A baby’s future health depends in part on the mother’s health during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman has certain types of infections, medical conditions or health problems, her baby is at greater risk of being born with cerebral palsy (CP).
Premature birth, low birth weight, oxygen deprivation, breech births, infertility treatments, multiple births and complications during birth can also increase the risk of CP. Birth injuries that result from medical malpractice before, during or shortly after delivery can also cause cerebral palsy.
CP is caused by brain damage sustained before or during birth in between 85 and 90 percent of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the remaining 10 to 15 percent of cases, the individual acquires CP more than 28 days after birth. Head injuries, car accidents, abuse and infections are a few common causes of acquired cerebral palsy.
WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY?
Cerebral palsy is a
