What is cerebral palsy and what causes it during pregnancy and childbirth?

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is the term used to describe a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement, coordination and cognitive development that develops before, during or soon after birth. The brain has either been damaged or has been unable to develop as it should.

These conditions are non-progressive, meaning the initial brain injury does not get worse over time. However, the effects on the body can change as a person ages, potentially causing increased pain, fatigue, and weakness as the strain on the body increases.

What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?

When symptoms appear varies from child to child, but it is typically before they are two years old. The signs to watch out for include:

• Difficulty with fine motor skills like using cutlery or using buttons
• Muscles that are too stiff or too floppy
• Uncontrolled movements or quick jerks
• Poor balance and overall coordination

Affected children may also experience issues with speech, vision or swallowing, and may have learning difficulties or suffer from seizures.

What causes cerebral palsy during pregnancy?

Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the baby's developing brain or a lack of normal brain development during pregnancy. This damage could include:

• Damage to the part of the brain called white matter, which could be as a result of reduced blood or oxygen supply, this is known as periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)
• An infection contracted by the mother during pregnancy. These infections include cytomegalovirus, rubella, chicken pox, toxoplasmosis
• a stroke whilst in the womb, which could be a result of an antenatal bleed to the brain or the blood supply to the brain being cut off
• suffering a head injury in the womb from an accident such as a road traffic collision

Sometimes negligent care can lead to cerebral palsy, such as poor monitoring of the baby when in distress or failure to diagnose conditions of the mother that impact the child. During labour and delivery, improper or delayed intervention can cause brain haemorrhages or physical injuries from delivery tools like forceps or vacuum extractors.

What are the signs of cerebral palsy in babies?

Signs of cerebral palsy can begin to show within a few months of birth, so it is important for parents and carers to know what to look out for. While symptoms vary from child to child, typical manifestations of cerebral palsy in babies include:

• Walking on tiptoes when learning to walk
• Weak limbs
• Tremors, shaking hands and muscle spasms
• Trouble feeding or swallowing
• Excessive drooling

Cerebral palsy isn’t always obvious when a baby is first born. It might not become apparent until a baby doesn’t hit development milestones, for example:

• Their first smile which should happen when they’re around six weeks old
• Rolling over which is usually between four and six months old
• Crawling which can happen from nine months old
• Sitting up and holding themselves up unaided between nine and 12 months old
• Walking, typically between six and 18 months old
• Talking, usually between 12 and 18 months old

If you suspect any of these symptoms to be present in your baby, it is important you see a doctor as they can refer your child to specialists for better support and an official diagnosis. Early intervention can make a significant difference in their development and quality of life.

How is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

Cerebral is diagnosed by paediatric specialists in neurology who will observe your child, perform a few tests to rule out other conditions, and ensure an accurate diagnosis. They will assess your child's muscle tone, balance, and movement, and will order brain scans like MRI or CT scans to identify brain abnormalities.

There is not a single test that can diagnose cerebral palsy, so a diagnosis is made on developmental observation, brain scans and the judgement of your medical professional.

What is the treatment for cerebral palsy?

While cerebral palsy unfortunately cannot be cured, it can be managed with the right care, therapy, aids and specialist equipment. The types of treatment that can help cerebral palsy symptoms include:

• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy – specific aids such as wheelchairs, walking aids and things to help with feeding, dressing and everyday activities
• Speech and language therapy
• Special educational therapy
• Help with hearing aids and specialist glasses where necessary

The treatment plan will vary from person to person, so your medical specialists will assess the individual’s needs and derive the combination of treatments that will work best to provide the most benefit.

Specialist legal advice for cerebral palsy medical negligence

Cerebral palsy is a life-changing condition that can entirely dictate a child’s quality of life. If you believe your child’s cerebral palsy was caused by negligent healthcare during your pregnancy or delivery, our leading medical negligence experts are here to help.

If it’s found that your child’s cerebral palsy was caused as a result of medical negligence, you can claim for therapy, rehabilitation, specialist aids and equipment as part of the damages. We can also claim costs for anything the NHS can’t provide, such as access to private physiotherapy, house adaptations, a mobility car, and any other costs that relate to providing for your child and their additional needs. Your child should be able to reach their full potential, and we can provide the help and support you need to achieve this.

Even if cerebral palsy hasn’t been discovered until your child is older, such as five, six or seven years of age, you can make a claim for medical negligence up to three years after your child’s 18th birthday. If the child doesn’t have the mental capacity to manage their own affairs and live independently, there’s no time limit on when you can make a claim.

If you would like to speak to a specialist medical negligence lawyer about your child’s cerebral palsy, you can call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online and we’ll be happy to speak to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of medical negligence could lead to cerebral palsy?

The causes of cerebral palsy that would lead to a medical negligence claim include:

• An event that might have happened during pregnancy that may not have been managed correctly such as reduced foetal movements.
• A decision surrounding how and when your baby should be born. For example, it may have been more appropriate for you to have been induced early.
• An event that happened during your labour that wasn’t acted upon quickly or managed appropriately, such as a drop in baby’s heartrate.
• Your baby was not properly monitored to check for low blood sugar or jaundice, which could also cause cerebral palsy.
• Your baby was at high risk, but was not monitored accordingly

Who can be affected by cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy can affect any child, but it is most common in premature babies and those with low birth weight, such as those from multiple births. There is a higher risk if there are infections during the pregnancy, complications during delivery, or a head injury during infancy.

Can I make a claim for cerebral palsy if it was caused by medical negligence?

Yes, you can make a claim for cerebral palsy if it was caused by medical negligence. Our experts can support you in finding evidence of this negligence and help you seek compensation.

How can making a cerebral palsy claim help my child?

The compensation you receive from making a claim can go towards private therapies and treatments, specialist equipment such as wheelchairs, experiences for the effected child and any adaptations to the home you may require.