Hypotonic cerebral palsy is a birth injury that affects the brain and can be caused by several factors. Generally these telltale symptoms present themselves at birth, but hypotonic cerebral palsy can also be caused by a birth trauma after labor.

The medical term, hypotonic refers to decreased muscle tone. According to Cerebral Palsy Source, this type of cerebral palsy is when the cerebellum is injured. People with this birth injury have no control of their head and have difficulty walking. Their arms and legs may hang to their sides uncontrollably. Hypotonic cerebral palsy victims may have breathing and speech difficulties as well as poor reflexes. Hypotonic cerebral palsy victims may have swallowing difficulties that can lead to malnutrition.

This birth injury is caused by damage to the cerebellum portion of the brain, which controls balance and coordination. If the mother has infections or toxins, hypotonic cerebral palsy can start during the first five months of an unborn child's development, according to BrainandSpinalCord.org. Infections and toxins cause cytokines to rise and produce inflammation that may induce brain damage to the fetus. The fetus may experience strokes prior to delivery, which leads to brain damage. Strokes in babies can also be caused by a mother's high blood pressure or inflammatory pelvic disease.