Answer:
Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or brain injury that affects muscle control, posture, and motor function. The damage typically occurs before birth, during labor and delivery, or shortly after birth.
Some of the most common causes and risk factors include:
- Lack of oxygen (birth asphyxia) during labor and delivery.
- Infections during pregnancy (such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, or meningitis).
- Traumatic or prolonged delivery, including improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction.
- Bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage).
- Untreated jaundice leading to kernicterus.
- Premature birth or low birth weight, which increases vulnerability to brain injury.
In some cases, cerebral palsy may be linked to medical negligence, such as failing to monitor fetal distress, delaying emergency C-sections, or mishandling delivery. Identifying the cause is critical because it may determine whether families are eligible to pursue a birth injury lawsuit for compensation.
For more details, see our resource: Common Causes of Cerebral Palsy