I also wanted to comment on the 'significant association' between c-section and autism. Childbirth is also significantly associated with c-sections (funnily enough!) - 1 in 4 in fact! It would take some pretty sophisticated and creative statistical analysis to separate out the many variables involved here. I have to say, I'm sceptical.

Also, assuming I was to accept that we could confidently make an association - statistically speaking, saying that there is a 'significant association' does not explain the direction of the association (what causes what). Which comes first? The autism or the intervention? Perhaps a fetus with ASD is more likely to experience failure to progress for one reason or another? Or... conversely, does the procedure itself create the conditions for the development of the disorder?