How can autism be prevented

A modest weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy is optimal. Regular check-ups with a family physician and obstetrician are important. Maternal health throughout pregnancy has a significant impact on unborn children. Mothers should be immunized against German measles rubella and get an influenza shot. Taking all precautions to avoid gestational diabetes can help lower the risk for autism. If possible, pregnant women should avoid prescriptions, especially antidepressants, with medical supervision.

Having a dentist remove mercury-based amalgam fillings before conception could be beneficial. However, a study in the Molecular Psychiatry journal found that autism rates are 15 percent higher in children born to mothers in their 40s and 66 percent higher for fathers over Here are some ways for you to help, support, and encourage the development of skills in your loved one. Communicating with the doctor, therapist, teachers, and other healthcare providers can help make your daily tasks a lot easier.

For parents, this can mean asking for suggestions to continue practicing the skills your child is learning in therapy, which makes it easier for them to be more successful. What you do at home can affect the severity of some symptoms. One suggestion is to keep the environment predictable and familiar. Another is to have a routine. When facing a new situation, go over in advance what might happen. This may help make the transition go a lot smoother.

Bring comfort items along that are familiar. Communicate information in a simple, yet effective way. The more clear, concise, and concrete you can be, the better. And wait. Give them time to respond as you listen and observe.

For more on communicating with children, read this resource from the Raising Children Network in Australia. Consider using visual aids to help your child with schedules and daily tasks. Celebrate the good stuff by recognizing and acknowledging abilities and strengths. Iron is crucial to fetal brain development, yet up to half of all pregnant women don't get enough of it.

Researchers looked at the iron intake of close to women during three critical stages: three months prior to becoming pregnant, throughout pregnancy and after delivery while breastfeeding. This study is the first to examine the relationship between maternal iron intake and autism risk. To confirm a connection and the study's validity, more researchers need to replicate the findings in larger research groups.

That's why it's important to get enough iron in your diet via foods, such as meats, seafood, eggs and iron-fortified breads and cereal, and to take an iron-fortified prenatal supplement when you're trying to conceive and when you're expecting. Multiple studies have shown this connection: One by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that the risk doubled for children born to women exposed to high levels of pollution, particularly in the third trimester.

The higher the levels of exposure, the greater the risk. In general, the American Lung Association recommends several ways to protect yourself from air pollution: for instance, fill your gas tank up after dark, exercise away from highly-trafficked areas and, when pollution levels are high, take your workout indoors.

You can check out your daily air quality levels at www. A French study conducted on mice and published in the journal Science suggests that the use of spinal anesthesia during labor results in higher concentrations of chloride or salt in the brains of newborn mice.

The authors hypothesize that this may increase the risk of autism in humans. High chloride levels are essential to a baby's brain development while in utero. During labor and delivery , a baby is exposed to oxytocin, the hormone that brings on contractions. Oxytocin acts as a diuretic and naturally lowers an infant's chloride levels.

Researchers believe epidurals may interfere with the release of oxytocin causing chloride levels to remain high after birth. The study seems to support earlier findings from a clinical trial of 60 children with autism who saw some improvements in their behaviors after taking a diuretic that lowered their chloride levels. However, the Science study on epidurals and chloride was conducted solely on mice. While animal studies are important, the findings don't always translate to people.

What's more, the study didn't address what happens when a mother's labor is induced with pitocin, a synthetic version of oxytocin. Research from the University of Utah published in the November issue of Pediatrics suggests a potential link between excess pregnancy pounds and autism risk. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG recommends women gain no more than 35 pounds during pregnancy it's 25 pounds if you're already overweight.

In the study, incremental 5-pound increases in weight above ACOG's recommendation were linked to a slightly higher, yet significant risk for autism. Previous studies indicate a possible connection to a woman's pre-pregnancy body mass index BMI , pregnancy weight gain , and a child's risk of autism. One theory is that excess body fat may change a woman's hormone levels or cause inflammation that affects fetal brain development. The bottom line: "Women should watch their weight gain during pregnancy to prevent problems like diabetes and high blood pressure," says Dr.

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