Induced Labor Linked to Higher Autism Risk

[Neoma]

The odds of autism increased significantly in children whose mothers gave birth with induced or augmented labor, a study of more than 600,000 births showed.

Overall, the likelihood of autism increased by 23% in association with induced or augmented labor as compared with children whose mothers had unassisted labor, Simon G. Gregory, PhD, of Duke University, and colleagues reported in JAMA Pediatrics.

Induction only, augmentation only, or the combination all were associated with significantly increased odds of autism. The magnitude of increased risk was similar to that associated with fetal distress, meconium, prematurity, and maternal diabetes, they said.

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I could believe it.

[hunter]

1. Autism may be the *reason* the labor is induced and not the other way around.

To frame it in a humorous way, autistic kids don't like change. Maybe the baby doesn't want to be born.

It's all biochemistry, mind and body. In a normal pregnancy it's the baby who initiates labor, not the mom.

If the signaling is not right, not properly sent by the baby, or not properly received by the mom, then doctors intervene.