Is maternal preeclampsia tied to cerebral palsy? Yes, maternal preeclampsia during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of cerebral palsy in babies, mainly because it often leads to preterm birth and other birth complications that can harm the developing brain.[3][1]
Preeclampsia is a serious condition where a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure and protein in her urine, usually after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It affects blood flow to the baby through the placenta, which can cause problems like low oxygen supply or early delivery.[3][4] Doctors often deliver the baby early to protect the mother, but preterm babies face greater chances of cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle tone due to brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth.[1][3]
Studies show that about 70 percent of cerebral palsy cases start during pregnancy, with conditions like preeclampsia playing a key role by raising the odds of premature birth.[3] For example, preeclampsia complications during labor, such as placental issues or low birth weight, add to the risk.[1] It is also tied to HELLP syndrome, a severe form of preeclampsia that can lead to oxygen deprivation in the baby and brain injuries like cerebral palsy.[5]
Mothers with preeclampsia may need close monitoring, blood pressure drugs, or early cesarean sections to reduce risks.[4][7] While not every baby born to a mother with preeclampsia develops cerebral palsy, the connection comes from how the condition disrupts normal pregnancy and delivery.[3][1] Other factors like infections or maternal health issues can combine with preeclampsia to increase the danger.[1]
Sources:
https://www.triumphtherapeutics.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy-understanding-risk-factors-and-early-support/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12774927/
https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/cerebral-palsy/statistics/
https://www.medlink.com/articles/seizures-associated-with-eclampsia
https://www.beckerjustice.com/blog/hellp-syndrome-understanding-its-impact-on-pregnancy-and-birth-injuries/
https://www.cureus.com/articles/423852-the-effect-of-preeclampsia-on-the-cell-adhesion-migration-and-proliferation-potential-of-human-umbilical-cord-derived-mesenchymal-stem-cells.pdf
https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jcv2.70080
