Rates of cerebral palsy drop with better care before and during childbirth

According to a recent study conducted in Norway, better care for mothers and babies during pregnancy and labour can cut cerebral palsy rates.

Information for the study was gathered from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway between the years 1999 and 2010. The data collected included information on the mother’s health and the baby’s health before during and after birth. The study found that in 1999 there were 2.62 cases of cerebral palsy for each 1,000 births, but by the end of the study period in 2010, the rate had dropped to 1.89 cases. There was also a substantial decrease in the number of babies born with bilateral cerebral palsy, the most frequent form of the condition, which declined from 1.31 to 0.67 for every 1,000 births.

There was also an increase in the rate of babies born with less severe symptoms and which included fewer cases of speech impairments, intellectual disabilities and epilepsy. Towards the end of the eleven year study period, mothers were generally more healthy overall and there were fewer cases of pre-eclampsia, which is a condition that can raise the mother’s blood pressure during pregnancy, leading to health problems to the mother and baby.

Following the study, the researchers concluded that mothers have more recently received improved health care during pregnancy and labour, which leads to fewer cerebral palsy cases.

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence. He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims. Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled. Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk. Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.

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