How to Prevent Cerebral Palsy

Seek appropriate prenatal care as early as possible in your pregnancy.Proper prenatal care can help prevent premature birth, low birth weight, and infections – all of which could lead to CP.

2

Do not use alcohol, tobacco products, or drugs during your pregnancy. This increases the risk of premature delivery, making your infant more susceptible to illness.

3

Have your infant vaccinated. There are numerous infections that can be prevented by having your child vaccinated. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (bacterial meningitis) is a known common cause of CP. Rubella, better known as the measles, in early childhood can also be a cause of CP. Vaccinations against both these infections are important for your infant.

4

Avoid head injuries. Take the following steps to protect your child from possiblebrain damage

• Use the appropriate car seats and booster seats.
• Watch over your child in playgrounds. Never allow young children to climb on play equipment unattended.
• Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a bicycle.

5

Be on the lookout for signs of jaundice in your infant. A little jaundice is quite common in newborns. Left untreated it can cause Kernicterus, a type of brain damage that can cause CP. Look for the following symptoms:

• The baby’s skin is yellow or orange in color, starting at the head and covering the body.
• The whites of the eyes have a yellowish tint.
• The child is fussy and is not eating normally.
• You have difficulty waking the child or getting the child to sleep at all.
• The child does not soil a diaper as often as normal.
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6

Seek immediate emergency treatment if you witness any of the following in your infant:

• Ceaseless crying at a high pitch.
• The body becomes bowed, with the head and heels bent backward and the body forward.
• Bizarre eye movements.
• A limp, floppy, or stiff body.