Mental Disorder

Hi doc, please explain to the best extreme possible. I am 42 and my wife is 39. 12 years back, she delivered a girl baby that had complication at birth (comment was made as not breathed for 5 minutes - sorry I forgot exact words). She appeared okay except she started walking late, at over 2 years of age, and she was taking too long to start speaking. That is when we took her for medical exam, where she was initially diagnosed of autism. But as she grew old, it became apparent that there was more to it. She speaks (clear words) but on her own, mostly that is repeating some song lines. She is very fond of watching song albums. From the age of around 3, after she started walking, I remember she would approach with an empty glass in hand and show it to me or he mom, indicating that she is thirsty. She is able to feed herself (albeit not so clean). She is able to change her clothes. She goes to toilet for urinating. But she does still defecates in bed (please tell me how to train her for this). And we cannot communicate with her. What she likes she will pick up and play. This is particulary embarassing in stores where whatever she picks must be bought. If you try to force her to put that thing back on shelf, she will scream at the top of her lungs, and everyone around ...

My question is whether this is genetic or happened due to asphyxia (is it the right word?) for 5 minutes. Additional info is that noone in both of our family is suffering from mental retardation. But,
1) My wife (baby's mom) suffered from what I feel was a related shock after our baby was diagnosed with retardation, and my wife was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
2) My cousin sister has a boy age around 18 who is neuro disabled, not at all able to do any ADL, again, his head was injured purportedly at birth.
No other case of neuro or mental disorder that I know of in my extended family.

My second question is whether we should go for second pregnancy? How safe or how risky would it be?
Thanx

[jlh2605]

It is much more likely related to the asphyxia at birth than a genetic problem, because there is no family history of any problems like developmental delay or retardation. So a second pregnancy should not be any higher risk than anyone else who decides to have a baby.