What causes cerebral palsy during pregnancy?

What causes cerebral palsy during pregnancy?

Cerebral palsy is usually caused by a problem that affects the development of a baby’s brain while it’s growing in the womb. These include: damage to part of the brain called white matter, possibly as a result of a reduced blood or oxygen supply – this is known as periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)

How do drugs affect a baby’s development during pregnancy?

Studies show that various drugs may result in miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and a variety of behavioral and cognitive problems in the child. A baby can also be born dependent on the drug if the mother uses it regularly—a condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Can cerebral palsy be caused by abuse?

Substance abuse can also lead to cerebral palsy. Cigarettes, prescription drugs, street drugs and alcohol can all have a negative impact on a fetus’s developing brain because of their toxicity. Of course, substance abuse can also cause other birth defects and cognitive issues, such as fetal alcohol syndrome.

Is cerebral palsy detected during pregnancy?

Cerebral palsy cannot be detected before birth. However, if a fetus is in a high-risk category for developing cerebral palsy, performing an ultrasound can detect an abnormality. This allows doctors and parents to start therapy early to help with development.

What is the most common cause of cerebral palsy CP?

Congenital CP. CP related to abnormal development of the brain or damage that happened before or during birth is called congenital CP. The majority of CP (85%–90%) is congenital.

Is cerebral palsy caused during birth?

Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain. This usually happens before a child is born, but it can occur at birth or in early infancy.

Can cerebral palsy be detected during pregnancy?

What causes a fetus to have cerebral palsy?

Substance abuse can also lead to cerebral palsy. Cigarettes, prescription drugs, street drugs and alcohol can all have a negative impact on a fetus’s developing brain because of their toxicity. Of course, substance abuse can also cause other birth defects and cognitive issues, such as fetal alcohol syndrome.

Can a child with cerebral palsy be exposed to alcohol?

This means that unless a child also has the facial features characteristic of FAS, or a history of maternal alcohol consumption is known, the association will likely go unnoticed. Indirect evidence, that CP may be a concomitant of prenatal alcohol exposure, is the presence of the many common secondary symptoms noted in Table 1. Table 1. . . .

Who is most at risk for cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy rates prove particularly high in children who are born premature or with low birth weight. Additionally, severe cases of jaundice that remain untreated in infants can cause brain injuries that might lead to cerebral palsy.