Birth weight and ASD, PDD, "neuroatypicality"

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There is a text about correlation between low bitrth weight and autsim spectrum disorders:

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/225282625_Risk_of_autism_spectrum_disorders_in_low_birth_weight_and_small_for_gestational_age_infants

Risk of autism spectrum disorders in low birth weight and small for gestational age infants.

ABSTRACT To examine the relationship between birth weight, gestational age, small for gestational age (SGA), and 3 of the most common autism spectrum disorder (ASD) subtypes.

In this population-based case-control study conducted in Finland, 4713 cases born between 1987 and 2005 with International Classification of Diseases-diagnoses of childhood autism, Asperger syndrome, or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), were ascertained from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. Four controls, individually matched on sex, date of birth, and place of birth, were selected from the Finnish Medical Birth Register for each case. Conditional logistic regression models were used to assess whether birth weight and gestational age information predicted ASD after controlling for maternal age, parity, smoking during pregnancy, and psychiatric history, as well as for infant's major congenital anomalies.

Very low (<1500 g) and moderately low (<2500 g) birth weight, very low gestational age (less than 32 weeks), and SGA increased risk of childhood autism (adjusted OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.4-6.5; 1.57, 1.1-2.3; 2.51, 1.3-5.0; and 1.72, 1.1-2.6, respectively). Very low and moderately low birth weight, very low gestational age, and SGA were also associated with increase in PDD risk (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.9-6.3; 1.81, 1.4-2.4; 2.46, 1.4-2.3; and 2.24, 1.7-3.0, respectively). No associations were found between the perinatal characteristics and Asperger syndrome. The increased risks persisted after controlling for selected potential confounders.

The finding that low birth weight, prematurity, and SGA were related to childhood autism and PDD but not to Asperger syndrome suggests that prenatal factors related to these exposures may differ for these ASD subtypes, which may have preventive implications.

Here is a weigth for age calculator:

http://www.infantchart.com/

I had 2150 g (which gives just 0,2th percentile (very low result) according to the calculaor above) and 53 cm in my health certificate, but boduy length measurement in Poland is somewhat overestimated in Poland in comparison to the WHO standards (I do not know how much overestimation is ). Interestingly, I had 10 points on Apgar scale and was born on time (such as my siblings). My head circumference was 32 cm and chest circumference was just 28 cm. Brother's chest and head circumference was 35 cm, he had 3600 g and 57 cm.

In my family lowered birth weight (BW) might be associated with "atypicalities" in mental area. My brother looks most NT to me and he had definately the highest BW from five dwellers of my home. Parents had both 2800 g and they are generally NT, but with a bit "suspected" features, maybe linked to their BW). Sister had 2650 g (about 9th percentile) and two parents with relatively low birth weight. She was born more than six years after my brother, who was born less than 3,5 years after me (I was firstborn child). Maybe firstborn children and those who were born after larger breaks between their and earlier children have higher risk of "neuroatypicality"? In my family it looks so. She is a nonconformist for me, like I, but is not so much "aucorigic" (posessing "autocontrast" and "originality") like I. Maybe parents have a bit of "aucorigic" traits which somewhat accumulated on sister (but I do not think that she can be diagnosed with AS because she is too "normal" to this diagnosis). Birth body weight to length ratio may also play a role - low may be associated with "aucorigism" in the case of my family. Brother has average birth length, but sister had lowered, I do not know how much it was lowered because in Poland there is other than used by WHO method of measuring birth length.

These 3 factors may increase the risk of being "neurodiverse" (at least I see something which may be interesting in the case of me and my siblings):

- being firstborn child or being born relatively late after sibling(s) (maybe it is associated with the level of hormones in the womb which may have influence to neurological development and may be higher in the case of firstborn children and children born later after their sibling(s)?)
- lowered birth weight (maybe also birth weight above average?)
- lowered birth weight to length percentile (maybe also birth weight to length percentile)

It looks interesting for me. Data about me and my siblings:

1. Me:

- firstborn son
- birth weight 2150 g (0,2th percentile according to http://www.infantchart.com/)
- 53 cm, which gives 0,2th percentile when we subtract 6 cm according to http://www.infantchart.com/infantweightlength.php

2. Brother:

- second child, born less than 3,5 years after me
- BW: 3600 g (69,5th percentile according to http://www.infantchart.com/)
- 57 cm (57 cm - 6 cm gives 51 cm, which gives 57,9th percentile)

3. Sister:

- third child, born more than 6 years after my brother
- 2650 g (8,9th percentile according to http://www.infantchart.com/)
- 53 cm (53 cm - 6 cm gives 47 cm, which gives 26,8th percentile according to http://www.infantchart.com/infantweightlength.php, but it may be even few times lower (according to Polish chart here (http://www.wskfit.pl/PDF/artykuly/14005.pdf) it may be about 5th percentile)

I was about 2.6 Kilos, or 5.7 lbs, which lies just below the 5th Percentile.

I think my mother told me that I was 20 inches at birth.

If it was a measurement made by WHO method, it would be very, very low result (about 0,0 percentile for 50,8 cm (20 in) and 2,6 kg on http://www.infantchart.com/infantweightlength.php).

I was big enough to avoid the incubator--I was 4 ounces over the threshold.

I weighed about 7 pounds, which is probably on the low end of normal.

I was 8 pounds, although I am introverted and have sensitivities to light and noise I dont have meltdowns.

Don't know my length, but I was 3 lbs (~1360g) and 5 weeks early...an interesting thing to consider.

I've long suspected that my prematurity played a role in my bad asthma, unusual food sensitivities (I believe I have a salicylate intolerance), and extreme shortness (5' 0" at full adulthood, and proud), but I'm sure there's no scientific evidence supporting that. I had to be incubated for the month after I was born. I guess it would make sense to also have neurological differences as a result.

Question for the smart sciencey types here, do neurological developments happen the most at the end of term? From what you know, do you believe this could play a part?

I wouldn't say a woman at 5 feet even is "extremely short."

That would make me, a man, "extremely short" at 5 foot 4 3/4. I don't believe I'm extremely short.

I was 6 Ibs. My brother was less than me and in an incubator, though he is not diagnosed. He does have traits, however, most definitely.

All babies in my family are 7 - 8 lbs. Autistic or not. I think that's pretty average.

well, I suppose short given that the average women is supposedly 5'4" or something. Also that no relative in my last few generations was ever this small.

A chart of weight for gestational age. In my health certificate it is stated that I was born on time. My mother might say that I was born on 38th or 39th week of pregnancy. If it is true, my birth weight (2150 g) was very low for gestational age (it could be even below 1st percentile according to the chart above).

2150 g is generally low birth weight (below 2500 g). I had low birth weight and was definitely so small for gestational age (SGA). My BMI on birth was also low. In my health certificate it was written that my body length was 53 cm, when we subtract 6 cm, we receive 47 cm. 2.150/(0.47*0.47)=2.150/0.2209=(2.150*10000)/2209=21500/2209=9,73 (even below 10). Maybe this "triple combination" of low birth weight, being small for gestational age and having low BMI at birth (despite being born on time and having 10 points in Apgar scale) had not so small impact on my mental development?

I was born Extremely low birth weight 1.8 pounds
"Girls born with low birth weight greatly increases 5 times of developing [classic] autism".

I was 46 cm long and weighed 2680 grams. I was born 2 weeks early.

Edit: I was average height until age 10-11, when I stopped. I am 152 cm and 5 mm. That's about 5 feet, I think.

I wasn't. I was born at 26 weeks weighing 1 pound 9 ounces (708.7 g). I spent the four months from my birth to my initial intended due date in hospital, with supplemental oxygen until I was about a year old. I suspect that my birth played a hand in some of my autistic symptoms.