Cerebral palsy is the name for a group of permanent, non-progressive disorders, caused by either abnormal development of the brain or damage to the developing brain. In many cases, early warning signs can signal that a baby or toddler might be afflicted with CP. What Should You Be Looking For? In general, cerebral palsy is seen in three different types of early warning signs: abnormal muscle tone, abnormal posture, and failure to meet developmental milestones. There are some specific abnormalities that can serve as early signs of cerebral palsy in babies and beyond. In infants younger than six ..read more

Cerebral palsy can take various forms. Whether it’s spastic, dyskinetic, or ataxic, each affects the patient’s body in different ways. In some cases, a child may have symptoms from multiple forms of cerebral palsy—this is known as mixed CP. What is Mixed CP, Exactly? Mixed cerebral palsy refers to a condition where multiple forms of cerebral palsy are present. A child who exhibits symptoms of two or more types of CP is said to have mixed cerebral palsy. Although this condition is less common than other types of CP, it is important to understand its symptoms and treatment. According to the CDC ..read more

Although many people associate cerebral palsy with spasticity, there are some forms of non-spastic CP that affect children. One of these is dystonic cerebral palsy. What is Dystonic Non-Spastic CP? Dystonic cerebral palsy, sometimes called dystonia, is a form of CP that causes changes in muscle tone and involuntary movements or uncontrollable muscle contractions. These movements may take the form of tremors, tics, contractions, or other types of dystonia. Dystonic CP is a type of dyskinetic cerebral palsy, meaning that it affects the child’s movements, making it difficult to walk, sit, and som ..read more

A cerebral palsy diagnosis is a shock to the entire family, particularly parents, guardians, and others who are the primary caretakers of the child. Caring for a child with CP will not be easy, but there are some helpful strategies you can employ as you navigate parenting your child with CP. What Does Caring for a Child With CP Entail? The care and management that parents need to provide to a child with cerebral palsy will be all-encompassing. There are, logistically, various doctor’s, therapy, and treatment appointments to make, along with medication to administer and monitor. Maintaining com ..read more

Although it does not affect every child born too early, premature birth has a clear link to a cerebral palsy diagnosis in many cases. It is important to understand risk factors, as well as potential ways to prevent both. What Does Premature Birth Have to Do With Cerebral Palsy? A premature birth is generally defined as one that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation, or three weeks before a baby is due. Preterm babies are those born before 32 weeks of pregnancy. Any type of premature birth can cause complications—some of which can be severe. But does premature birth cause cerebral palsy? Several ..read more

Hypoxia is what happens when a baby suffers insufficient oxygen before or during birth. The insufficiency can be due to lack of adequate oxygen in the blood delivered to the baby through the umbilical cord or due to interruption of the blood flow, either intermittently or totally. This type of brain damage from hypoxia is often called hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and it can have serious, life-long consequences, including cerebral palsy. What Causes Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy? HIE is a brain injury that can happen when a baby’s brain does not receive enough oxygen or blood flow f ..read more

If your baby did not receive enough oxygen during birth or even during fetal development, you may be starting to wonder about the long-term effects of severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy—HIE for short—and what that means for your child’s future and quality of life. While HIE complications can be significant and challenging, families should know there are treatments and therapies available, and developments are being made all the time thanks to research into encephalitis, long-term effects of oxygen deprivation, and associated disorders like cerebral palsy. What is Severe HIE? Severe HIE is ..read more

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns can have serious long-term consequences, including cognitive impairments, learning difficulties, and physical disabilities, as well as associated conditions such as cerebral palsy. If your child experienced this injury during birth and suffered as a result of a medical professional’s actions or inactions, you may be able to bring an action for medical malpractice. What is HIE and How Can it Happen During Delivery? Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a type of brain damage in infants that is caused by a lack of oxygen and limited blood flow to th ..read more

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a traumatic birth injury caused by oxygen deprivation to an infant’s brain during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. It can cause a variety of complications, including cerebral palsy, physical and mental disabilities, impaired vision, hearing, and more. Families of children with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) often face significant expenses in providing proper care through recommended treatments, therapies, medications, and support services. Although financial assistance is sometimes available through government programs, public services and support ..read more

Babies that are born not breathing are at an increased risk of brain, heart, lung, and kidney damage, especially if the baby is unable to breathe for more than 10 minutes after birth. Birth asphyxia, or the lack of oxygen around the time of birth, can also result in the baby developing cerebral palsy. Several things can cause a baby not to be breathing at birth, including airway blockages, umbilical cord compression, and high or low blood pressure. Here we explore what birth asphyxia is, the causes and symptoms of this condition, what can happen if your baby is born not breathing, and how this ..read more