Autistic and Expecting

Presented as the first title of its kind, this book is aimed at autistic people who are planning to become parents, and it is also meant for health and social care professionals. It explains how those professionals can make reasonable adjustments so that autistic people and their babies are more likely to get good outcomes.

The author is an autistic mother who went through a mental health crisis after a pregnancy and childbirth that received poor support. Drawing on her own experience and on those of many other autistic parents, she describes the problems these families share as well as the ones that affect them in particular ways.

The guide is practical and focuses on solutions. It walks parents through the period from before conception to the first few months with a baby, and it gives support workers the knowledge they need to help at these important stages. Sensitive illustrations accompany the text.

Readers come away with information, useful resources, and the confidence to speak up for themselves and build constructive working relationships with the professionals involved in their care.