According to a recent study by the public health authorities, childhood autism has been on an increase of late. There has almost been a 33 percent increase in reported autistic cases when compared to the last year. In California, the number of autistic cases receiving the services of the state has quadrupled since 1987. Autism is now considered to be more common than cancer or down syndrome with 1 out of 500 children being diagnosed.
The reason or cause for autism among children is still not clear. But, the doctors have confirmed that the use of epidurals during labor increases the risk of autism in babies.
Epidurals: Doctors have now discovered that a particular epidural, Pitocin, which is usually used for speeding up the mother’s labor during child birth could be responsible for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Studies suggest that almost 60 percent of today’s autistic sufferers were exposed to this epidural. The World Health Organization has also published a report associating this epidural, Pitocin with ASD.
- Pitocin is derived from oxytocin, a natural hormone found in the pituitary glands of the cattle. It is used to stimulate the uterus during child birth.
- But in reality, this hormone oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone in women that actually kick starts the process of labor during the child birth. Also, this hormone is produced during breast-feeding and during a sexual orgasm. Hence this hormone is basically responsible for the development of social bonding and emotional behaviour.
- Ironically autistic children tend to exhibit difficulties during social interactions, in emotional bonding and in forming meaningful relationships. Hence, doctors are contemplating if these artificial oxytocins (from the epidural Pitocin) is responsible for ASD.
- Pitocins’ use in labour during child’s birth has extensively increased over the last two decades, exactly the period where there has been an increase in diagnosed autistic cases. According to a survey report from the University of Texas, Pitocin usage for augmenting labour was around 81 percent in US hospitals.
So the answer to the question, “can epidurals increase the risk of autism in babies?”, unfortunately has to be a a yes. Though, Pitocin may not be solely responsible, but the simultaneous anaesthesias and drugs used during labour for pain relief collectively are responsible for the cause of ASD in children and babies.
