Cerebral palsy is one of the more serious medical conditions that can affect a child's development. Cerebral palsy affects the developing brain in ways that impair an infant's movement and coordination, potentially leading to lifelong disability.

As such, it is essential that new parents are able to recognise cerebral palsy symptoms in newborn babies, and to know under which circumstances their children might be affected. By diagnosing cerebral palsy as soon as possible and arranging for the proper treatment, families can ensure that their children are able to achieve the best possible quality of life.

Here, the specialist cerebral palsy solicitors at JMW will help to explain how to identify signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy in babies, and how this understanding can help to ensure that these children are able to have the best possible quality of life. 

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for a group of related conditions that lead to issues with motor function, poor balance and coordination, and other developmental delays. Children develop cerebral palsy due to brain damage occurring during or just after their birth, or as a result of abnormal brain development in the womb.

There are a number of potential causes of cerebral palsy, including:

• Bleeding in the baby's brain, or a lack of blood and oxygen supply to the brain during and immediately after birth
• Infections that affect the mother during pregnancy
• Infections affecting the baby, such as meningitis
• Mismanagement of newborn jaundice
• A serious head injury sustained during infancy
• Failure to treat low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia) in the newborn period

Some infants are more susceptible to cerebral palsy than others. Babies born prematurely fall into this category, particularly those born before 32 weeks, as well as those with a low birth weight and children who are part of a multiple birth, such as a twin or triplet.

Children with cerebral palsy may experience developmental problems over the course of their lives, including:

• Chronic issues with stiffness, muscle tone and muscle spasticity, making them physically weak or unable to control the movement of their limbs
• Irregular posture, poor balance and coordination, and a lack of fine motor skills
• Delays in reaching developmental milestones at the same pace as most children
• Difficulty swallowing
• Visual impairment
• Problems with speaking and communication
• Learning disabilities

Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability during childhood. It is estimated that there are 30,000 children living with cerebral palsy in the UK, and  2-2.5 out of every 1,000 babies develop the disorder. Different forms of the condition manifest in different ways, with varying degrees of severity and overall outcomes.

No matter what kind of symptoms your child is experiencing, it is important that parents, caregivers and family members are able to identify potential early signs of cerebral palsy as soon as possible.

How to spot cerebral palsy symptoms in babies

The earlier a child's doctor is able to diagnose cerebral palsy, the quicker they will be able to receive the treatment they will need to improve their quality of life. But how is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

Typically, the signs of cerebral palsy will not be immediately obvious in a newborn baby. Most symptoms of cerebral palsy will become noticeable during the first few years of life, and may include a combination of physical symptoms and developmental issues.

The main cerebral palsy symptoms all involve issues with movement, coordination and development, including:

• Stiff muscles or floppy muscles, which affect the child's movements
• Weak arms and legs, with limited strength
• Irregular movements, including constant fidgeting, jerky movement, muscle spasms and tremors in the hands
• Delays in reaching key development milestones, such as being able to sit after eight months and walk after 18 months

Additionally, children with cerebral palsy may also experience a number of other early signs of brain damage, as cerebral palsy affects other aspects of their development, including:

• Learning disabilities and other neurological symptoms, which affect about half of children with cerebral palsy
• Difficulties with feeding and swallowing
• Constipation
• Problems with speech
• Seizures or fits
• Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
• Hips that dislocate easily
• Reduced vision and squinting
• Hearing loss

It is important to remember that cerebral palsy affects each child differently, meaning that the symptoms of cerebral palsy will vary from case to case. In some cases, it can happen on only one side of the body, affect the entire body, or just affect the legs.

Additionally, cerebral palsy symptoms may manifest slightly differently depending on the age of the child, so parents should look out for the following signs:

For infants younger than six months

• Your baby is stiff or floppy in your arms
• Your baby's head sags downwards when picked up from lying on their back
• When held, your baby overextends their back or neck, as though pushing away from you
• Your baby's legs stiffen and become crossed when picked up

For infants aged between six and 10 months

• Your baby does not roll over in either direction when lying down
• Your baby cannot bring their hands together, or bring their hands to their mouth
• Your baby has a tendency to only reach out with one hand, while keeping the other balled into a fist

For infants older than 10 months

• Your baby crawls in a lopsided and uncoordinated manner, with hands or legs being dragged behind
• Your baby hops on their knees or drags themselves by their hands in a seated position, rather than crawling on all fours

It is also important to remember that cerebral palsy encompasses a number of distinct disorders, all of which have slightly different definitions and symptoms. Below are the four main types of cerebral palsy and their symptoms:

• Spastic cerebral palsy - this condition is mostly associated with muscle stiffness and tightness. As such, spastic cerebral palsy symptoms are mostly related to abnormal movements, as the child's range of motion will be limited
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy - this condition causes the muscles to alternate between being stiff and floppy, resulting in spasms, uncontrolled movement and abnormal muscle tone. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is also known as athetoid cerebral palsy
• Ataxic cerebral palsy - this condition is linked to balance and coordination issues, resulting in wobbly or awkward movements and occasional tremors. Children with ataxic cerebral palsy may have issues with walking, holding objects and writing
• Mixed cerebral palsy - a child with this condition will experience symptoms from multiple types of cerebral palsy at the same time. The most common variation of mixed cerebral palsy combines the symptoms of dyskinetic and spastic cerebral palsy

What are the treatments for cerebral palsy?

If you identify signs of cerebral palsy in your child, ensuring that the condition receives an early diagnosis can help address your baby’s difficulties. Although cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition with no known cure, there are several treatments that can help the signs and symptoms associated with the condition.

Once you have obtained a formal diagnosis, you will be able to speak with paediatricians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists to develop a tailored treatment approach to aid your child's development.

Treatments that have been proven to help children manage their cerebral palsy symptoms include: 

• Physiotherapy - encouraging movement, improving muscle strength, and preventing muscles from shortening
• Speech and language therapy - providing exercises to practise speech or learn alternative forms of communication. This can also help with difficulties swallowing
• Occupational therapy - providing advice for children with cerebral palsy on how to approach everyday tasks, such as going to the toilet, and making this easier for them
• Medicinal treatment - certain medications can be prescribed to help children to manage stiff or tight muscles, among other symptoms
• Educational support - working out what kind of accommodations a child might require in order to attend a mainstream school, or identifying children with special educational needs who might benefit from attending a special school
• Surgery - surgical interventions are used in certain cases to help restore movement to parts of the body, making walking easier, repairing hip dislocations and correcting scoliosis

Although the symptoms of cerebral palsy can have a significant impact on a child's life, proper treatment can deliver improved outcomes, especially for those with mild cerebral palsy.

When to seek compensation for medical negligence

Cerebral palsy can occur even if all medical procedures and protocols are followed closely. However, there are also occasions when a child will sustain brain damage during labour because of a mistake or negligent care by a doctor or midwife.

If a doctor or midwife who was involved in the birth of your child provided substandard care, and your child develops cerebral palsy as a result, you may be entitled to claim compensation. This will enable you to finance the care and support your child may require for the rest of their life.

JMW Solicitors is dedicated to ensuring that your child gets the compensation that they deserve if they have cerebral palsy due to medical negligence.

Contact us today on 0345 872 6666, or fill out our online contact form to request a member of our team to call you back at a time that is convenient for you.