Every young mother should have all the necessary information about her baby's health, even if such information seems unusual and unwanted. This also applies to the recognition of infantile cerebral palsy in barely born babies. By this term we mean a certain variant of the central nervous system damage in children that develop during their stay in the womb, as well as during childbirth and in the first few months after birth.
Causes of cerebral palsy in newborns
Doctors call more than 50 factors, which are potentially damaging to the brain of the fetus and the baby. These factors are based on the unfavorable course of pregnancy and childbirth. Most cases of damage are related to the generic process. Nevertheless, even in the womb of the mother there may be certain conditions conducive to a rough breakdown. The most significant reasons are:
- hypoxia during pregnancy and childbirth;
- intrauterine infections ;
- hemolytic disease;
- teratogenic factors (reception of dangerous medicines, radiation).
Modern research confirms the probability of a genetic predisposition to this disease.
Symptoms of cerebral palsy in newborns
Since it is very difficult to determine cerebral palsy in newborns, you should consult a doctor at the first suspicion. Early signs of cerebral palsy in newborns can be as follows:
- violation of the sequence of appearance of motor skills;
- lag in speech development;
- The situation when unconditioned reflexes of babies
(the reflex of automatic walking while resting on the legs, opening the mouth when pressed on the palm) do not disappear after 4-6 months of life; - lack of interest in toys;
- impaired eye movement;
- fading for a short time in a certain position;
- lack of interest in contact with the mother, which often results in early rejection of the breast.
Diagnosis of cerebral palsy in newborns is always based on differentiation with other diseases that have similar symptoms.