| Research has shown that about 70% of those | | | | proteinuria, maternal hyperthyroidism, seizures in the |
| diagnosed with cerebral palsy were affected by | | | | newborn and doctor errors. Symptoms in a newborn |
| damage to one or more areas of the brain during the | | | | may include difficulty in breathing, low birthweight, |
| fetal development process itself. The other 30% of | | | | delayed development and mental retardation. The sad |
| sufferers are estimated to have experienced brain | | | | part is that there is no cure for cerebral palsy. Once |
| injury during the birthing process. While it is muscles | | | | damaged in this manner the brain cannot recover. At |
| that are affected, the abnormalities that characterize | | | | the most the patients can be offered rehabilitative |
| cerebral palsy originate in the brain. It is the brain that | | | | support to help them lead as dignified and as |
| controls the complex interactions between the brain | | | | independent a life as possible. |
| and the nerves in a smooth and coordinated way. A | | | | The attending doctor might have failed to recognize |
| brain affected by cerebral palsy has problems | | | | and treat seizures in the newborn following delivery. If |
| controlling these interactions. | | | | the doctor fails to detect a prolapsed cord and take |
| There are four documented types of cerebral palsy. | | | | the needed precautions, the child's condition can turn |
| Spastic cerebral palsy, Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral | | | | delicate. When the umbilical cord can wraps around |
| palsy, Ataxic cerebral palsy, and mixed forms with | | | | the child's neck it cuts off oxygen to the brain. Birth |
| symptoms of one or more type. The most common | | | | records and interviews with the attending staff will be |
| causes of cerebral palsy are breech presentation, | | | | able to show if during delivery there was an excessive |
| complicated labor or delivery, low birthweight, nervous | | | | use of vacuum extraction, or improper use of forceps. |
| system malformations, maternal bleeding or severe | | | | |