Caring for a child suffering from cerebral palsy is hard and when the situation is caused by problems during, or before, the birth process this is an even more difficult situation to accept. Some 20% of brain damage which leads to cerebral palsy is caused during the birth itself while 70% of brain damage that causes the condition occurs during the pregnancy, most often during the second and third trimesters. Although it is not common, many families go through the pain of dealing with birth issues resulting in cerebral palsy in a child, so if you are one of these people you are not alone.
Cerebral palsy is essentially where a baby’s brain is damaged or develops abnormally and, as a result, certain parts of the brain that control the movement of the body are affected. The condition may also affect other areas of the brain, for example those that control functions such as sight or hearing and the ability to learn. This is why cerebral palsy isn’t a condition that you can singularly define – it’s different from person to person. The main symptoms of cerebral palsy tend to be some or all of a combination of: mobility problems, uncontrolled body movements, non-use of limbs, problems with co-ordination and balance, as well as an impairment of cognitive functions.
Not all cerebral palsy is caused by problems during pregnancy or the birth itself. A genetic link could be the reason for the condition, for example, or abnormal brain development that has nothing to do with the way the pregnancy has been handled. However, a large proportion of cerebral palsy cases come from something like an infection in the early stages of pregnancy that hasn’t been spotted or properly treated, as well as from circumstances where a child’s brain has been deprived of oxygen. In medical terms, the main causes of cerebral palsy are as follows:
Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) – this is also known as ‘white matter damage.’ The white matter is a part of the brain filled with nerve fibres that are protected by a white fatty protein, which communicates between the thought processing parts of the brain and the rest of the body. A reduction in blood or oxygen supply to the brain during or before birth will cause PVL. This could be as a result of a premature birth, a mother having low blood pressure, or a pregnancy infection.
Intracranial haemorrhage and stroke – this is bleeding in the brain, which can damage the brain and cause parts of it to die. It is most often seen in premature babies and may be caused by an infection like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, by high blood pressure in the mother, or pre-existing weaknesses in either the baby’s vessels or mother’s placenta.
Brain damage during birth – in some cases, the damage to the brain is caused during the birth process. This may be due to asphyxiation during birth where the brain is deprived of oxygen as a result of action or inaction by a medical team, or by something like meningitis or a serious head injury.
In the years 2000-2010 cerebral palsy claims made up 10.6% of all medical negligence claims and these figures continue to rise. If you have found yourself in this situation then we may be able to help – contact our team today for advice and guidance on making a birth injury claim for your child.