Cerebral Palsy In The Newborn
Cerebral Palsy is a disorder than can affect youngsters and infants. There are a number of causes associated with this disease, including congenital and acquired causes. Sometimes, the cause of cerebral palsy is unknown. The symptoms that could indicate cerebral palsy can vary, and these are usually first identified by the parents of the child, although in some cases it may be a doctor or even a teacher that first notices the possible signs.
Some newborn babies are born with a variety of problems and malformations, and this can lead to the development of cerebral palsy. Some of the health problems in a newborn child that can lead to the development of cerebral palsy include kidney, heart, or spinal problems that are associated with brain malformation. In many cases babies are born with these problems rather than sustaining damage or injury during the birthing process or after birth.
A doctor will not always pick up on cerebral palsy right away in the newborn child, and in many cases it takes a while for any symptoms of the disorder to manifest. More sophisticated testing methods, such as imaging, can help to give medical staff a better idea of the possible problems early on. One common reaction from parents in cases where cerebral palsy is diagnosed in the newborn child is the feeling of guilt. However, birth defects and congenital malformations are caused by a number of factors, which may have nothing to do with the prenatal care.
In many cases the cause of such a malformation or defect is not know, but there are certain things that can affect and contribute to such disorders. However, parents should bear in mind that such congenital disorders are not necessarily a result of what they did or didn’t do during pregnancy, and this type of problem can affect even those that have enjoyed the best care during pregnancy.
Malformation and birth defects can result from the fetus being exposed to certain things, and this can happen through the mother. These include:
- Exposure of the fetus to various chemicals, with exposure coming through the expectant mother
- Exposure of the fetus to certain infections in the event that the expectant mother contracts an infection whilst pregnant
- Brain trauma to the fetus caused by head injury or physical trauma to the expectant mother
- Exposure of the fetus to high levels of alcohol caused by a high level of alcohol consumption by the expectant mother
- Exposure of the fetus to cigarette smoke, caused by the expectant mother continuing to smoke through pregnancy
- Severe malnutrition in the pregnant mother
Many of these exposures are linked to a low birth weight, and this in turn can be associated with cerebral palsy. Other types of exposure can affect the nervous system, blood vessels, and other major organs, which may result in malformation and birth defects.
Some of the infections that can pose a risk include rubella and toxoplasmosis. In addition to this, exposure to chemicals, smoking, and alcohol can also pose a risk. And, of course, drug use such as cocaine can also pose a high risk to the unborn child. Many of these things can also result in a lower birth weigh when the baby is born, and this can significantly increase the risk of developing cerebral palsy.
Another risk with low birth weight babies is bleeding in the brain, and this condition – known as an intraventricular hemorrhage, can damage the section of the brain that deals with coordination and movement, thus further increasing the chances of the development of cerebral palsy.
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