Steroid injection ( pregnancy ) and ASD?

[MumOfHals]

Hiya.

I had my son at 34 weeks, I was given the steroid injection 16 hours before to hopefully strengthen his lungs, it was such a quick labour - his lungs weren't strengthened he needed ICU and ventilation,

I've since read that the steroid injection can link a very small study to a future ASD diagnosis.

Has anyone had any experiences with this?

I've read it's more so if they reach 37 weeks and previously had the steroid? Am I right? X

My son didn't have the same as your little one but I was extremely sick during my pregnancy due to hyperemesis and I was on a mix of IV and tablet steroids from 12-20 weeks of pregnancy. He stopped growing at 32 weeks due to issues with my placenta not picked up until was rushed in with pre eclampsia at 38 weeks.
He's a happy healthy 4yr old now. A few people have commented about possible ADHD but he's had 3 assessments and Nursery have no concerns. All said he's just an energetic happy boy.

I really hope your little one is ok and is happy and healthy.

I had steroid injections with my little boy and had him at 37 weeks. He has ASD.
i also had them with my little girl and she doesn’t have ASD.
stop stressing OP, studies have shown ASD is genetic and there is nothing you can do to cause it. Kindly, no you aren’t right.

Had two children - had steroids with both. Neither have ASD.

I had steroids at 34 weeks as waters had broken early. Baby born shortly after. No ASD.

Out of my small sample of 2 DC:
one born at 34 weeks with steroid injection- not autistic
one born full term and no steroids- autistic and has ADHD.

There is no point in worrying about it. Recent research into autism is about methylation in the brain during utero development and also the impact of the maternal grandmothers diet who made the mothers egg when pregnant with the mother with a linking to heavy metals like mercury and fish consumption. Not to mention all the other things linked to possibly cause autism. You'd be just as wise to question your mother on her tuna intake whilst pregnant with you as worrying about the steroids.

Parent the child you have, love them and provide for them in the way they need. They may grow up to be perfectly healthy, they may be healthy and contract something like meningitis or have a serious accident or injury, you can't change those things anymore than you can change the fact you had steroids. Autism isn't a death sentence, it doesn't guarantee lifelong dependence or serious comorbid disabilities and even if it did it's too late now.

Thanks for this. Don't you worry, I'll love my child no matter what they choose to do, or who they turn out to be. That's not even something that crosses my mind.

I wouldn't say I was 'worried' either, I just want to be.. educated.

But thanks for your concern.

I didn't think you wouldn't but no one knows is really the only answer. There are so many threads of research at the minute but none are conclusive - or perhaps they are all correct. I'm glad you aren't worried, so many mums blame themselves over what they could do differently so I'm glad you don't feel like that.

DD was full term, no steroids but I was on HG meds. She was diagnosed at 13.

Two of my children have ASD and didn’t have steroids (although both were early). My other child doesn’t have ASD and I had steroids.

No steroid injections, 2 DC with autism born when I was in my 20s

I had to choose to take the option of giving my son something to give him the best start to life by strengthening his lungs. I had the first vaccine 16 hours before his delivery and the 2nd just 3 hours 50 minutes.

I struggle to think they even reached him, as he was very poorly and needed ventilation.

If they did reach him, I dread to think what life would be like if I didn't have them, he may not even be in my arms as I write this.

I was given steroids for 2 of my children due to early births. Neither of them have autism.

Is he still a newborn? Have you had a debrief from the hospital that all sounds very traumatic. I'm glad he is ok now though.

Giving birth is still a very risky business to mothers and babies, even with modern medicine. We are so frequently shielded from the idea of things going wrong it's a shock to the system when they do.

He's 5 weeks old currently, he I now doing amazingly well and the hospital have been so supportive! We are home now :)

My data set of 2 is that they both had steroids during pregnancy as they were both premature and neither of them have autism.

I had steroid injections at 22 weeks and carried until 40 weeks. My son is now 3 and we are going through an autism referral. No history of autism in either sides of family. I believe steroids had something to do with my son developing autism. Although this can't be proven, I just cant shake off my gut feeling. I am pregnant with second baby. I will definitely refuse steroids unless I am in active labour and I know baby is about to be born early. The steroid given in last pregnancy was given as a preventative, even though I wasn't in labour. I wish I had the knowledge to refuse them. My advise is to not have them unless you know baby is going to be born early.

I had the steroid injections with my 4th baby. All my others have asd but he doesn't.