autism / neurodivergent symptoms

Everyone’s symptoms are different especially being female we learn how to mask it in childhood/adolescence a lot more. As a child I was very shy, hid behind my sister a lot or let her do all the talking. Bad eye contact but that’s always stuck with me.
If you feel like it’s impacting your parenting in a bad way then definitely go to the doctors anyway. Just note there is a very long waiting list I was diagnosed within 2 and a half years and people say that’s lucky! So if it’s something playing on your mind you should probably go there explain how you think it could of possibly effected your child hood and teen years rather than how it effects you now.
Having a baby improved my eye contact for sure. I don’t stop staring at him !
Don’t worry how others perceive you because to be honest with you once you know yourself you are autistic a lot of opinions go out the window and it’s actually a massive relief. I wasn’t diagnosed until 19 years old (I’m 22) and it changed my life for the

Better, I understand myself a lot more now too because of it. It dosent really affect my parenting in a bad way it makes me more determined to do things and get things done, before I’d be too anxious to do anything go anywhere but you can’t do that with a baby/children. He brought me out of my shell even more. I now bring him out every day and eat in cafes alone with him. Something I would of never imagined doing before he is a blessing. Things still get overwhelming don’t get me wrong or I struggle to understand some things, my health visitor has been amazing and answered any questions or worries I’ve had no matter how silly or small I think they may seem

I am a late diagnose autistic woman (got my diagnosis this year at 29). I realised I was autistic a couple of years ago after losing a group of friends again over communication issues. It suddenly all clicked into place: all my “fussiness”, my “social anxiety”, my low social battery, my need for predictability, my anger outbursts when overwhelmed, the fact that I felt so betrayed by these friends because “I worked so hard” for the friendship and they still thought I was bad/weird/rude or mean (when they would accidentally see me unmask/being blunt). It has been a very slow process that I am still going through, realising all the details and things in my life that were symptoms but I had never really thought much about. It’s hard being late diagnose because you spend much of your life masking really hard but at the same time, at least in my case, I thought everyone felt the way I did lol even thought I knew I was “weird” and “different” I just had no idea of the extent!

Anyway, since realising, my spouse has been incredibly loving and accepting of this and has learnt so much about it, they finally understand what my needs are and can predict meltdowns and see potential issues, sometimes way better than I can (masking also involves a lot of denying your own needs unfortunately in my experience). I have a lot of grief about how my life could have been if I had known earlier etc and I sometimes feel sad that no one ever accepted me as me until now that they know why I am this way. I also have found so much joy and love though, for myself and for others (new friends, spouse). I am very open about being autistic now and I am less scared of asking for small accommodations.
My baby hasn’t been born yet. They are kicking the hell out of me as I write and driving me insane. Ngl, I do worry about my autism affecting my child negatively. However, chances are they will be autistic too and if that’s so, I am sooo well prepared for it now.

My spouse is super social so no way they will miss out on us making friends with other parents or going to the park, playgroups, etc. I am super ready to be the weird mum too, I’ve always been awkward so nothing will change there. I hope my child will love me as who I am just like I will love them as whoever they are. Also, I am ready with my noise cancelling earplugs for all the crying, and I have been obsessively learning about parenthood since I was little (special interest, lol).

i wouldn’t say it impacts me in a bad way but i struggle to get out with him sometimes because he’s very social and active so i get worried about how he’s going to act, but i guess that’s how a lot of people feel and i think it will get better as he gets older. i will say i feel more confident and sure of myself but it’s just an ongoing thought in my head it’s just kinda looming.

I get that!! Inside days together are just important as spending days outside though there’s lots of fun to be had at home, have a look at some indoor activities and definitely don’t put too much pressure on that, at least you’re getting out not just for your child but for yourself, and the more you do it the more you’ll catch yourself doing it without thinking. I can bet you your child is just happy to be with his mummy no matter what your doing !