Researchers from Canada conducted an observational study and found that epidural anesthesia during childbirth does not have any effectAutism in babiescan trigger. Previous studies have suggested a possible link between the pain relief drug and autism. The researchers could find no evidence of this.
Epidural anesthesia during birth does not increase the risk of autism for the baby
In 2020, a study was published whose results worried many expectant mothers. This controversial study claimed that the risk of autism is 37% higher in babies born to women who choose to have an epidural at birth than in babies born to mothers who do not take an epidural for pain relief. At the time, the study results were heavily criticized. Many scientists believed that it was not the anesthesia itself, but other factors that could lead to this increased risk.
Now researchers from Canada wanted to investigate the question. As part of a new study, they examined the medical records of over 123,000 children born in the province of Manitoba in Canada between 2005 and 2016. All children were born normally. There were no twins in the target group. The researchers then divided the subjects into two groups. The first group consisted of children whose mothers chose epidural anesthesia during delivery. The second group consisted of children whose mothers chose to deliver without epidural anesthesia. After analyzing the data in the patient files, the scientists were able to calculate the risk of autism in the two groups. A total of 2.1% of children from the first group and 1.7% of children from the second group were diagnosed with autism. The researchers took into account several other factors that may increase the risk. The results of the study are clear: There is no evidence that epidural anesthesia during birth actually increases the risk of autism.
