Doctors and experts have long thought that genetics were responsible for 90 percent of autism risk in children. However, a study found out that complications during labor and shortly after childbirth increase the child’s risk of developing autism. Doctors say the study suggests that environmental and developmental exposures play a greater role than previously thought.
The adverse circumstances during labor and delivery come from oxygen deprivation and growth retardation, according to the study. One researcher commented that it is not for certain, but reduced oxygen supply during labor, delivery, prenatal period and in early infancy could increase the risk of autism.
One condition, neonatal anemia, increases the risk of autism nearly eight-fold. Neonatal anemia is when the body does not have enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells. In addition, babies that had blood types incompatible with their mother’s blood type had almost four times the risk of autism. Infants weighing less than 3.3 pounds at birth had triple the risk of developing autism.
One researcher cautioned that just because a risk is associated with autism does not necessarily mean that it causes autism or any other form of birth injury.
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