5 Facts to Know About Cerebral Palsy Birth Injuries

Updated on October 8, 2019

Many different types of injuries can be sustained during the birthing process. Cerebral Palsy can be one of the most severe injuries sustained. There are many different types, and each case is unique. If you suspect that your baby has suffered an injury due to medical negligence. 

You need to consult an attorney as soon as possible. If your infant has Cerebral Palsy, it is critical to make sure that you retain an experienced cerebral palsy lawyer to help you navigate this complex process. When you meet with your attorney, make sure you bring any documentation.   

Documentation helps them with the discovery phase, or pre-litigious phase, so they can determine if you have a case. Here are some facts about Cerebral Palsy injuries.

How It Occurs

Cerebral Palsy can occur while in labor or during the birthing process. It happens when there is a brain injury that typically cuts oxygen off from the brain. In other cases, the brain injury could have even occurred pre-labor from the brain, failing to develop properly in utero. 

Medical negligence happens when medical personnel fails to let the attending doctor know that the mother or infant is in possible distress. For example, if the mother has an infection that can be passed along to the infant during the birthing process, and it is not disclosed to the attending birthing physician.

How It Is Diagnosed

Diagnosis can be extremely tricky. Many times, symptoms don’t manifest until later when the child begins to develop and grow. Signs can be slow development of motor skills, difficulty walking and delayed speech. Because these symptoms don’t manifest right away, it can become difficult to prove when and how the infant got Cerebral Palsy. 

Birth Injury Negligence

Fetuses and infants brains right after birth are still mainly undeveloped. Because of this, brain injuries sustained during the birthing process can have devastating effects on the child’s long term health. Your medical team must take every precaution possible to avoid any brain trauma, so the infant doesn’t become at risk for Cerebral Palsy.

Type of Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is the name for a large group of disorders that fall in this category. There are four main types of Cerebral Palsy: Spastic, Athetoid, Ataxic, and Mixed. Doctors use these main types to help diagnose the condition and offer treatment to help with long term care. Each case is unique and can range widely in severity. Cerebral Palsy is a permanent disorder, but improvements can be made depending on the type of Cerebral Palsy the patient has.

Treatment

Treatment largely depends on the severity of the Cerebral Palsy. Before treatment can be recommended, the doctor will likely need to order MRI and cranial ultrasounds to help them better understand the brain function. Treatments can be a combination of physical therapy, medications, and even surgery to help manage the day to day function. Physical therapy is a great way to help them to build muscle tone and can improve motor skills.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.