While the majority of children born with cerebral palsy suffer trauma during delivery, some of the causes of cerebral palsy can actually occur during gestation.
Cerebral palsy is a relatively-common developmental disorder affecting hundreds of thousands of children across the country. This condition usually develops as the result of damage to the developing brain, which can happen at any time during pregnancy, labor, or shortly after birth. Today we’d like to discuss some of the most-common causes of cerebral palsy that can occur during pregnancy.
Gene Mutations
There are genetic mutations that are believed to contribute to the development of cerebral palsy. Of course, these are unavoidable situations and there’s really no way that a doctor can be blamed for this. In these situations, doctors may not be able to identify such factors during pregnancy. Even after birth, the root cause can be difficult (but not impossible) to identify.
Problems with Amniotic Fluid
Amniotic fluid levels can be an obvious indicator of a difficult pregnancy. Doctors are trained to test for and identify serious issues such as these, and to mitigate harm to the child.
One family recently won millions in a cerebral palsy lawsuit involving amniotic fluid levels. The mother’s amniotic fluid was too low and the child should have been delivered via cesarean section, but was not. That failure to act was deemed by a jury to be the proximate cause of the child’s CP, and the child was awarded significant compensation. A doctor’s failure to act is negligence in the same way that taking the wrong action can be considered negligence.
Illnesses
Mothers who suffer illnesses while they’re pregnant may have an increased risk of their unborn child developing cerebral palsy. There are some types of infections that doctors can do nothing to prevent, as well as situations where the mother seeks attention too late. If you feel as though you’re suffering from an illness while pregnant, it’s important that you speak with your doctor as soon as possible.
Injuries
Mothers who are involved in car accidents or who otherwise suffer trauma while pregnant may end up injuries to the fetus. If these injuries are sever enough, your child could suffer a neonatal brain injury resulting in the development of cerebral palsy.
A cerebral palsy attorney can take a look at your situation and determine whether or not it’s worth it to sue the doctor or healthcare provider responsible for the child’s injuries. Sometimes, it’s possible to establish this to a jury to the extent that they force the hospital to compensate your family.