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.

Virginia has a state run program called Birth-related Neurological Compensation Fund which supplies the children and families affected by birth trauma with the money necessary to pay for the lifetime of needed medical and home care. Unfortunately, this program is seriously lacking the funds necessary to keep up with the need.

According to an audit released on May 13th, the twenty year old program is short the $127.6 million needed to maintain the lifetime care needed by the infants who have entered the program.

The state run program was the first of its kind in the United States. Florida is the only other state to utilize a similar program.

The lack of money in the fund is due to underestimated financial projections of the needed child care. This clearly demonstrates the serious financial toll that birth trauma can have on families.

Birth trauma attorneys are working to hold negligent parties responsible in order to prevent the devastation of birth injuries from occurring.

A new study released on May 7th by the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand demonstrates that the common prescription diabetes drug metformin is just as effective in treating gestational diabetes as insulin alone.

The 363 women who received metformin during the course of the study experienced the same side effects as the 370 women who received insulin injections.

Of the women who received metformin, 77 percent said that they would continue to use the drug if they had developed gestational diabetes in another pregnancy.  Of those 77 percent, about 46 needed additional supplemental insulin at some point during the pregnancy.

Of the women who received only insulin shots, 27 percent said that they would continue to use only insulin if they developed subsequent gestational diabetes.

Despite the positive results of this study, the researchers assert that more research needs to be done in order to fully understand the possible side effects of metformin. Doctors need to treat their patients with caution.

Gestational diabetes is a serious condition that affects 20 percent of pregnant women. It can result in serious risks to both the baby and the mother. If not treated properly, gestational diabetes can result in premature labor and birth injuries, which can develop into serious disabilities as the baby grows.

Birth injury attorneys are working on cases in which children have developed cerebral palsy and other serious conditions due to medical negligence.