Cerebral Palsy Symptoms: What To Expect

One of the most devastating things for a parent from to hear from their child’s pediatrician is that their child has Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP is a group of several conditions that affects the child’s ability to move, maintain their posture, and maintain their balance. According to national statistics, it is the number one diagnosed motor disability condition in children. It is estimated that one in every 323 children is diagnosed with CP. If your child has been diagnosed with CP, knowing Cerebral Palsy symptoms and what to expect is critical to you and your family.

How Does Cerebral Palsy Occur?

The majority of CP cases are related to some kind of brain damage that occurred either before or during the child’s birth. This type of CP is referred to as Congenital Cerebral Palsy. Some of the reasons why this can happen include the following:

• There were complications during the baby’s birth
• The baby is born too early
• The baby’s size is too small when born
• The mother had an infection during the pregnancy
• The baby is a twin or multiple
• The baby was conceived by assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization
• The baby had severe newborn jaundice which was never treated

In some cases of CP, the brain damage the baby suffers occurs more than a month after the baby is born. This type of CP is referred to as Acquired CP. Some of the risk factors for this type of CP include:

• The baby suffers a serious head injury
• The baby develops meningitis or another type of brain infection

CP Symptoms

After a baby is born and during their first year of life, there will be a regular schedule of visits to the pedestrian. At these visits, the baby will be given appropriate immunizations. The pediatrician will also make sure the baby is developing both physically and mentally and hitting the milestones that children should. While every child develops at their own pace, there are potential warning signs that the child may have Cerebral Palsy.

If the baby exhibits any of the following signs between the ages of three to six months, it may indicate the baby has CP:

• The baby feels floppy
• The baby feels stiff
• The baby’s head falls backward when they are picked up while they are lying on their back
• The baby’s legs become still and scissor or cross when they are picked up
• The baby appears to overextend their neck and back when they are cradled in someone’s arms

If the baby exhibits any of the following signs when they are older than six months, it may indicate the baby has CP:

• The baby doesn’t roll over in either direction
• The baby has trouble bringing their hands up to their mouth
• The baby is unable to bring their hands together
• The baby only reaches out with one hand and keeps their hand fisted

If the baby exhibits any of the following signs when they are older than 10 months, it may indicate the baby has CP:

• The baby does not crawl on all fours but instead hops on their knees on scoots on their behind
• When the baby crawls, they push off with one hand and leg while dragging the opposite hand and leg

Contact a Birth Injury Attorney

If your child has been diagnosed with CP and you believe the condition was caused by negligence on the part of a medical professional, a birth injury attorney can advise you of what your legal options may be. Call the Saavedra Law Firm, PLC today.