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Does stress during pregnancy raise the chances of cerebral palsy? Research does not show a direct link between a pregnant woman’s everyday emotional stress, like worry or anxiety, and an increased risk of cerebral palsy in her baby. Cerebral palsy mainly comes from brain damage or injury to the developing baby, often tied to issues during pregnancy, birth, or right after.
Cerebral palsy affects how a child moves and keeps balance because of problems in the brain areas that control muscles. It happens in about 1 to 4 out of every 1,000 kids born. Most cases, around 85 to 95 percent according to the CDC, start from brain damage during pregnancy or birth. This can include lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain, infections, or bleeding in the brain.
One big risk factor is preterm birth, especially extremely preterm babies born before 27 weeks. A large study from the National Institutes of Health followed nearly 7,000 such babies from 2008 to 2019. It found more diagnoses of cerebral palsy in this group, but not because care got worse. Instead, better neonatal care lets more high-risk babies survive, and doctors spot cerebral palsy earlier now. For these tiny babies, other issues raised the odds like low birth weight, sepsis after birth, brain bleeding called intraventricular hemorrhage, brain tissue death near the brain’s ventricles known as periventricular leukomalacia, and severe lung disease needing a ventilator.https://childrenscerebralpalsy.com/research-update-increased-prevalence-of-cerebral-palsy-in-extremely-preterm-infants/
During pregnancy, certain problems can harm the baby’s brain and lead to cerebral palsy. Untreated infections in the mother stand out as one cause. These can spread and damage the baby’s developing brain. Lack of oxygen to the brain from various issues also plays a role.https://www.sokolovelaw.com/birth-injuries/cerebral-palsy/causes/
At birth, things get risky if oxygen supply gets cut off too long, a condition called asphyxia. Short dips in oxygen happen normally in labor, but prolonged ones cause hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or HIE. This brain damage hits areas that control movement and can result in cerebral palsy. Signs of fetal distress show up on heart monitors, and delays in response from doctors or midwives can make it worse. For example, not doing a timely C-section when needed has led to cases of cerebral palsy.https://www.sokolovelaw.com/birth-injuries/cerebral-palsy/causes/https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/legal/cerebral-palsy-lawsuit/
Pregnancy complications like HELLP syndrome add to the risks. This rare issue involves breakdown of red blood cells, liver problems, and low platelets. It links to preeclampsia and can force preterm delivery. That early birth, along with oxygen shortages, raises chances of brain injury like cerebral palsy or HIE in the baby.https://www.beckerjustice.com/blog/hellp-syndrome-understanding-its-impact-on-pregnancy-and-birth-injuries/
Medical errors during birth sometimes contribute too. Failing to treat infections, manage risks, or handle fetal distress properly can lead to brain damage. Improper use of drugs like Pitocin to speed labor has been tied to prolonged fetal stress and injuries like cerebral palsy in some cases.https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/legal/cerebral-palsy-lawsuit/https://www.morrisjames.com/p/102ly4b/birth-injuries-linked-to-excessive-or-improper-pitocin-use/
While severe physical stresses in pregnancy and birth clearly link to higher cerebral palsy risks, common emotional stress does not appear to do so based on current studies.
Sources
https://childrenscerebralpalsy.com/research-update-increased-prevalence-of-cerebral-palsy-in-extremely-preterm-infants/
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/birth-injuries/cerebral-palsy/causes/
https://www.beckerjustice.com/blog/hellp-syndrome-understanding-its-impact-on-pregnancy-and-birth-injuries/
https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/legal/cerebral-palsy-lawsuit/
https://www.morrisjames.com/p/102ly4b/birth-injuries-linked-to-excessive-or-improper-pitocin-use/
