Christine McGuinness confirms 3-year-old daughter Felicity has autism

Christine McGuinness has confirmed her and husband Paddy McGuinness' daughter Felicity has been diagnosed with autism.

The three-year-old's diagnosis comes three years after the couple's twins, Leo and Penelope, went through the same diagnosis.

Christine shared the news on Instagram, alongside a poem about her brood.

"Recently our youngest daughter Felicity was also diagnosed with autism, three years after our twins Leo and Penelope were diagnosed.

"Going through this journey again does still bring some heartache knowing all three children will face challenges and difficulties that others won't.


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"But ultimately I feel confident as a family we are in a much stronger place, we are able to use our experience and knowledge as power helping us to feel well prepared.

"We are here to love and support our three extra special children and I thank god every day these babies are mine. Proudest mummy," she finished.

Her poem read: "I am so proud to be your mummy, you are everything to me.

"All three of you are thriving with ASD [Autistic Spectrum Disorder]. I will never try and change you, you are perfect as you are.

"Mummy is going to change the world to understand her superstars. You are sensitive, you are strong, and you have such a special bond.


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"You are funny and talented, cheeky and sweet, you all love your toys to be kept extra neat.

"Shining brighter than the stars above. You are special, so wanted and oh so loved.

"Leo, Penelope and Felicity, you are unaware of the positive impact you have, even on the tough days you even make me laugh.

"My trio, my babies, my fabulous three. Together we are a strong, proud, unique family. All my love always, Mummy."

Christine spoke honestly in 2018 about how she and Paddy suspected Felicity was showing signs of the developmental disorder.


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Felicity, then just 18 months old, showed a preference for certain textures of food – which can be one of the ways in which the condition presents itself.

"I am looking for little things," she said during an appearance on This Morning.

"If she does have autism, we'll get her the help she needs.

"She does things like standing on her tippy toes, and she likes dry food. But she is brand new, I don't want to put too much on it."

She and Paddy previously spoke about their shock at finding out both Leo and Penelope are autistic.


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"Some days, it feels like you’re slowly drowning. It’s like you’re under water desperately swimming up to get oxygen, but never getting there," Paddy said at the time.

"When I hear the word ‘autism’ I just feel so unhappy. I don’t like seeing how it affects my children. It upsets me so much seeing them getting so stressed out and frustrated. Every parent just wants their child to be happy and to protect them," he added.

"I should be the happiest I have ever been with my career, family and friends, but I can honestly say I am never happy in myself now.

"I constantly worry about them. I would give up everything to take this condition away from them."

Christine added at the time: "Every day our heart breaks."


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Last year, the married pair spoke of other signs they'd noticed in Felicity.

"She blows us away with how smart she is, but we fully believe she's on the spectrum," Christine told OK! magazine in May 2019.

"She's often on her tiptoes, she's fussy with her food and things have to be pretty precise with her routine. She lines things up in order and tenses her body when she’s excited."

"She's too young to have the test but I don't think it'll make much difference because, unlike the twins, her speech is amazing. Perhaps as she's the youngest she wants to be seen and heard," Christine laughed.

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