Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects how a person moves, maintains posture, and controls their muscles. It happens when the developing brain is injured or does not form in the usual way before birth, during labor and delivery, or shortly after birth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most cases are linked to brain damage that occurs before or during birth, or in the first weeks of life.[3]
When parents ask whether lack of prenatal care can cause cerebral palsy, they are usually trying to understand if something that did or did not happen during pregnancy contributed to their child’s condition. The short answer is that not getting prenatal care does not directly cause cerebral palsy in the way that an infection or a lack of oxygen to the brain might. However, poor or absent prenatal care can increase the chances that serious problems go unnoticed or untreated, and those problems can lead to brain injury that results in cerebral palsy.[1][2][3]
What cerebral palsy is and how it starts
Cerebral palsy, often shortened to CP, is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture.[3] This damage can come from many different events or conditions, including:
• lack of oxygen or blood flow to the baby’s brain
• bleeding in the brain
• infections that affect the brain
• stroke around the time of birth
• severe jaundice that is not treated and leads to kernicterus
• traumatic head injury in early infancy[2][3]
Roughly 70 percent of cerebral palsy cases begin during pregnancy, and up to 30 percent are linked to problems during labor and delivery, such as fetal distress and birth asphyxia.[2] That means the period before and during birth is a critical time to protect the baby’s brain.
How prenatal care fits into the picture
Prenatal care is the regular medical care a pregnant person receives during pregnancy. It usually includes checkups, blood pressure checks, ultrasounds, blood tests, and screening for infections or other health conditions. This care is not just routine. It is meant to catch problems early, manage high risk situations, and plan for a safe delivery.
Good prenatal care itself does not guarantee that a baby will not develop cerebral palsy. Some children develop CP even when pregnancy and delivery seem completely normal.[6] However, prenatal care can reduce some of the risk factors that are known to be linked to cerebral palsy.[1][2][3][5]
Risk factors that prenatal care can help manage
Researchers and medical sources like Cerebral Palsy Guide and Dignity Health describe several maternal and pregnancy related factors that raise the risk of cerebral palsy.[2][6] Many of these can be monitored or treated through prenatal care:
1. Maternal health conditions
Certain health problems in the mother increase the risk of complications that can harm the baby’s brain. These include:
• diabetes that is not well controlled
• high blood pressure or preeclampsia
• thyroid disorders
• obesity
• seizure disorders such as epilepsy[2]
Conditions like preeclampsia and severe hypertension can lead to problems with the placenta, reduced blood flow to the baby, or early delivery, all of which are associated with a higher risk of cerebral palsy.[1][2] Regular prenatal visits help detect these conditions, adjust medications, and decide if early intervention or delivery is needed.
2. Infections during pregnancy
Certain infections in a pregnant person can affect the developing brain or increase the chance of preterm birth. Prenatal care usually includes screening for infections and treatment when needed. When infections are not recognized because a person does not receive care, the risk to the baby may rise.
3. Placental and umbilical cord problems
The placenta and umbilical cord carry oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the baby. Complications such as placental abruption, placental insufficiency, or serious cord problems can limit oxygen and blood flow to the baby’s brain and lead to hypoxic or ischemic injuries.[1] These brain injuries can be an early step on the path to cerebral palsy.[1]
During prenatal care, providers can sometimes spot warning signs such as abnormal growth, unusual bleeding, or changes in fetal movement and then monitor the pregnancy more closely or plan delivery in a hospital that can handle emergencies.
4. Preterm birth and low birth weight
Premature babies and babies with low birth weight face a significantly higher risk of cerebral palsy.[1][2][5] Studies show that babies born before 28 weeks have the highest risk, and research suggests that up to 15 percent of babies born between 24 and 27 weeks may develop cerebral palsy.[1][5] A recent review of medical records found that more than half of children with CP in the sample were born prematurely.[1][5]
Prenatal care cannot prevent all preterm births, but it can identify women at risk, such as those with infections, multiple pregnancies, or cervical problems. In some cases, treatments like medication, bed rest, or close monitoring may delay birth, and well planned care can ensure that a preterm baby is delivered in a hospital with neonatal intensive care and therapies like brain cooling when appropriate.[1][5]
5. Jaundice and kernicterus after birth
Severe jaundice that is left untreated can lead to kernicterus, a form of brain damage that can cause cerebral palsy.[2][3] Good prenatal care is linked with better birth planning and follow up, which makes it more likely that newborn jaundice will be identified and treated quickly in the hospital or by pediatric follow up.[2][3]
What can happen when prenatal care is missing
When a pregnant person does not receive regular prenatal care, several layers of protection are missing:
• Maternal conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or infections may go undiagnosed and unmanaged, raising the chance of placental problems, preterm birth, or poor fetal growth.[1][2]
• Placental or cord issues might not be detected until they cause severe fetal distress, which can lead to a dangerous lack of oxygen during pregnancy or labor.[1]
• Warning signs like reduced fetal movement may not be evaluated promptly.
• The birth may occur in a setting that is not prepared for complications such as emergency cesarean section, neonatal resuscitation, or therapeutic hypothermia.[1][3]
According to sources that review birth injury cases, substandard medical care and failure to recognize fetal distress can result in prolonged oxygen deprivation and brain damage, which may later be diagnosed as cerebral palsy.[3][4] While these discussions often appear in legal or malpractice contexts, they highlight that careful monitoring and timely action during pregnancy and birth are important for preventing some cases of CP.
Lack of prenatal care itself is not the direct cause of brain injury, but it may allow preventable problems to progress until they injure the baby’s brain.
Important limits of prenatal care
It is also important to understand that even with excellent prenatal care, some cases of cerebral palsy cannot be prevented. Dignity Health notes that even women with uncomplicated pregnancies can have babies with health problems, including cerebral palsy.[6] Genetic factors, unrecognized infections
