Tuesday Aug 13, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in JAMA Pediatrics has found labor induction intended to speed up the delivery process may increase the risk of autism, which is now found in one out of 50 U.S. children, according to a report on bloomberg.com.

The study found boys whose mothers took medications to induce labor 35% more likely to suffer autism than others whose mothers had them delivered naturally.  Boys are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with autism.

Medications are often used to induce labor when doctors want to speed up the laboring process.  This can be due to a medical condition or simply because the doctor wants to finish his work early so he can go home and have dinner on time.

There are all sorts of possible causes for the increased risk of autism including "the woman’s health, the unborn child’s health, the reason for labor to be induced or augmented and other drugs being used at the time of childbirth," according to the report. 

The one important possible cause the report fails to point out is the exact drugs that are used to induce labor.  Some drugs if not all used to induce labor are known to be toxic and some should not be used in the first place.  Some drugs are used off label although the FDA does not approve such a treatment.  This study can't exclude the possibility that these medications can damage the brain of an infant and cause autism.

Women who are going to get pregnant and have babies should keep in mind that any drug used during the pregnancy and the delivery process may adversely affect the infant although further research is needed to clarify whether the labor-inducing medications may cause autism.  Even ultrasound used can cause some damage to the infant.  A study has found that children who were subject to ultrasound examination during pregnancy are more likely to be left-handed than those who were not.

Another study has found babies who were delivered naturally after the due day actually smarter than those who were born earlier.  That study suggests that labor induction should not be used just because the delivery is past due.

It should be noted that many risk factors may cause autism just like a person can die from many causes.  Vitamin D deficiency and pediatric MMR vaccine have been associated with increased risk of autism although studies are inconsistent. (reporting by David Liu)