Is there a link between birth interventions and autism?

There are topics that are difficult to address, even within the relative safety experienced in a BaBs group, where women have learnt to listen to each other, and trust and respect each other. Vaccination is one such topic. It has the effect of polarising people into the yes and no camps like no other.

Recently a discussion about the risk of tetanus for unvaccinated children led on to an acknowledgment of concern that vaccination may cause autism. A parent who *believes* that their action (in this case, accepting vaccination of their child) may result in a tragic brain development disorder will do all she or he can to avoid that action. While I have seen no compelling evidence to support these fears, I am convinced of the seriousness of Tetanus as a life threatening infection that can be prevented by vaccination. Unlike airborne and contact infections such as Diptheria, measles, mumps, TB &c that are rarely seen today in the developed world, Tetanus will never be erradicated, and will continue to be a threat whenever contaminated deep cuts or puncture wounds are experienced.

Someone has observed that the Amish don't vaccinate, and their children don't develop autism. I don't know if this is true or not, but that's not the only difference between an Amish family and an ordinary family in Melbourne today. We have electricity, cars, computers, internet, fast foods, pollution, ... We have high rates of induction of labour and other interventions in birth.

A professional research paper published this week in the Journal Medscape Ob/Gyn & Women's Health asked the question Autism, ADHD, and Medicated Births : Relationship to Autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

The author reviews what is known and what is postulated, and states that "Two questions remain unanswered:
* Are pediatric developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum and ADD/ADHD, actually forms of perinatal brain injury?
* Is there a relationship between the increase in the active management of labor and the increased incidence of these brain disorders in children?"

As with many other questions, no clear answers are yet available. Medicated births may or may not contribute to developmental problems. It follows, therefore, to recommend "a precautionary approach to active management, emphasizing more physiologic protocols and advocating lower synthetic oxytocin doses and allowing more labor time -- rather than adding more oxytocin."