Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a term used to describe a brain injury disorder in infants, newborns or toddlers that can cause problems with muscle control, balance, and posture. The condition actually means "brain paralysis." Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to a baby's growing brain or abnormal brain development that can also lead to developmental delays in things such as rolling over, sitting, crawling, feeding and walking. At The Beasley Firm, our Philadelphia cerebral palsy lawyers are well-versed in the complexities of birth injury litigation. We have been awarded tens of millions of dollars for individuals in cerebral palsy cases over the years-including $15 million in cerebral palsy verdicts in 2012. If your child was injured due to the negligence of a hospital or medical provider, you can be confident that our team has the resources, investigative skills, and expertise to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.

With more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients, our birth injury lawyers in Philadelphia are ready to help. Call (215) 866-2424.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy Before Birth

A majority of cerebral palsy cases are caused by a lack of oxygen to the baby's brain. This lack of oxygen can develop from a variety of factors before, during, and after birth. Take a look at some risk factors during pregnancy that can cause CP:

• Gestational diabetes
• Eclampsia
• Maternal seizures
• Prolong rupture of membranes
• Infection while pregnant
• High blood pressure during pregnancy
• Incompetent cervix
• Premature birth
• Poor diet or nutrition
• Umbilical cord prolapse
• Placenta previa
• Placental abruption
• Pregnant with multiple births such as twins or triplets
• Undiagnosed or untreated hypothyroidism during pregnancy
• Undiagnosed or uncontrolled hyperthyroidism during pregnancy

Causes of Cerebral Palsy During Labor & Delivery

Prenatal risk factors or problems during a pregnancy are not the only causes of cerebral palsy or CP. Cerebral palsy can be caused by problems that occur during labor and delivery. During labor and delivery, a child may develop cerebral palsy from the following:

• Heart rate problems
• Breech position
• Transverse lie
• Face presentation
• Abnormal contraction patterns
• Umbilical cord strangulation
• Uterine tetany
• Pitocin use
• High uterine resting tone

Causes of Cerebral Palsy After Birth

Even if a child experienced a relatively safe delivery, the infant could still develop cerebral palsy from a number of factors. Many of these factors are preventable. A child can also develop cerebral palsy after birth from the following:

• Asphyxia or anything that causes a lack of oxygen to the brain after birth
• Undiagnosed cardiac defects or heart problems
• Undiagnosed metabolic or digestive problems
• Malnutrition in an infant
• Meningitis or infection in the brain
• Drug or medication errors
• TPN or total parental nutrition mistakes
• Incorrect IV or intravenous fluid
• Low blood sugar after birth or hypoglycemia
• Intraventricular hemorrhage or IVH where there is bleeding into the brain
• Periventricular leukomalacia or PVL where there is damage to the baby's brain tissue
• Jaundice, kernicterus or a high bilirubin level
• Lead poisoning

$2+ Billion in Verdicts and Settlements Since 1958 - We Win Your Battles.

At The Beasley Firm, our birth injury lawyers work with the end goal of obtaining maximum compensation for the families of children with birth injuries such as cerebral palsy. We leave no stone unturned in our approach to your case and partner with a network of medical experts and cerebral palsy specialists who can provide insight into your specific situation. We don't just prepare our cases for settlement, we prepare them for battle. We will do everything in our power to obtain the justice you and your child deserve. Our caring Philadelphia cerebral palsy attorneys maintain confidentiality and open communication every step of your case.

Let us manage the stress of litigation while you focus on what's important-caring for the needs of your child. Call The Beasley Firm at (215) 866-2424.