To be worried that C section causes autism

[37weeks001]

Name change as I don’t want to out.

I am currently 33 weeks pregnant with second baby. My DD was born by emergency C section at 40 weeks weighing 5lbs but healthy. I have been diagnosed with IUGR as this baby is on 5th percentile. He is very active and moves around constantly so not worried about how the pregnancy is progressing and my instinct tells me he is physically ok.

However, throughout this pregnancy I have been so anxious that I could have a child with autism (history of males in family with autism), I also have anti natal depression.

I have am having regular scans because of IUGR. A consultant has today has told me that they want to schedule a c section at 37 weeks due to babies size. However last week another consultant told me that a c section before 39 weeks increases chances of autism/ADHD and learning difficulties.

The conflicting information has left me so confused. A part of me wants the c section at 37 weeks as I am getting a little fed up with the constant hospital appointments and becoming increasingly anxious with what I may be told and the other part of me thinks I should weight 39 weeks to lower risks?

WWYD?

C sections do not cause autism

Never heard this!
Boy DCs were c/s and neither autistic or LDs.

*Both
DS born at 38 weeks

I had twins by emergency c section at 36 weeks and 4 days. My son had ASD traits including no eye contact and at 4 was diagnosed as borderline ASD. But my story has a very happy ending as I discovered how if an infants reflexes don’t go dormant that can create Autistic and ADHA traits. Some brushing over a few months triggered his reflexes to go dormant and at 12 he was assessed for ASD and declared while he clearly previously had traits he was now considered not in any shape or form autistic. His eye contact and social skills are ‘normal’. Please google infant reflexes not going dormant - very easy to resolve if you know about them. C section contributes to infant reflex issues but it’s not unresolvable. Getting the baby into the world healthy is the most important thing.

The one who said that was probably being inappropriately driven by a dubious NHS 'target' to keep C-Sections to a minimum.