“Meconium” is the term used to describe the bowel movements of infants in the womb. It turns out that there’s a correlation between meconium and autism. From Spectrum:
Walker’s team examined hospital records for more than 9.9 million children born in California between 1991 and 2008 to find those who had either meconium in the amniotic fluid or meconium aspiration syndrome. They found that 47,277 of these individuals have autism, using records from the California Department of Developmental Services, which provides services for people with the condition.
The researchers adjusted for factors associated with either premature meconium release or autism, such as maternal obesity, high blood pressure during pregnancy, late delivery and insufficient oxygen in the womb.
Altogether, children who had meconium-stained amniotic fluid or meconium aspiration syndrome were 16 percent more likely to have a diagnosis of autism than those without this exposure.
I don’t know what to make of this but it’s an interesting finding.
16 percent isn’t a lot and could well disappear depending on how adjustments for other factors were made.
Sounds like a settled scientific consensus to me.
Retrospective study. Not impressed. Will say I had no doubt you would find us something like this.
Steve