C sections and autism links

[testy1997]

Hi there

Due for a c section in a few weeks and have been reading into risks and I had no idea that there was a correlation between c sections and risk of autism in baby. This has me me super nervous about going ahead with the section as I'm opting for the section for psychological reasons rather than health.

Can anyone help to put my mind at rest as I'm extremely anxious 

If it were caused by birth they wouldn’t be able to see signs in the fetal brain (not diagnostic yet but wait ten years and it will be).
I would have had a stillbirth if I hadn’t had a section so wouldn’t have cared but he’s very much not autistic.

Wait that should have been more severely - I know some autistic people are severely disabled - I meant more so - for example autism with the addition of cerebral palsy

From what I understand (which is extremely limited), autism could be linked to traumatic birth. In that case, there's a world of difference between a scheduled c section and a emergency one because the baby is in danger or distress.

Having said that, my DD was born via an emergency c section and does not have autism or any other health problem.

It's compleltely natural to worry though.

I had an ELCS for psychological reasons. Zero regrets at all. I'd do the same again in a heartbeat. There might be a tiny tiny correlation between having a CS and ASD (although I don't think the 'research' differentiates between ELCS and EMCS which are totally different circumstances) but any risk would have been absolutely worth it to me to save myself the trauma of a VB which would have had a huge chance of having a very detrimental impact on my mental health, increasing the risk of PTSD and PND and likely making it incredibly difficult to bond. That would have caused both of us serious damage. The thing about being a parent is that you have to accept that none of your choices are risk-free and sometimes it's a matter of the least bad choice (and that might be to you as much as to your baby).

I’ve had all natural births without gas and air. Took all correct vitamins, ate well. Two of my three children have autism.