Babies born very soon after their sibling may be at an increased risk of autism, according to a new study
If babies are born very close together, the younger sibling may be at a higher risk of autism than siblings whose births are more spaced out, according to a new US study.
The study looked at the medical records of more than 660,000 children born in California between 1992 and 2002. Researchers uncovered a link between autism and babies born less than a year after their sibling.
The researchers have suggested that the increased risk of autism could be due to the amount of nutrients the mum is able to give her second baby in early pregnancy, if her body has not recovered fully from her previous pregnancy.
The findings are another clue in the effort to understand the condition that affects an estimated one in 58 children in the UK.
If you’ve just had a baby, find out more about post-baby contraception, as you are already fertile again. And if you’re thinking about a second baby, check out when to time your second child.
