There are so many issues that can arise during pregnancy, some more concerning than others. It is the responsibility of the pregnant woman's doctor to monitor the health of the mother and developing baby and take care of medical issues if they arise. If the mother's health is not properly observed, a medical condition can get out of hand and potentially cause harm to the baby or the mother. One such side effect of improper prenatal care to the developing child is a chronic condition known as cerebral palsy. CP can develop in pregnancy as a result of several different medical issues. While there are no certain signs of CP when pregnant, the onset of any health problems that could cause brain or spinal damage to the developing baby should be caught and resolved early to avoid cerebral palsy.

As explained on AmericanPregnancy.org, cerebral palsy affects posture and movement. It is a lifelong condition that is caused by damage to a child's brain during pregnancy, birth or in his first couple years of life. CP can also be accompanied by other challenges such as mental retardation, seizures, learning disabilities and disturbed vision, hearing or speech. While many expectant mothers may wish to know during pregnancy whether or not their child will have cerebral palsy, as outlined on MedicineNet.com, there is no singular test for it and diagnosis is commonly made through observation of the child's development over time and examination of medical history. Being aware of the risk factors during pregnancy and alerting a physician to any concerns can go a long way to help treat medical threats early.

The article on AmericanPregnancy.org goes on to describe many of the risk factors for CP during pregnancy. Particularly, infections in the pregnant woman are among the concerns, including rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus (a viral infection, normally mild) and toxoplasmosis (a typically mild parasitic infection). A bacterial infection of the membranes around the fetus, known as chorioamnionitis can also lead to cerebral palsy. In addition, if there are problems with the placenta during pregnancy, the baby may not receive sufficient oxygen and CP may result. Rh disease is another risk factor for brain damage and consequently cerebral palsy. This condition occurs when the blood types of the mother and fetus are incompatible. It can cause severe jaundice in the child, which can then lead to cerebral palsy. With proper diagnosis the condition can usually be effectively treated to eliminate harm to the baby and mother. Some blood clotting disorders can also be an issue. According CHealth.canoe.ca, bleeding or excess protein in the mother can also be risk factors, as well as hyperthyroidism.

Thankfully, with proper prenatal care and an attentive and thorough physician in the delivery room, the threat of a baby being born with cerebral palsy is very low. If you have a child with cerebral palsy that you believe was the result of a medical error we are available to advise you. We are very knowledgeable in birth injury and medical malpractice cases and would be happy to provide you with a free assessment.