Autistic and Expecting: Practical support for parents to be, and health and social care practitioners

Autistic and Expecting is the first book of its kind to be written specifically for autistic parents, whilst also providing essential reading for health and social care practitioners, enabling them to provide reasonably adjusted care with the best outcomes for autistic people and their babies. Written by an autistic mother who experienced a mental health crisis following a poorly supported pregnancy and childbirth, she gives voice to the experiences of many autistic parents in order to address the issues they collectively and uniquely face. The outcome is a practical, insightful, and solution-focused guide to empower autistic parents from pre-conception right through to the first few months with baby, and to inform health and social care staff whose job it is to offer support and to meet their needs at these critical times. This sensitively illustrated book provides the information, resources, and confidence autistic parents need to advocate for themselves, as well as developing positive relationships with the professionals involved in their care.

Activists all have a defining moment that propels them into action. And Alexis Quinn’s began after she birthed her first child and her youngest brother died. She asked for help from services and responded autistically to the ‘help.’ She was then detained under the Mental Health Act for three and half years before escaping to Africa. On conceiving her second child, Alexis reasoned that autistic mums should not have to enter pregnancy and birth worrying about being misunderstood, marginalised, and traumatised. She connected with other autistic mums and was saddened at the scarce resources.