How Damage To The Motor Control Centers Of The Developing Brain Leads To Cerebral Palsy
A child may end up suffering from cerebral palsy because he or she suffered a stroke. When one hears the word “stroke”, it is natural to envision an older individual who collapses on the ground. Then, tries to combat a variety of physical challenges and slurs his or her speech for the rest of their lives. It might shock you to know that newborn babies can also experience strokes as well.
Infants are as a matter of fact at risk of experiencing a stroke both in and outside the womb. The cause of stroke in babies varies from the birth of one baby to the other. For instance, if your child suffered a stroke in the womb, it may have been as a result by a blood clot in the placenta that may have blocked the flow of blood. There are many other causes of stroke in babies.
The following can increase the chances of a baby experiencing a stroke:
- The mother has had a blood clotting disorder.
- The mother experienced inflammation of the placenta
- The baby had an interruption in arterial blood flow to his or her brain.
- The mother had preeclampsia/hypertension – simply known as high blood pressure that was not treated.
- The mother had a pelvic inflammatory infection.
- The mother had to have an emergency c-section.
- The mother had a vacuum extraction.
- The mother had umbilical cord deformities.
- The mother’s second stage of labor was extended
- The baby had heart anomalies.
The motor control centers of a developing brain may suffer damage which may lead to cerebral palsy. The child’s motor control centers may also be affected if the infant experiences bleeding in the brain. It is really hard to imagine that a beautiful looking baby will have something going wrong inside his or her cute little head. Bleeding in the brain does actually happen, and the affects can be really devastating.
This is the part where you ask “why would a child’s brain bleed?” Any of the following can be the cause of bleeding a baby’s brain:
- The baby might have broken blood vessels
- Abnormal blood cells
- Clogged blood vessels
The tiniest amount of blood on the brain is a serious issue; so are the possible consequences; cerebral palsy is a possible outcome.
Lack of oxygen at birth can also affect a child’s brain. Babies are really a remarkable feat of nature; they are born with the ability to bear a short time of low oxygen levels. But if that window slams shut, and the baby is still short of oxygen, excited parents can go from being excited to being downright unhappy because their child was not able to have a few deep breaths of clean oxygen. The risk of shortage of oxygen or “asphyxia” will increase if the mother’s labor and delivery takes too long and the baby becomes stressed. Lack of oxygen damages the delicate tissue in the cerebral motor cortex of the baby’s brain.
As an expectant mother it is important that you get all the necessary information to avoid this condition from affecting your child.
Origins of Cerebral Palsy is the comprehensive source for information on causes and treatment of Cerebral Palsy.
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