Franklin Gray and White Blog

Causes of Cerebral Palsy among Children in Kentucky

When a child is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it can be devastating.  Cerebral palsy, which is a group of disorders, can be congenital or caused by a birth injury. 

A physician will diagnose a child with cerebral palsy after reviewing risk factors, symptoms, medical history and when the disorder occurred.  Many children are affected by cerebral palsy from an event that took place during pregnancy or the birth process.  For some patients, cerebral palsy can develop as the result of brain damage within the first few months of birth. 

Sometimes factors that occurred during the birth process cause cerebral palsy in the newborn.  A prolonged labor can lead to birth injury if the baby was deprived of oxygen in the birth canal.  Also, if the mother’s water broke, it can cause birth injury if the doctor did not make sure the baby was delivered within 24 hours.  Birth injury can result in brain damage and brain damage is one of the main factors in developing cerebral palsy.

A fever during pregnancy can also increase the risk of the baby sustaining brain damage.  During pregnancy, a fever can indicate that there is something seriously wrong and it is crucial that the doctor take immediate action to prevent harm to the mother and baby.

If your child has developed cerebral palsy and you are not sure of the exact cause, you should consider contacting a Louisville birth injury lawyer.  Contact the law office of Franklin, Gray and White today at (502) 637-6000 or (800) 637-6033.