Valley doctor says moms can help prevent autism before and during pregnancy

Valley doctor says moms can help prevent autism before and during pregnancy

In an interview on ABC 15 News,Dr. Cindy Schneider, mother of two autistic children, stated what she believes to be the reasons for autism and how to decrease the chances of your child being diagnosed ASD.

You can watch the interview below. I agree that some of what she says mya sound logical, but it's also misleading. She states that she believes that genetics and envvironmental factors cause autism. She goes on to suggest that moms take cerain precautions before and during pregnancy. I think some of what she says is frustratingly erroneous.

I have one autistic child and one that isn't. I did the same things with both pregnancies. Granted, I was under less stress with my second, but that is the only difference. I was around the same weight at the beginning of both pregnancies. I may have actually weighed a little less prior to my first pregnancy, which was my autistic son.

Now, with this doctor going on air with a respected news station, I'm afraid people may start blaming moms for their child being autistic. We walk a delicate tightrope and we need everyone to be careful what they sat to the media. The media also needs to start giving a more balanced account of all interviews. I would have felt better if the reporter had stressed that what was said was the doctor's opinin and not proven medical fact.

Censored Doctor Loses License

Dr. Andrew Wakefield has lost his medical license. He is the doctor that originally supported the link between autism and vaccines. Since his study, no one else has been able to recreate his results. There have also been people that claim that his research results were influenced by him being a paid professional witness in lawsuits involving vaccines.

He has also been criticized for how he obtained blood samples from children at a birthday party. His original report was published in 1998 in the Lancet Journal. In February, it was retracted. Dr. Wakefield still believes that vaccines are a causal factor in autism cases.
In an exclusive interview this morning, on the Today show, he states that he believes that the government put pressure on the medical board to take away his license. He also says that the American government accepts the fact that vaccines are linked to autism, and that is why they have been secretly settling cases out of court, since 1991. However, the government says that they do not believe that anymore.

Dr. Wakefield says that he will continue his work. “Callous Disregard“, his book that is now available in stores, gives his side. I haven’t read it, yet. What do you think?

Connecting With A Defeat Autism Now! Practitioner

I interviewed Marjie C. Andrejciw, MT (ASCP), MS, NC, Holistic Nutritional Counselor, Circle of Life Nutrition, www.circleoflifenutrition.net
She is a holistic nutritional counselor and a Defeat Autism Now! Practitioner. She regularly works with autistic children and sees positive results in her practice. She uses dietary, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations to help make a difference in these children's lives. Here are the questions and answers of my interview.


1. Can you explain to my readers what a Defeat Autism Now! Practioner is?
A Defeat Autism Now! Practitioner can be a nutritionist, MD, OD, Chiropractor, ND, NP or other practitioner that meets the minimum educational requirements as defined by Autism Research Institute (ARI) and has attended the Clinician ARI conferences. The conferences teach the biomedical approach as outlined by ARI. In order to be recognized by ARI as a Defeat Autism Now! Practitioner you must attend a conference at least every 2 years and pay a membership fee. If you are not on the list, you are not suppose to use the Defeat Autism Now! title.

2. What kind of training does a Defeat Autism Now! doctor receive?
Defeat Autism Now! Practitioners are a group of scientist, researchers, and clinicians that work together with ARI (the parents group) to bring the most updated information about the biomedical approach to the public. ARI is literally a hub of information for parents and practitioners to find out more about autism and how to treat it. www.autism.com
The conferences present the latest research on autism, goes over the latest biomedical approach, and discusses case studies. They also provide resources to help the practitioners. Vendors related to autism are available to answer questions, demonstrate their products, and give samples or demonstrations at the conferences. We also receive a regular newsletter and email updates on happenings related to autism.

3. What kind of qualifications should a parent be looking for in a Defeat Autism Now! doctor?
Diet is the cornerstone to treating autism. It is important that a parent look for a practitioner well versed in helping with the diet as well as lifestyle and supplement modifications. Lab testing is very helpful, but a practitioner needs to understand how to adjust a protocol for abnormal lab results. Also, look for a practitioner that will spend time getting to know your child and their individual needs. While there are lots of similarities between children on the spectrum, each child's needs are unique and requires a unique protocol. A good bedside manner is important. Patience and persistence is important, not all biomedical interventions work with every child, sometimes it takes trying different approaches before discovering the needs of the child. Parents need to be able to ask questions and for clarifications on recommendations. The biomedical approach is not easy. It takes time and determination by the parent as well as the child. But the rewards are worth the effort because it does work.

4. What is involved in getting your child under the treatment of a DAN! doctor? Do insurance companies cover the costs of visits and testing done with a Defeat Autism Now! doctor?
The first step is finding a practitioner that the parents feel comfortable working with. The ARI website lists practitioners. There are three categories: licensed professionals, unlicensed professionals, and nutritionist. Often times a practitioner will spend 15 min. on the phone (at no cost) with a parent to see if it will be a good fit. Many times a practitioner will offer phone consultations for clients that live a long distance away so that they do not need to travel a long distance.

Most insurance companies do not cover the costs of visits for autism. I have clients that have submitted my paid invoice and been reimbursed for the office visit through their health care spending acct. I use Metametrix Clinical Labs for my specialty lab tests, and they now submit a claim to the insurance company on the client's behalf. The parent still has to pay in advance. Often times a health care spending acct will reimburse for the costs.

Raising an Autistic Child and Taking Care of Yourself

It can be difficult to take care of yourself when raising an autistic child. I spend most of my time and energy on both of my kids. With my son, I am also taking him to appointments several times a week. I am homeschooling him, too.

For the last couple of years, I have been putting off going to the doctor to have a skin abnormality checked out. I would tell myself that it isn't important. My mother and sister would insist that I needed to get it checked out, and I would dismiss their concerns.

The bottom line was that I didn't have the money or time to have it checked. Actually, that's not quite true. I didn't want to spend the money or take the time to have it checked. If I did, then I would be doing something for myself, instead of taking care of my kids. I feel guilty whenever I spend money on myself or do something just for me.

I know. My logic was a little screwed. If I don't take care of myself, who will? If I don't visit the doctor for regular checkups, something that is minor could turn into something serious. Then what? What happens to my kids?

I finally went to the doctor. At the appointment, four spots on the side of my nose were biopsied. The doctor is also having an appointment made for surgery to remove a basil cell carcinoma. The results of the biopsy results won't be back until next week.

Bottom line, I should have gone to the doctor when I first noticed the skin abnormality. I still feel bad about what this is going to cost my family. I am going to feel guilty when my husband has to take a day off of work to take care of the kids, while my father drives up and takes me to have the surgery. I know that I shouldn't it, but it is who I am. I am glad that this is being taken care of, and I pray that the biopsy results will be fine.

Given all of what I have just written, I urge all parents to take care of yourself. Take the time to visit your doctor for routine exams. Don't put it off due to time or money. In the end, you could be hurting your family a lot more if you don't take care for yourself.