Modern science and indeed popular belief tells us that the ideal inter-pregnancy gap or the age-gap between children should be 18 months. This will help reduce the risk of learning disorders and other complications. Well, if the results of one research study are right, then that window of 18 months just opened a bit wider.
The Hypothesis
The study stated that spacing pregnancies too close to one another may increase the risk of autism in the second child. Conversely, the study also reported that children born more than five years after the older sibling may face a higher danger of developing a neurodevelopmental disorder.
According to WHO Collaborating Centre in Human Reproduction researcher and study co-author, Dr. Agustin Conde-Agudelo, “The current evidence seems to conclude that the ideal interpregnancy interval, or the time between the birth of your children should be is two to five years, to reduce the risk of autism.”
While the study did hint at a strong possibility that interpregnancy intervals were indeed linked to autism and other neurological problems, he maintained that “the reasons for the association between short interpregnancy intervals and autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities remain mysterious.”
Dr. Agudelo’s team evaluated some studies that hinted at a link between autism and short birth spacing. The findings concluded that children born within 12 months of each other were twice as likely to develop autism than their peers.
Some scientists speculate that lowered levels of folate in a mother’s body, may also increase the chances of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the unborn baby.
In Conclusion
The interpregnancy gap may be one of the reasons for autism; this isn’t by any stretch of the imagination the only factor. Your health, behavior, genes, and fetal environment all contribute to ASD, which affects nearly 1% children in the US, and it can be diagnosed as early as three and patients have socialization and communication problems.
The results of this study aren’t conclusive and don’t prove anything. For the best advice, consult your OB/GYN. What are your thoughts on this post? How far apart were your children born? Tell us here.
