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Risk factors of CP

Should your child have experienced any of the risk factors below, and hasn’t reached milestones, and is also showing early signs of the symptoms of CP, you should contact your paediatric specialist and INSIST they address the possibility of CP immediately.

I’ll repeat it a million times…Do not accept a "Let’s wait and see” response. The sooner CP is diagnosed, the sooner they can help you begin work. Should they be adamant about not ‘jumping to any conclusions’…It is up to you, as the parent, to do what is best for your child. Don't wait for an MRI, the next appointment, the physio to turn up, or any diagnosis. Deal with it immediately for the benefit of your child. The sooner the better.

To understand why...Read about neuroplasticity here.

• Premature birth and low birth weight.

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• Babies with a birth rate less than 2.5 kg (5.5lbs) have a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy.


• Babies born less than 32 weeks.
 

• The prevalence of CP increases exponentially in preterm infants with decreasing gestational age.
 

• Severe jaundice — CP may result from having kernicterus. This is a type of brain damage caused when severe jaundice goes untreated in a newborn.


• Breech birth
 

• Bleeding in the brain
 

• Lack of oxygen
 

• Head trauma
 

• Maternal infections during pregnancy
 

• Fever
 

• Fetal stroke
 

• Mothers with thyroid abnormalities
 

• Mother with excessive amounts of protein in urine
 

• Multiple births
 

• Genetic abnormalities
 

• Exposure to toxic substances

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