Autism linked to major pregnancy stress.

[Early Kids]

It's very interesting. Though I have in mind generations whose parents experienced war or other traumatic things - surely not all those children were affected? Extreme stress might turn out to be a factor, but I'm not sure I'd put all my eggs in one blame-basket when it comes to spectrum disorders. xo

I agree, I wouldn't blame stress as the sole cause.

The article is interesting, I have felt for a long time that my pregnancy complications, stress and his birth has meant he is the way he is. Especially given that there is no history of any disorders in either family (Asthma and Eczema is about the only thing in our families....)

[Yeddi]

Nor would I. I still believe that autism is about toxic load but the chemical changes that could occur when mother is stressed could explain some things. Stress will produce adrenaline, the flight or fight hormone. This could mean PPD kids bodies could have built up a tolerance to chemical danger responses, and just like how a drug addict needs bigger and bigger doses to get high, the level of toxic substances they are exposed to have to be fairly high before their system reacts them. Therefore, if the substances are on the smaller side, they hold on them rather than process them because their bodies haven't recognised the threat. Just thinking out loud...

[~Raven~]

I wasn't stressed with M's PG

[Freya]

They say in the article that stress during those particular weeks of pregnancy INCREASES THE RISK of Autism. So maybe the pregnancies/babies this applies to were always predisposed to possibly becoming ASD children and the stress just triggered it.

I dont know; I am a firm believer in predisposition for anything physical or mental that comes about, that the risk is there and some trigger just brings it to the forefront iykwim.

[Antheia]

Yeah that is what I was trying to get at Freya. i just couldn't word it as good as you have

[christy]

Yeah that does make sense, I know with M when we took her off milk she improved greatly due to her allergy, and would say that the chemical effects of giving what her body considers a toxin would lessen the effects.

[Freya]

^ I figure the same applies for the vaccination-autism link. I do believe some children are predisposed to developing it and some vaccinations unfortunately bring it to the fore in them. Doesnt mean EVERY child is at risk if they are vaccinated. Just sucks we dont know which kids are predisposed and which arent, but that line of thinking opens up a whole new can of worms best left untouched.

[~Raven~]

They say in the article that stress during those particular weeks of pregnancy INCREASES THE RISK of Autism. So maybe the pregnancies/babies this applies to were always predisposed to possibly becoming ASD children and the stress just triggered it.

Yep OK Didn't see the article so was just commenting. Similar argument can be made with the vaccine thing. Does it cause autism, or does it trigger something that was already there...

[tan32]

interesting, i have 3 children and my middle child has an ASD , i had a great pregnancy a dream birth . All 3 of my children are immunised. I believe his ASD was apparent to us at 8 months of age.
my other 2 childrn are healthy and fit as fiddles with no health problems

[Antheia]

Look, im not saying Stress = Autism. I had a very stressful pregnancy with DS with losing my mum and I had a really bad time with his birth. His problems got me wondering if what happened to me was a cause. We don't have any history of ASD. We stopped vaccinating at 12 months so the MMR could be another cause.

I guess we'll never know what causes it. But it's interesting nonetheless.