This is important news to women who are considering elective cesareans which are often scheduled a few weeks short of full term. These women should reconsider and discuss their options with their doctor. If an elective c-section is still wanted, schedule it as close as possible to your baby being full term, or as close to week 40 as possible.
Modern medicine has improved the chances of a baby’s survival if they are born prematurely which in some ways, downgrades the importance of going to full term. The authors of this study suspect that some aspect of the baby’s brain development is interrupted when they are born prematurely, thus leading to ADHD.
Further Studies to be Conducted
While this study has confirmed the link between premature birth and ADHD, it is not yet known exactly why this happens. Further study needs to be done to determine the actual cause; what exactly impairs the baby’s brain development so that the baby has an increased risk of ADHD?
There are other factors, such as genetics and the mother’s smoking during pregnancy that can influence whether a child gets ADHD or not.
Doctors should continue to stress the importance of a woman’s carrying her baby to full term, and not rely on their ability to safely deliver the baby if it is born prematurely. Women, on the other hand, should do all that they can to remain rested, stress free and healthy, so that their chances of going full term are the best possible.
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“Premature birth may increase risk of ADHD .” Pregnancy on msnbc.com. Reuters, 19 04 2011. Web. 15 Oct 2011. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42665981/ns/health-pregnancy/>.