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I have been reading this book about autism and it talks about a possible link between autism and pitocin used during labor. I was giving ALOT of it during my preg/labor with ds#1 who has autism. I was just wondering if any other moms of autistic spectrum kids had pitocin during labor.....Just curious.
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I had pitocin with both of mine and neither are autistic.
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I did look into it, and don't think it's necessarily a factor. My mom didn't have it and one, possibly two of my brothers are autistic. I did have it and ds has Aspergers, on the autism spectrum, but I also had it w/dd and she's fine so far. I know others who had it and their kids don't have it. I truly think it's more genetically related. I think Aspergers runs on both my side and my dh's side, along with the other things we're dealing with - sensory disorders and all. I think all things have to be aligned just right and a switch switches on, at least for the type we have.
However, there is the other type, where a child is fine and just regresses - I don't think that's Pitocin, either, but something else. They don't know what, yet.
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Originally Posted by desertmom
I I truly think it's more genetically related.
I totally agree with that and have two cousins with autism on my mom's side. The father of one is totally on the spectrum, though he is isn't "officially" diagnosed. The thing I think is interesting is that my mom knows she has a sensitivity to that thimerosal because I guess it was included in contact solution in the past and she had to avoid brands that contained it. I wonder if my cousin's, who are older, didn't share that sensitivity.
I'm glad I didn't read about pitocin link though because I was induced with all three kids, for two days with the first two! I was already concerned about my kids because of my family history. None of my children are affected by autism.
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Noah and Ben's Mom, I'd like to add a thank you for sharing that theory with us. This is a great place to post and discuss such things. We're not doctors or scientists, but our opinions do often help one another, along with our experiences. Keep it coming!!
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I also read/heard that high antibiotic use early on can contribute to the brain function and a possible link to autism. My cousin is almost 5 and he has it and had a spinal at a few mos. old plus lots of antibiotics then. I've also read that high yeast in the body can contribute. I have that myself and got tested thru greatplainslaboratory.com. My bestfriend uses that lab for tons of testing for the kids she treats w/autism, ADD/PDD/ADHD, etc. Also food dye (any color) seems to be a trigger for kids that are hyper.
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I also had pitocin with first one and she is fine.
very interesting topic.
allgirls
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Hunter was my only birth that I saw a doctor with, a specialist at that. He is also my only hospital birth.
I don't have any regrets as it was a very long labor with Pit, and when he was born the cord had his arm around his head and then around his neck. If it hadn't been for the good Dr. Martha, he would have died.
Does pit have anything to do with autism? I don't know, but I sure do wish they find out why soon and start offering what to do with an autistic child, services and help for those with the children.
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I have never heard that theory, very interesting. I had pitocin with my last 4 kids, and none of them have autism.
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You know, DH and I have often wondered whether the pitocin contributed to our son's issues and delays. I was induced a week before my due date due to my escalating blood pressure (my doctor wanted to just induce since I was full-term to avoid any complications). They had me hooked up to pitocin on and off and in varying degrees for about 24+ hours before they decided to send me home because the induction wasn't working. One week later, my dr. tried to induce again; was able to break my water, hooked me up to pitocin again, and it still didn't work. I ended up with a c-section since they couldn't send me home again. I have no idea whether this caused Michael's problems; he seemed fine until he was about 18 months old when we noticed the lack of language and such. Michael had a speech therapist when he was a toddler who was taking classes for her Ph.D and one of her classes or groups was studying a theory that there may be some kind of reaction between the pitocin used in labor and the MMR vaccine that the child gets later on. I really just don't know; my focus right now is just to help my child as much as I can. I can't do anything about what caused his problems, unfortunately. But I CAN focus on the interventions I can implement now.