Christine McGuinness admits her daughter's autism diagnosis is "a relief".
Paddy and Christine McGuinness
The 31-year-old model revealed she and her husband Paddy - who have three-year-old Felicity together - feel better prepared this time round after their six-year-old twins Leo and Penelope were also diagnosed with the lifelong developmental disability three years ago.
Appearing on ITV's 'Loose Women' on Monday (17.02.20), she said: "It's prepared us. We knew it was coming, we saw the signs so we were more prepared.
"It's a relief because they can come across as being quite difficult, or challenging children. When Felicity started school, I wanted her to have the diagnosis before, so they knew."
Christine admitted the couple were "heartbroken" when their older children were diagnosed with autism, which affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
She explained: "The first time around with the twins, it was a shock, we were heartbroken, we didn't know anything about autism.
"We were heartbroken ... all we knew was that our children had a lifelong condition with no cure ... now knowledge is power."
She recently took to social media to reveal Felicity's diagnosis.
She wrote: "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.
"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 #Autism #AutismAwareness #3superstars #KnowledgeIsPower (sic)"
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