March Is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

 Posted on March 05, 2025 in Birth Injury

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term for a group of developmental disorders that affects roughly 1 in 323 U.S. children. Congenital CP cases are the most common, when brain damage affects a baby during pregnancy or childbirth. The effects on children with CP can be mild, moderate, or severe, with some children developing multiple symptoms.

Several known risk factors are associated with CP. Competent medical providers are expected to understand and identify those risks and take extra precautions when they are present. If medical negligence caused your child’s cerebral palsy, you may be entitled to compensation. One of our knowledgeable Chicago, IL birth injury attorneys can evaluate your case and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.

What Are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

Each person with CP experiences different effects. There are several types of cerebral palsy, typically determined by the area of the brain that is affected:

• Spastic: stiff muscles, exaggerated reflexes, jerky movements, and difficulty breathing, eating, and speaking

• Dyskinetic: a mixture of low and high muscle tone, involuntary movements, and tremors

• Ataxic: poor fine motor skills and balance issues

One or all limbs can be affected, along with the mouth, tongue, neck, and head. Around 10 percent of CP cases involve more than one type of the disorder. Children with mild cases may not require adaptive equipment or assistance; those with moderate cases need medications, braces, and adaptive technologies for daily activities; and patients with severe cases need wheelchairs and face significant challenges with daily activities.

What Are the Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy?

Expectant mothers with risk factors will not necessarily have a child born with CP, but several factors increase the likelihood. Prolonged labor and excessive contractions, asphyxia, abnormal fetal position, maternal infection, preeclampsia, low birth weight, and premature birth are commonly associated with CP. Your healthcare provider should be aware of these and other risk factors and be prepared to intervene, if necessary. For example, fetal distress or breech positioning may indicate the need for an immediate C-section.

Is Cerebral Palsy Preventable?

Cases of cerebral palsy that result from medical negligence are often avoidable. Poor decisions, like delaying a necessary C-section, inadequate fetal monitoring, improper use of delivery tools, and failing to treat maternal infections or conditions properly can damage an infant’s brain. Those brain injuries could lead to cerebral palsy.

Why Is Caring for a Child With Cerebral Palsy Expensive?

We understand that your primary concern is for your child’s health, but the stark truth is that you could be saddled with significant expenses if your baby has CP. All cases differ, but the compensation you could receive may include reimbursement for CP-related expenses like medical treatment, adaptive equipment, and ongoing care. You might also be awarded compensation for the various emotional and mental struggles you are likely dealing with.

Partnering with an experienced lawyer is essential in these cases. We know how to prove that medical negligence was responsible for your newborn’s CP and can calculate your damages accurately. Whether through settlement negotiations or at trial, we will fight to see you obtain as much as you deserve.

Contact a Skilled Chicago, IL Cerebral Palsy Lawyer

At Birth Injury Law Alliance, Ltd., we focus on birth and maternal injury cases. That means we understand these cases better than most and this gives you multiple advantages. Call 312-462-4200 or send us a message online to schedule your free consultation with one of our dedicated Cook County, IL birth injury attorneys.