant may need cleanings spaced every 3 months rather than 6 months. Gingivitis is serious and can cause preterm labor/early delivery. I had 2 teeth extracted while pregnant, better to get them out than wait.

Anonymous wrote:Mine are 17 months apart. We don't have a diagnosis of ASD for our older son, but he has speech/communication delay (and seems very spectrumy to us) and receives special ed services. Our younger child, also a son, is NT.

During my second pregnancy, I had dental work, drank unfiltered water, ate zero eggs and very little cholesterol, could not stomach leafy greens for the full nine months, had a flu shot, and wasn't great about remembering prenatal vitamins.

I think that wen though there are genetic and statistical risk factors, the whole thing is still a big crap shoot.

You sound like a very concerned mom and I know how hard it is not to worry. However, all kids will have their strengths and weaknesses, and I find it reassuring to remind myself that being NT isn't some guarantee of success or an easy future, and being ASD or special needs doesn't mean everything will be hard. My younger NT son is three, and now that my older son is doing great with his school and therapy, he's the easy one! All the best to you!

Anonymous wrote:OP, I know a family with 3 Boys. Twins are 4 yrs6M and little one is 2Yr5M. Only one Twin is ASD but the remaining two are NT kids.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think spacing is a magic bullet either. As someone who works in the field I have seen many scenarios of age gaps between siblings that are diagnosed (or are NT).

Anonymous wrote:Yes. My 3 year old DS is ASD and my one year old DS so far is NT.

It scares me half to death when I call DS2 and he doesn't look right away.

We weren't expecting DS2 and DS1 was only 14 months by the time I got pregnant again. I do not recommend this.

My one year old is only 16 months so only time will tell.

Anonymous wrote:I respectfully disagree with the previous post that said there is nothing you can do about it. If I had it to do all over again, there are many things I would have done differently. Make sure you take plenty of vitamin D. This will prevent maternal bone loss that occurs during pregnancy and the release of maternal toxins like heavy metals that collect over your life span and can be released from bone storage to the developing fetus through the placenta. Don't get any dental work done while pregnant and wear a night guard if you have mercury amalgam fillings, especially if you grind your teeth or drink a lot of hot liquids. Drink filtered water only. Don't get a flu shot. The flu shot is one vaccine that still contains thimerosol/mercury preservative. Don't eat fish, especially large species. Avoid high fructose corn syrup. Eat adequate cholesterol (eg eggs) since cholesterol is so important for the developing brain. Eat lots of organic leafy greens. Determine your MTHFR gene status. If you have this common mutation you should not take folic acid, but metafolin/folate.