Preventing autism during pregnancy?

[BeadinMom]

Weight causes inflammation in the body. Grains and sugar cause inflammation in the body. I believe there is a link between autism and grains but I don't know that for sure. I do know that a child psychologist that was on IG sent me a message once about there being a link between elevated cytokines in the body and autism but I don't remember exactly the info she sent me. Anyway, Paleo/Primal is a grain and sugar free diet and this is an incredible story. Of course this is just one story but I know there are others out there. Google Paleo and Autism if you are interested. I could try and explain the cytokines things but not sure if people are interested.

Real life testimonial: Scarlet’s turnaround (Autism & Paleo)

That's a very interesting theory, M.
I wonder if taking fish oils would help & if you'd have to continue them during pregnancy. Cytokines are very interesting little things! I did a bit of research during the swine flu outbreak & I really think cytokine storms are what caused the deaths of those young, healthy people. It was like having a healthy immune system became a liability.

Fish Oils & Cytokines | LIVESTRONG.COM

[michaela]

That's a very interesting theory, M.
I wonder if taking fish oils would help & if you'd have to continue them during pregnancy. Cytokines are very interesting little things! I did a bit of research during the swine flu outbreak & I really think cytokine storms are what caused the deaths of those young, healthy people. It was like having a healthy immune system became a liability.

Fish Oils & Cytokines | LIVESTRONG.COM

A good quality fish oil will possibly reduce cytokines. It is recommended that I take them by an immune doctor for my IVF/autoimmune stuff. Of course it is better to get good Omega 3's from actual food sources but sometimes that is very hard to do for people. Even regular beef that isn't grass fed can have too many Omega 6's as well as most of the fish you can get at a regular grocery store. Everything in regular stores (beyond stores like Whole Foods) seems to be farm raised and it is hard to get wild caught fish. It is a very complicated thing but if Autism is something that runs in your family or you have a child with Autism, it is definitely something to look into or try. I should mention that a lot of people talk about Gluten free stuff but almost all of that stuff includes some form of grains. It needs to be grain and sugar free with very little to no processed foods.

[BeadinMom]

Funny?
Checked my emails after I posted here & there's one from GNC about omega 3 algae caps available now for vegetarians. LOL. Coincidence? Or perhaps not??? Hmmm....lol

Thanks so much for the info. Thankfully, it doesn't run in my family, but its something I think every mother worries about. Definitely something I will keep in mind if I'm lucky enough to conceive again!

[michaela]

That is too funny!!

Definitely something I worry about given my history with very high cytokines but it is what it is and hopefully won't be something I will have to worry about.

[ELP]

This is all fantastic info ladies, thankyou The paleo sounds like a good idea, I know 3pink1blue ate this way when ttc her son Charlie

[Rosie85]

As much as the paleo diet helps and seems like a miracle...it would never fly in my house. DS1 is soooooooooooo picky. I myself could never live off just fruit veggies and meat. I hardly like meat at all. I do want to eat less grain but it's the hardest thing to cut.

This also doesn't seem to give reason as to why there has been an increase in autism, Diet wise we have been eating the same stuff for the last 30 years.

[The Anchor]

This also doesn't seem to give reason as to why there has been an increase in autism, Diet wise we have been eating the same stuff for the last 30 years.

This is cutting to the chase for me. What have we REALLY been doing differently the last 30 years? I mean, there's the whole vaccine debate...BUT...I read a really interesting article on autism (I'll see if I can find it) that suggests that electro magnetic fields and radio frequencies (cell phones) have the ability to alter the neuron paths in a fetus or newborn. All the computer gadgets, cordless phones, wi-fi and other gadgets can be contributors. Caught my attention because I had Rosie's same thought.

[Mrs_P]

i am fairly certain vaccines aren't too blame, my son showed signs well before that they were just subtle looking back now

[Ribbons]

DS1 has autism. I ate a TERRIBLE diet with him. I ate off of the WIC program (mostly rice, white bread with margarine, mayo, white pasta, regular soda and lots and lots of canned tuna - they didn't warn you about it back then.) No veggies. Terrible diet. I also smoked until I was almost 4 months pg (I was 18 at the time, single and very poor).

DS2 is neurotypical, brilliant, very social and already beginning to read - he just turned 3. I was Weston Price (a lot like paleo, but does include some specially prepared grains - I didn't eat a lot of those) during my pregnancy with him. Lots of veggies, meat and cheese, all organic. Less fish, but I did eat a good amount for the omega-3s - mostly wild-caught fish, and never ate high-mercury fish like tuna. Took cod liver oil during my pg with him. I'm doing the same for this pg!

I believe wholeheartedly that a good-quality diet during pregnancy is totally key. I very much regret all that high-mercury tuna (and smoking of course) when pg with DS1 for sure.

[Ribbons]

This is cutting to the chase for me. What have we REALLY been doing differently the last 30 years? I mean, there's the whole vaccine debate...BUT...I read a really interesting article on autism (I'll see if I can find it) that suggests that electro magnetic fields and radio frequencies (cell phones) have the ability to alter the neuron paths in a fetus or newborn. All the computer gadgets, cordless phones, wi-fi and other gadgets can be contributors. Caught my attention because I had Rosie's same thought.

This may be possible - but not in my case. With DS1, there was 1 computer in the house, 1 *small* television, no cordless phones or cell-phones. Definitely no wi-fi, this was 1996. Now my husband works from home in computer software sales and has a server farm in our house (lots of computers) - we have multiple cell phones and a ridiculous amount of wi-fi surging through here. I was pg with DS2 in this environment and he is fine.

As far as vaccines go, I am not sure... DS1 was fully vaccinated according to CDC schedule, DS2 hasn't gotten any vaccines yet but we are planning on the important ones before he starts kindergarten.