Causes of Cerebral Palsy

By John Lehman View similar stories. Most people think strokes affect only adults, but they can also occur in children, even before birth. In fact, pediatric stroke is one of the leading causes of death in children. Children who have suffered from a pediatric stroke also have a high chance of developing cerebral palsy. Like... Read More

By Giles Manley, M.D. CP Family Network Medical Director Electronic fetal heart monitoring is used in nearly all hospital births in the U.S. The technology has been around for decades. But medical records of brain-injured infants I review each week frequently show that although fetal monitoring was showing the baby was experiencing high levels of... Read More

By Giles Manley, M.D., J.D. Medical Director, Cerebral Palsy Family Network When a mother is unable to deliver a child on her own, assistive equipment may be used to help speed the birthing process. Because the need for vacuum extraction (VE) is always a possibility during childbirth, parents need to be aware of what it... Read More

By Stacey Bucklin CP Family Network Editor View similar stories. Pitocin is the synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone called oxytocin that is produced by a woman’s body during labor and delivery. It is used to induce labor or to speed up (augment) natural labor. It may also be administered to help a mother... Read More

By Stacey Bucklin CP Family Network Editor View similar stories. Placental abruption is the separation, either partially or completely, of the placenta from the uterine wall before delivery. Although this condition is relatively rare, occurring in 1 out of every 100 pregnancies, the premature detachment of the placenta can have serious health consequences for a... Read More

Uterine rupture is one of the most feared obstetric complications that, if not dealt with immediately (usually by performing an emergency Cesarean section), can result in serious brain damage to the child or the death of either the mother or child. Read More

When most people hear the word asphyxia, their thoughts turn to suffocation or strangulation. Few people realize that asphyxiation can occur during the birthing process, often causing lifelong complications for the child. Read More

At the time of delivery, the position of an unborn child in a woman’s uterus is considered normal only if it presents itself head-first and face down (known as the occiput anterior position). If the baby presents itself in any other position such as feet first, buttocks first or sideways, it is termed a breech presentation or breech birth and considered abnormal. Read More