Say Hello to Rupert Richard

Welcome to the world Rupert Richard! You weren't the easiest baby to carry and you've certainly not been the easiest little one since being outside, though that's no fault of your own (more on that to follow). My first birth experience was quite traumatic- birthing a back to back baby that needed an episiotomy and forceps wasn't pleasant but despite my bad experience with Iris I was fully prepared to try a vaginal birth with Rupert but his positioning led to other plans and a C section was booked for a Tuesday when I was 39+4 but as we all know birthing babies rarely goes to plan...

My 2nd Pregnancy - 0-20 Weeks

They say that no two pregnancies are the same and my second pregnancy has certainly proven this to be true. This is actually the fourth time I've been pregnant but due to early miscarriages this is only the second time I've made it to the second trimester. This pregnancy has been a real eye opener- if this had been my first pregnancy, it would also have been my last. It has been horrific.

Giving Birth To A Back To Back Baby | Part Two

Click here to read: Giving Birth To A Back To Back Baby | Part One

1.30pm- I was 10 cm and I was able to start pushing. As the diamorphine had begun to wear off I was aware of the pain again. It was all still in my back and bum, still nothing at the front or down below. I physically couldn't move, the pain was so intense I couldn't even get to the toilet which led to my bladder having to be emptied manually several times- that is a very strange sensation.

Giving Birth To A Back To Back Baby | Part One

8pm- I was home alone watching a repeat of The Chase. I had my laptop on my lap, the dog by my side and I thought baby had put pressure on my bladder and made me wee a little bit. Next minute there was a physically popping feeling and a tremendous gush of water. My first thought was actually 'save the laptop!'

Autistic & Pregnant: What To Expect From An Early Miscarriage

TRIGGER WARNING

Please note this was written pre-Covid.

There are a few different things can indicate the start of a miscarriage, for me the first sign that I was miscarrying was bleeding. It wasn't gushing from me like you see on television and I wasn't in any pain. I know that bleeding is common throughout early pregnancy and so I was determined not to panic until I had been told it was bad news.

Autistic & Pregnant: How To Practically Deal With A Miscarriage

This is the post that I wish I didn't have the knowledge to write and I hope you never have to read. Sadly, miscarriage is incredibly common, happening in 1 in 4 pregnancies. It happens for a myriad of reasons which I'm not going to debate here. I will simply reiterate what you have already been told...it wasn't your fault and there is nothing you could have done.

Autistic & Pregnant: What To Expect At An Ultra Sound Examination.

Written Pre-Covid.

Ultrasound scans are typically performed twice throughout a standard pregnancy, once at 12 weeks and again at 20 weeks. Mine were performed at the ultrasound department of my local hospital- the same hospital I chose to give birth at.

Autistic & Pregnant: What To Expect At A Typical Midwife Appointment

The amount you see your midwife will vary depending on your personal situation though I have written a basic overview of how many midwife appointments to expect during pregnancy to give you a basic idea of what to expect. Below I have detailed some of the typical checks made at these appointments.

Autistic & Pregnant: How Many Midwife Appointments Do You Get During Pregnancy?

 

*Written Pre-Covid*

This is a guide to the typical antenatal appointments offered by the NHS in the United Kingdom as of 2017. Please use this as a guideline, some areas and some midwives may operate differently.

Autistic & Pregnant: What To Expect At A Booking Appointment

A booking appointment is usually your first contact with your midwife. It involves 'booking' you into the system and collecting a wide variety of health and lifestyle information from you and your partner. You are also required to submit a urine sample and blood samples will be taken. 

Autistic & Pregnant: Should I Take Anti-depressants During Pregnancy?

I'm not writing this post to cause controversy and I know that some people will not agree with the decision I made but for many people with a wide variety of health conditions it's a decision that needs to be made. As explained by my doctor, a lot of medication is not tested on pregnant women purely because of the ethics involved and because of that it's very difficult for medical professionals to know which medication is safe. Tests are performed on pregnant animals, something which doesn't sit well with me but I do understand the need for it. So often the best a doctor can tell you is how the medication affects animal foetuses and then it's down to you to decide if it's a risk worth taking.

Autistic & Pregnant: Finding Out I Was Pregnant

I have been pregnant twice. My first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 6 weeks. My second pregnancy has so far been successful. On both occasions the baby was very much planned and I was expecting a positive test, though that didn't prevent me from being surprised, shocked and a little fearful.

Autistic & Pregnant: What To Do When You Find Out You Are Pregnant

Congratulations! You're pregnant!

and if you are feeling anything like I was then you are feeling a whole lot of emotions varying from immense happiness to crushing self-doubt. In those first few days after seeing those two blue lines my emotions went crazy. Yes, some people will say that's the hormones but it's also the realisation that your whole life is about to change and no matter how prepared you are, change is scary for everyone but especially those with autism. Don't feel guilty or shy away from your emotions. Accept your emotions and remember that there is no 'right way' to process this information and if you feel able to why not open up and share your thoughts and feelings with your partner. The chances are they are feeling the same wild mix of emotions too.