Cerebral Palsy

Birth Injury

Cerebral palsy is a term that describes a group of disorders that affect movement control. There is not one specific cause of cerebral palsy, however, it can be caused by injury to the brain during birth.
Cerebral palsy may be acquired after the birth of a child. This results from damage to the brain in the first months of life. The injury may be a brain infection (bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis) or head injury following a birth accident.
The medical providers caring for the expectant mother and the fetus are responsible to assure that they provide adequate care during the pregnancy and delivery. The problems that may be encountered include:

Failure to interpret and respond to the changing conditions of the fetus during labor;
Failure to act on changes in the mother's condition during pregnancy;
Failure to order specific tests during pregnancy; and not interpreting these tests correctly;
Failure to perform a cesarean section in the presence of fetal distress;
Failure to deliver the infant when the membranes have been ruptured for too long. Excessive use of vacuum extraction.
Failure to do a C-Section soon enough. Failed to diagnose fetal distress (the baby was having problems during labor). Did not interpret the fetal monitor strip correctly. Labor did not progress and took too long. Gave too much Pitocin and injured the baby...

Lack of oxygen to the brain or trauma to the head during labor and delivery can cause cerebral palsy. If the infant does not get enough oxygen the brain can be injured. There are many factors that can suggest the injury occured as a result of improper medical care, or injury to the brain during the birthing process.

Call us if your child has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.