Do you want to protect your child from cerebral palsy (CP)?
You should know about cerebral palsy prevention to keep your child safe. Keeping your baby and yourself safe is important during pregnancy and childbirth because some risk factors are avoidable during these stages.
Though there is not any method to prevent CP completely, when you have information about these risk factors you can reduce your child’s risk of developing it.
Now let’s walk through the preventive steps you can take to give your child a healthy and independent life.
Key Takeaways
- The causes of CP are very complex which makes it difficult for experts to come up with a method that can prevent it completely.
- However, there are some risk factors that parents can avoid if they are aware of them.
- The time before pregnancy, during the pregnancy, labor and delivery, and after the pregnancy are crucial for the mother and baby. Good care needs to be taken to ensure that they are healthy.
- Taking proactive steps is the best way to prevent CP.
Can Cerebral Palsy Be Prevented?
There is no sure-shot method for cerebral palsy prevention. That’s because experts still do not know the exact cause of it.
However, there are steps that parents and doctors can take to reduce the child’s risk of CP and other developmental disorders. These steps can be taken before and during pregnancy and also after the birth of your child.
What Are The Risk Factors?
Let’s now learn about the risk factors for cerebral palsy. At the same time, you need to remember that if the child has a risk factor that does not necessarily mean that they will have CP.
Here are some risk factors for cerebral palsy:
Intracranial Hemorrhage
Intracranial hemorrhage or brain bleeding can lead to cerebral palsy. The bleeding and blood clots in the brain can damage the cells and control muscles that are responsible for movement control of the body. This can lead to cerebral palsy.
Perinatal Asphyxia
Perinatal asphyxia or asphyxia at birth can cause cerebral palsy. It is a condition that happens due to oxygen deprivation. If it is not treated in time it can cause serious complications and even death. Immediate treatment can prevent brain damage and resultant conditions like cerebral palsy.
Brain Damage
Brain damage can happen due to abnormal development of the fetus, brain injury before, during, and after birth, low oxygen levels, or damage to the pyramidal tracts (communication tracts between cerebral cortex and spinal cord).
Infertility Treatment
As per research, infertility treatment increases the risk of cerebral palsy. Children born with in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy.
Though the risk is high, the overall number of babies born by fertility treatment developing CP is still considered low. Only 0.2% of babies included in the study were born with it.
Premature Birth
Premature babies are at the risk of bleeding in the brain. Premature babies include birth before 37 weeks.
In some severe cases, there is a risk of accumulating fluid in the brain. These complications can cause severe brain damage. The underdeveloped organs of premature babies are more likely to have health issues.
To be more precise, premature babies may be underdeveloped and this leads to breathing problems and a lack of oxygen to the brain. These babies are prone to infections, too.
Low Birth Weight
The lower the birth weight of a child, the higher the risk of developing CP, as per experts. Babies born with 1500 grams have a greater chance of developing cerebral palsy.
But even if the the birth weight is low many babies still don’t have any issues and they are completely healthy. Sometimes they are small and you do not need to worry about health issues.
Multiple Births
As per experts, in case of multiple births or births of twins and triplets have a higher risk of cerebral palsy. The risk is even higher when one of the babies dies before or after birth. The reason behind this higher risk is low birth weight and other complications can arise during the birth of these babies.
Infection During Pregnancy
Infections during pregnancy are another risk factor. A pregnant woman’s body creates cytokines when they have a fever or infection. These cytokines circulate in the body including the developing fetus. It can cause inflammation in the fetus’s brain and damages it.
Maternal Medical Condition
If the mother has conditions and diseases like cytomegalovirus, herpes, syphilis, German measles, and Zika virus, the baby may develop CP. These infections can damage the brain of the unborn baby.
Untreated Jaundice
Treating jaundice properly is important because when severe cases of jaundice are not treated in time, it may lead to conditions such as kernicterus. Kernicterus is a form of infant brain damage.
How Can I Reduce My Chances Of Having A Disabled Child?
Experts still don’t know the exact cause of the cerebral palsy. That’s why they cannot recommend a particular method to prevent it completely. Having said that, it does not mean that you cannot do anything as parents to reduce the risk of CP.
Following preventive measures will help you take action if or when there is brain or nerve damage to the fetus or the newborn baby:
Before Pregnancy:
You need to stay healthy by controlling health conditions and treating infections and diseases when you plan to conceive. Get vaccines for diseases like flu, rubella, and chicken pox.
In case, you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or any sexually transmitted infections, you need to treat them properly before you get pregnant. Along with that, stop smoking, and taking too much alcohol or any drugs.
During Pregnancy:
If you are an expecting parent, you may be worried about how to make sure that you have a healthy and tension-free pregnancy. Developmental or movement conditions are one of the main concerns you may have regarding your baby.
There are a few strategies you can use to make sure that your baby stays healthy and happy. To ensure there are no complications during this phase, you need to visit your gynecologist as per routine without fail.
Apart from that, you need to avoid contracting any infections, get vaccinated properly, and get tested for Rh factor. Rh is a protein found in your blood that determines whether you are Rh-positive or negative. Though it is not directly related to CP, Rh incompatibility can cause severe birth injuries and that may lead to CP.
During pregnancy avoid alcohol, cigarettes, or any sort of drug abuse.
During Labor:
The doctors and medical team will ensure that you have a safe labor and delivery. But at the same time, try to learn about the process that your doctors will take while delivering the baby before childbirth.
The doctors will closely monitor the baby and any underlying issues that need to be addressed immediately. Monitoring the baby helps the doctors learn about fetal distress in time and save the baby from oxygen deprivation which is one of the major causes of CP.
It is all about making the right decision at the right time. Sometimes an emergency C-section can be the call of the hour. Delaying it may lead to health complications that may result in CP.
After Pregnancy:
Cerebral palsy can develop after the baby’s birth. Most of these cases happen due to head trauma. So, you need to safeguard your baby from falls and infections that can damage the brain.
Some things you can do to make sure that your child is safe from falls and infections are:
- Never leave the baby unattended.
- Use a good car seat for your baby.
- Get them vaccinated on time to avoid any diseases and illnesses.
Takeaway
We have discussed all possible ways for cerebral palsy prevention and how parents can take some preventive steps to keep their children safe and healthy.
There is indeed no sure way to prevent CP because of its complex causes. But you can focus on your baby and your health before, during, and after pregnancy to make sure that no complications happen. By doing so, you can also protect your child’s brain development.
Apart from that, prioritize vaccinations, treat existing health conditions, and stay away from harmful substances. Early action, prevention, and awareness are your best tools to give your child a happy and healthy life.
For more information on cerebral palsy prevention, book a call with our specialist, today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1. What is the main cause of cerebral palsy?
A. The main cause of cerebral palsy is damage or abnormal development in those parts of the brain that control the movements. It can happen during any stage: before birth, during birth, shortly after birth or in the first few years of life when the brain is still developing.
Q2. Who is at risk of cerebral palsy?
A. Premature babies, children who had head injuries, babies with low birth weight, and babies born with infertility treatment are among those who are at risk of CP.
Q3. At what age is CP diagnosed?
A. CP can be diagnosed during the first two years of the child’s life. However, in the case of mild CP, the diagnosis is difficult. In some cases, CP diagnosis happens when the child is four or five years old.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16504792/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7381116/
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/cerebral-palsy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989872/
https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/50/6/1852/6310303#:~:text=Brain%20injuries%20and%20abnormal%20neurological,with%20higher%20risk%20of%20CP.&text=As%20preterm%20infants%20are%20exposed,susceptible%20to%20developing%20neonatal%20diseases.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17208641/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8976682/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4801683/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7919113/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388741/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8607336/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14825056
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8452335/
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Medically Reviewed By MedicoExperts Editorial & Clinical Review Board On 13 November 2024
