Maternal infections during pregnancy can raise the risk of cerebral palsy in babies by causing inflammation and oxygen shortages in the developing brain. Cerebral palsy is a group of movement disorders that affect muscle control and coordination, often due to brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth.
When a mother gets an infection while pregnant, germs can pass to the baby in the womb. This leads to neonatal infections that spark swelling in the brain and cut off oxygen supply. The result can be hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, a type of brain injury linked to cerebral palsy. Specific infections tied to this risk include chorioamnionitis, which inflames the fetal membranes; meningitis and encephalitis, which attack the brain and its coverings; and cytomegalovirus, a common virus. Sexually transmitted infections like herpes simplex virus and HIV also pose dangers by triggering brain swelling or widespread body inflammation known as neonatal sepsis.
These infections can weaken the placenta’s job of delivering oxygen and nutrients to the baby. In severe cases, they cause placental abruption, where the placenta pulls away from the uterine wall too soon. This starves the baby of blood flow and raises chances of premature birth or low birth weight, both known risk factors for cerebral palsy. Untreated infections might also lead to jaundice, with high bilirubin levels yellowing the baby’s skin and harming the brain.
Even after birth, newborn infections like meningitis can infect the brain and spinal cord directly. High fevers from any infection in early infancy, including flu, carry potential for lasting brain damage that shows up as cerebral palsy symptoms later.
Healthcare providers must spot and treat maternal infections quickly to protect the fetal brain. While genetics and other factors play roles in cerebral palsy, infections stand out as a key preventable risk.
Sources
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy
https://www.bila.ca/does-aspirin-use-during-pregnancy-increase-the-risk-of-cerebral-palsy/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731818/
https://cerebralpalsyguidance.com/2025/12/12/researchers-use-mri-to-diagnose-find-causes-of-cerebral-palsy-in-children/
https://www.grossmanjustice.com/new-jersey-cerebral-palsy-lawyer/
