Is Autism linked to Birth Trauma?

In the womb environment, Rubinella is often cited as a causal factor of someone ending up "on the spectrum". 

I had it fresh (I mean reallly fresh) out of the womb.

It makes me wonder, in a none-too-emotionally-generous-fashion, how many people would have a "more mellow" life than my own, if almost all nurses refused to show up to Natal Wards while infected with dangerous conditions/diseases.

My son works in a very large factory, he walks five miles there and five back every day doing 12 hour shifts. The problem is that his employers are asking more and more of him all of the time and because he thinks that he has to complete his job to a very high standard, he is trying to work faster and faster but he just cant get the job done even, he even goes without a break to try to complete his tasks. Stress has overtaken him and as you know, he has had a complete break down.

Sadly, I dont think he would return even if his employers were willing to help him because he has lost all confidence in them.

I know that he is a really good worker and Im sure you are too if you are given the chance.

Good employers are very hard to find Jon but there are some out there who would welcome people such as you or my son, its just trying to find one who understands.

Just try to have confidence in your own abilities Jon, try to get yourself well and then  decide what job you would like to do and talk to the disability department at the job centre to see if they can help; I have found them to be really helpful in the past.

In terms of your current employment, what do you feel is the best way forward? I am going to see my sons HR manager to discuss his options and then take it from there.

I am also going to see if I can contact someone in the Autistic Society to see if they have someone who could help with employment issues.

I will keep you posted and let you know how things are going.

Take care Jon

Hi Asp Mum,

I can relate to your son as I am still of work and don't want to go back either.

• I really would like to get a different job.
• I would like to gain practical skills that would improve my confidence and enable me to do this.
•  I would like to start a job where my employer understood and supported me. Once I am confident I am ssure I would be a very good employee?
• I would like to work regular hours each week part-time. But with enough money to support myself. £200 would be OK.

What does your son like to do? Would he like a different job?

I am still waiting for my employer to involve OH, so I have another sick note for a month.

Hi Jon

he is still off sick.

I have tried to approach the subject of him going back with support but he just gets so anxious and stressed even talking about it, I dont think he will ever return.

I have heard nothing from his employers so will be chasing them next week.

How are you just now, any news on your work situation?

(....when you don't know the cause of something then it makes sense to explore....)

Aspie Mum, how are things going for your son regarding his workplace?

I've got my own theory on this - as usual ! .....and I think it might be something to do with smoking - I'm sure my mum smoked when she was pregnant with me - another thing she did was give me sleeping tablets when I was very young, she denies this but I used to have very traumatic hallucinations sometimes inthe middle of the night and years later when I read about giving sleeping tablets to children it rang a bell, I asked my mum about this and she denied it and said she has never given any of us sleeping tablets but I absolutely 100% remember her giving my younger sister a sleeping tablet and I remember her clearly talking about giving a sleeping tablet to my sister and she was very young then, still in a pushchair so probably about 3 years old. I had awful hallucinations who knows what it did to my young brain.

Thank you for your comments.

As I said, Im new to autism so I just trying to look at all factors that could contribute and I am really interested in diverse opinions.

I have an enquiring mind and find the whole subject fascinating; I also want to get to know others with autism because as a mum who watches her son struggle every day, its comforting to know that someone out there understands. Up to now, I have been completely alone and 30 years of ignorance and judgemental attitudes takes it toll.

Its easy for me to say that I am looking for answers on how best to support my son but I know that autism is specific to the individual so one size does not fit all.

I know that kalojaro was responding to autismtwo but I just felt that their disagreement may have been caused by my comments and I really didnt want to offend anyone. I just love debating and listening to all sides before making my own mind up.

Many thanks again.

Aspie Mum said:

In terms of trauma at birth, there does seem to be some evidence that this could contribute to autistim especially if a baby is deprived of oxygen at birth; I think that this is an interesting point but I also know that many people with autism have not had a traumatic birth.

Like many others, I believe that many factors could contribute to autism, not one single cause.

Autism is a genetic condition. It is caused by your genes. However, the symptoms can be exacerbated by stress factors. So, yes, in a sense 'birth trauma' can 'contribute' but only in the same way that 'bright lights' or 'loud music' may 'contribute' in the future. It is, in my opinion, simply a stress factor that may make the symptoms of autism more noticeable.

Oh, and I believe kalojaro was responding to autism_two, not you.

Hi Kalojo

as I have said in my previous posts, I am only trying to understand all aspect and beliefs regarding autism and I value your thoughts equally with scorpion and others.

Im not too sure of the term damage, I certainly have never used this. Personally I truly value difference and diversity, I find peoples differences facinating but I would never assume a difference is caused by damage unless it is proven.

In terms of trauma at birth, there does seem to be some evidence that this could contribute to autistim especially if a baby is deprived of oxygen at birth; I think that this is an interesting point but I also know that many people with autism have not had a traumatic birth.

Like many others, I believe that many factors could contribute to autism, not one single cause.

Thank you for your comments, everything helps me to learn and understand which in turn will help my son understand that not everything in life that he deals with is his fault as this is what he believes just now.

Leave Scorpion alone Autismtwo. Their views are logical and often backed with common sense and logic. I've had lovely discussions with Scorp where we've both pondered over difference interesting facts that either of us have noticed. If anyones rigid, its you, as you often dismiss others ideas or thoughts when they don't correlate to your own.

 And yes, I had a difficult birth, 10 days late, upside down, got pulled out with a massive set of tongs..... but I feel that my autism came from my DNA and was therefore already there when I was born. Its a difference, not damage.

Hello Aspie Mum,

I am convinced that my own Aspergers was triggered (not completely caused!) by stressful intra uterine events, although I suffered no birth trauma. My mother was losing her own mum to cancer during her pregnancy, and I stopped growing shortly after she found out - at about 4 months gestation. This is unlikely to be just coincidence, as her pregnancy had been fine until this massive stress was unleashed. I was born on time, but weighing only 5 pounds 4 ounces, which is underweight for a newborn. The consultants were very concerned when I stopped growing, and wanted to deliver me early, but I did eventually start to grow again after my mum took bedrest. Because of this, my mum's next pregnancy was closely watched, but she experienced no stress during it, and my brother was born at a healthy weight. He has no problems. Autism does not run in my family, although there are traits. I think that intra uterine events could trigger the autism genes in susceptable individuals. The exact cause is likely to be slightly different in each case, with some cases caused primarily by genes, and others with a far smaller genetic contribution. It matters, not because knowing can change anything for yourself, but because it helps you to understand the biological nature of autism, and this can help you to avoid blame and guilt.

Hi Susie

someone posted me a link to some research about birth trauma and links to autism. Its in the main forum so have a look, its really eye opening.

My son suffered from oxygen starvation at birth and he fits every criteria on the list of birth trauma factors so it could be a link.

Like most, I dont believe that there is one cause for autism but as I love and value my son for who he is, the cause is not really what Im searching for; I really want to look at all factors to try to broaden my understanding of autism.

Interestingly, I cant find anyone in my family who have signs of autism.

Thanks again for your comments.

Hello Aspie Mum,

It interests me too - personally I believe that it is to do with inherited genes but that's only because all of my family is autistic in some way and because I can see it in other families too. My own son had a very traumatic birth but mine was relatively straightforard yet I consider myself to be "more autistic" than him though this could be  because he was diagnosed earlier and because my experience has enabled me to give him more support, perhaps. Whatever the reasons I try to hold to "acceptance is everything". 

Hi all thank you so much for your thoughts.

I really didnt want to start an argument, Im just interested in the whole subject as I believe that any information can be a piece of a larger jigsaw.

I wasnt actually looking to blame anyone or anything, I am trying to build my own knowledge of autism and to examine any possible links to environmental factors.

We all have our opinions and we should value them all even if we dont agree.

Im grateful for all of your thoughts or comments, so please carry on posting and helping me to learn and expand my knowledge.

Thanks again.

Scorpion @ yes, those questions you raise are all relevant on the principle of a profile experimental bell curve. Autism is a cluster of conditions and therefore many probable causes, or at least the effect is, as we know by experience. Anyway, I am sure you will disagree due to your rigid thinking patterns, you should change your profile name to the "bad energy".

autismtwo said:

Maybe it is not just one primary factorial cause, I had a trauma birth, I just add it to the list of possible causes of condition, because it was a condition at my birth.

Were you born in a hospital?

What day were you born on?

And in what month?

Was there a midwife present?

And, if so, what color socks were they wearing?

What did you mother have for breakfast that day?

Was your father present at the birth?

Did he sport a natty moustache?

Whatever you answers to these questions are any of those also possible causes for your autism?

I think not.

Or is it, in fact, still the case that correlation does not imply causality?

I think it might be.

Maybe it is not just one primary factorial cause, I had a trauma birth, I just add it to the list of possible causes of condition, because it was a condition at my birth.

Here's a report about a meta anylysis of studies into birth complications and autism:

http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/birth-complications-and-autism

It should be noted that whilst they found a long list of correlations between autism and birth complications, one sentence in the reports stands out:

Indeed, most children who experience difficult births do not develop autism, she points out.

(if birth complications did cause autism, you would expect the opposite to be true)

Hi - we all look for an answer.  I think the genetic link seems to hold true.  Other things - I don't know.  It's like a lot of things about autism - everyone's got a theory or part of a theory.  Did this cause it?  Did I cause it?  Will this cure it?  Will that help?   I don't know if there info on here via the home pg about birth trauma/autism or on some other part of the internet.  I'm sure some women will tell you they had a traumatic birth + I can understand them wondering if that caused their child's autism.  Some women also wonder of a stressful pregnancy caused it.  So many many theories, many unproven but unable to be discounted.