Normal mom or paranoid?

Re: Normal mom or paranoid?

• abbyful member

  April 2013

  I work at a children's hospital. I'm in IT so I don't deal directly with patients, but I see them in the hallways and read their stories. It SUCKS sometimes! There are so many things I never knew could go wrong! But it is my everyday job to write clinical software, update the website with stories of kids that have crazy rare disorders and diseases, etc. In addition to constantly seeing and hearing about the more common things like autism. 

  I would say you are normal. We all want our kids to be healthy and happy! Be aware, because early intervention is very very important with autism (I have a friend that works in an autism clinic). But don't let it dominate your life or make you over-analyze to the point you see things that aren't really there.

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  

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• laurenhankey member

  April 2013

  You are definitely not alone!  I think about that all the time too when my LO is rocking back in forth excited.  I immediately think, oh no! don't do that!  I think it's normal to be paranoid because we only want the best for our babies.  The only thing that keeps me sane and not dwelling on it is knowing that I will love her regardless and she is my little angel.  Also, I don't think there are necessarily MORE cases of autism out there but we are so much better at diagnosing it than we once were.  I also tell myself that worrying about it won't change anything.  She is what she is  

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• smileybabyboy member

  April 2013

  I think you're normal.  I'm very paranoid about it too.  I worked with children with autism for a number of years and I've experienced how difficult some of these children can be.  I can't imagine what it must be like to have a child of my own with the same diagnosis.  

   

  If you don't mind my asking, how did your nephew get lead poisoning?  I only ask because I'm fairly certain the paint in our house contains lead and it is yet another thing I am paranoid that my DS will become exposed to it.   

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• melody921 member

  April 2013

  I think it's normal to worry about things like this. I work for a children's mental health organization, and while I don't deal directly with the kids, I hear about children who have everything from severe ADHD to autism to schizophrenia. It's definitely scary to see everything that could happen to a child, but at the end of the day, all I can do is provide a safe, loving home and hope my child doesn't have to deal with any of these hardships. Autism is so prevalent nowadays, and early detection can have a significant impact on care, that I think it would be odd if parents didn't worry about it or keep an eye out for signs.
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

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• lulubugsmama

  April 2013

  smileybabyboy:

  I think you're normal.  I'm very paranoid about it too.  I worked with children with autism for a number of years and I've experienced how difficult some of these children can be.  I can't imagine what it must be like to have a child of my own with the same diagnosis.  

   

  If you don't mind my asking, how did your nephew get lead poisoning?  I only ask because I'm fairly certain the paint in our house contains lead and it is yet another thing I am paranoid that my DS will become exposed to it.   

   

  My brother and his wife lived in a house that was sold to them by a family member, so it never went through inspection. About a year after he was diagnosed with Autism, his blood work came back showing a high level of lead. They had their home inspected and it had lead paint everywhere! They had to completely gut their home and repaint. They have an older daughter but she didn't have any lead in her blood, not really sure how he did but she didn't. Anyways, he obviously is no longer considered "Autistic", but he is delayed because of the lead poisoning. I would check into getting your home inspected and repainted. Lead poisoning can often times be overlooked and misdiagnosed.

  Thanks for the responses ladies! I am glad to know I am not alone and that my thoughts and concerns are normal.

  

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• morrkim member

  April 2013

  I think about it some because I'm always paranoid about something happening and I am a special education teacher with several students with autism.  

      

  
  

  
  

        

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• Empireceo member

  April 2013

  Yup, I too an unreasonably paranoid about autism.  I think it's because it's so clearly on the rise and no one knows what causes it so there's not any real way to prevent it.  I literally think about it every day.

   
  

  

  

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• mandaamaee member

  May 2013

  I am guilty of this! DH's job is involves painting cars,trucks, and RVs in a body shop and working around super toxic chemicals (14+ years), and he's admitted that when he was younger he didn't always wear proper safety equipment while painting.. So a good part of my pregnancy I was so afraid of something being wrong after DS was born. But he was totally healthy and everything is fine. I still pay extra close attention to his behavior and that he is meeting milestones. So far he is doing extraordinarily well, and I've pretty much convinced myself that he is perfectly healthy  

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• izziebee member

  May 2013

  I worry all the time, both about my 6mo and my 3yo. I'm constantly evaluating things they do/don't do. The paranoia for me has only gotten worse as DS1 has gotten older and has become 'obsessive' about certain things (for example he LOVES the color orange) but I then stop and take a step back and realize that the behavior I'm worried about is characteristic of most if not all toddlers and that he's perfectly fine with everything else (eye contact, facial expressions etc...)

  Try not to worry too much but be aware, that's about all we can do
  

  
  

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