Cerebral Palsy in Newborns: Symptoms and Causes

Cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy) is a group of diseases characterized by the defeat of the central nervous system. The main cause of the ailment is damage to the brain cells, which was caused by oxygen starvation or trauma in the prenatal or postnatal period. In this case, dysfunction of the muscular and motor systems and disruption of the coordination of movement and speech are observed.

About how to determine cerebral palsy in newborns, we'll talk in this article.

Factors that have a destructive effect on the brain

As a rule, the cause of this disease is the pathological processes occurring in the mother's body during pregnancy, and it is worth talking about several problems that occurred simultaneously. The most significant reasons for the appearance of cerebral palsy in newborns are the following:

• Forced oxygen starvation of the fetus in the womb, caused by a violation of the blood circulation of the brain;
• Acute shortage of oxygen during labor or immediately after birth (among other things, a special place here is occupied by premature births with the help of caesarean section);
• Infectious diseases of the mother;
• Birth trauma.

Cerebral Palsy in Newborns: Symptoms to Diagnose

To cope with this serious problem, it is necessary to begin treatment as early as possible (75% of cases of CP are reversible under condition of treatment, started before 3 years). That is, attentive parents can notice in time any deviations in the behavior of the child and draw the attention of the district pediatrician to them. And for this they need to remember the symptoms characteristic of the diagnosis of cerebral palsy:

• A child by a month and a half, lying on his tummy, does not hold his head up;
• He retains longer than usual the absolute reflexes: the palm-oral (if you push the baby on the palm of your hand, he will open his mouth) and automatic walking (if the child leans on the legs and slightly tilts forward, he starts to sort them out, as if walking); These reflexes should disappear by 2 months;
• A child after 4 months has no interest in toys;
• The baby makes involuntary movements, flinches or freezes in any position;
• Often suffocates and sucks badly.

Cerebral Palsy in Newborns: Symptoms Confirming the Diagnosis

A particularly clear example for detecting cerebral palsy is the constant manipulation with only one handle, while the other is pressed to the body and strongly compressed. Often it can be difficult for a mother to dissolve the baby's legs or turn his head.

No less characteristic is another feature: the baby, in order to get into the mouth with a pen, turns away from it. Also, the impossibility to sit by the age of six months (as a rule, in case of cerebral palsy, this happens only to 3 years), and it's only 4 years that a child begins to walk.

Cerebral Palsy in Newborns: Symptoms as a Prediction Criterion

Parents need to remember that cerebral palsy is a disease that is not prone to progression. In addition, despite the strong lag in the development of motor functions, the psyche of such children does not always suffer. Therefore, the prognosis and effectiveness of treatment entirely depend on the severity of the disease.

Due to the high compensatory capabilities of the child's brain, many of the consequences of injuries and, consequently, the prognosis of treatment of cerebral palsy in newborns, the symptoms of which are confirmed, may be favorable. The main thing in this case is not to get lost, start treatment on time and be persistent in your desire to see the baby healthy. Good luck to you!