Is maternal fever during pregnancy linked to cerebral palsy? Yes, research shows a connection, mainly because fever often signals infections that can harm the baby’s developing brain.[1][4]
Maternal fever usually comes from infections like chorioamnionitis, meningitis, or cytomegalovirus during pregnancy. These can pass to the baby, causing brain inflammation and cutting off oxygen supply, which raises the risk of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE is a type of brain injury that may lead to cerebral palsy.[1][4] For details on how infections spread, see https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy.
Fever during labor is another red flag. It pairs with issues like prolonged rupture of the amniotic sac or placenta inflammation, making brain damage more likely. These problems weaken the baby’s protection against oxygen loss.[4] More on birth-related brain risks is at https://nybirthinjuryl.com/birth-injuries/brain-injuries/.
Studies back this up. One review of 206 kids with cerebral palsy found over half were premature, and early infections played a big role. Premature babies face up to 15% risk of cerebral palsy if born between 24 and 27 weeks.[1] Even non-CMV illnesses with fever were noted in nearly 40% of some pregnancy cases studied.[5] Check the full study here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12683311/.
Doctors stress quick treatment for infections and fever to lower risks. Things like antenatal care for preemies and cooling therapy after birth help protect the brain.[1][4] Other factors like umbilical cord issues or placental problems can worsen things if fever is involved.[1]
Sources
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy
https://www.droracle.ai/articles/597766/how-can-a-pregnant-individual-with-cerebral-palsy-cp
https://www.adhdevidence.org/blog-tags/pregnancy
https://nybirthinjury.com/birth-injuries/brain-injuries/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12683311/
