How Can Cerebral Palsy Be Prevented?

Cerebral palsy is a disorder that can occur in a childpalsy.
even before the child is born, during birth or afterThe prognosis of this disease is that most people
birth. This is a disorder where the part of the brain,who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy tend to
which helps control muscles, is damaged. As thelead a normal life span; it is only in severe cases of
saying, 'Prevention is better than cure' goes; thereCerebral palsy that their life span remains reduced.
are many preventive measures that pregnantPrognosis shows that as people affected by cerebral
women can take to safe guard their child in thepalsy age they tend to show and experience several
womb. This will ensure that the child is not born withlong term effects. Some of these include tightening
cerebral palsy.of muscles, joint pains where they experience loss of
Mothers to be need to have regular prenatal checkflexibility of their joints; back pain becomes severe,
up with their gynecologist to ensure that their baby isseverity of spasms, muscle contractures and reduced
having proper nutrition and has a steady growth.levels of energy. In continence is a symptom that is
They should avoid consuming alcohol, drugs, andassociated with cerebral palsy where the child is
avoid smoking totally.unable to control their urine and this leads them to
Preventive care for children would include safety seatwet their beds and even clothes at times. As
belts in cars and wearing of helmets is madepatients of cerebral palsy begin to age, this symptom
compulsory when riding a bike or skateboard. Anyof incontinence also increases and becomes more
injury to the head can lead to cerebral palsy.pronounced in many patients.
If your child has jaundice at the time of birth then heMany factors lead to all these problems mentioned
or she should be treated with phototherapy. In thisabove. They are poor posture and wheel chair
method of treatment, babies with jaundice areseating, deformities in the spinal cord, which leads to
exposed to special blue lights, which help to breakback pain becoming severe, and weight gain. People
down bile pigments. This will ensure that there is nowith cerebral palsy will find it difficult to walk because
build up of bile pigments, which can cause brainof lack of muscle coordination. They are also stricken
damage resulting in cerebral palsy in your child. Inwith severe learning disability because of slow
severe cases of jaundice, blood transfusions aremovement of their tongue and throat muscles. It is
given.important that patients suffering from cerebral palsy
An expectant mother should have herself vaccinatedundergo regular check ups and physiotherapy and
against German measles or rubella even before shehave plenty of exercises. This will help them maintain
intends to get herself pregnant. Rh incompatibility isproper weight and help their joints to be flexible.
another important factor that can lead to cerebral