A recent study was conducted connecting babies born prematurely, or having a low birth weight, with a greater risk of autism. The study was conducted by researchers at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is being published in the June edition of Pediatrics.

The study considered babies born at 33 weeks to be premature and babies with a weight of less than 5 pounds to be low.

The study involved 565 children with autism born between 1986 and 1993. They were then divided into three groups: those with autism only, those with autism and one developmental disease, and those with autism and more than one developmental disease.

They were then compared to children in a control group, where they analyzed the connection between birth weight, birth date, and autism.  The study proved that the combination and levels of premature birth and low birth weight have different effects on the risk of autism and other developmental diseases. 

In both boys and girls, low birth weight heightens the risk of autism by 2-3 times. In girls with low birth weight, the risk of autism and mental retardation together was four times as great. In premature babies, there was not a significant influence in boys, but the risk of autism in girls increased.

The study and research conducted suggested that babies with a low birth weight or those born premature should be consistently tested for autism and other possible developmental diseases at 18, 24 and 30 months.

Premature birth has also been linked to a heightened risk of birth trauma. Pregnant women should see a physician regularly in order to monitor the risk of premature birth. A physician or medical staff may be held responsible by a birth trauma attorney if their negligence resulted in serious injuries to the child or mother during a premature birth that could have been prevented.

An Ohio woman was awarded a $22.6 million verdict on May 19th, 2008 in a birth trauma suit. She claimed that during birth, the baby became stuck in the birth canal for 13.5 hours. The delivery took place on September 4, 1997.

The jury found both the doctor and the medical facility liable for negligence. They determined that the doctor and medical facility had foreknowledge that the actions they took would have resulted in brain damage.

During the trial, the jury heard medical evidence that showed that prior to the delivery, doctors discovered that the first time mother had a narrow pelvic cavity and that at the time of delivery, the baby weighed over 9 pounds.

The plaintiff argued that the doctor knew that the baby would not fit through the birth canal. The doctor attempted to treat the problem by giving the mother medication that forced the uterus to contract, which put pressure on the head of the baby, causing brain damage. A cesarean section was performed 13 and a half hours after labor began.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases in order to prevent the horror of birth trauma from occurring.