When planning a family, many couples will visit their respective doctors for a pre-conception check-up to assess and discuss reproductive health. Reproductive health status provides the couple with a medical professional’s opinion on whether any known risk factors exist. The check-up will also allow for proper care and management of chronic health conditions prior to conception and throughout the pregnancy. Some health conditions, such as infections and blood type incompatibilities, should be properly managed during pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Some couples, however, don’t have the luxury of pre-planning a pregnancy. If a woman should discover she is pregnant, prenatal care should be scheduled to plan and provide for a healthy pregnancy. An obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) is trained to assess threatening health conditions and manage extenuating circumstances. A man’s primary health care provider can be of assistance, as well.
Couples and health care providers work together to identify and manage risk factors. A pregnant mother should make a concerted effort to become aware of risks to a healthy pregnancy. This includes items like exposure to hair dye, eating certain types of seafood, fertilizing the lawn, utilizing some cleaning products, inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke, drinking wine, and changing cat’s liter during pregnancy can subject the unborn baby to risk of developing cerebral palsy.
Parents of a child newly diagnosed with cerebral palsy may attempt to better understand the cause of their child’s condition in order to potentially prevent impairment to any other child they may conceive at a later date. Becoming aware of risk factors can help prevent birth defects, cerebral palsy, or children being born with some form of special needs.
Following are ten common risk factors for developing cerebral palsy. The presence of one or more of these risk factors does not ensure a child will develop cerebral palsy, nor does the absence of risk factors ensure a child will not have cerebral palsy. Risk factors merely identify cause for concern.
Avoiding risk factors will help prevent a child from developing cerebral palsy; any exposure to risk factors prior to conception and during pregnancy should be discussed with a doctor in order to effectively treat and minimize risk. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive; other risk factors may contribute to the development of cerebral palsy, as well.
CHILD’S NAME
PARENT NAME
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
Birth Date
Wks Gestation
Birth Height
Birth Weight
APGAR Score
Blood Type
ASPHYXIA (OXYGEN DEPRIVATION)
Umbilical cord problems, such as a prolapsed cord, that can choke the child during delivery
Excessive hemorrhaging (bleeding) while pregnant or during delivery
Abnormal presentation where the baby does not enter the birth canal head first during labor
Prolonged or traumatic delivery due to the baby’s head being too large to fit through the birth canal, known as cephalopelvic disproportion
Delivery involving shoulder dystocia, a very serious situation where one or both shoulders impede delivery
Maternal shock, a complication of heavy bleeding and fetal distress which can lead to placenta abruption
Medical malpractice, such as negligible monitoring or untimely delivery, causing lack of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus
Other
Learn More About
COMPLICATIONS OF BIRTH
Abnormal presentation or breech birth in which the baby enters the birth canal in a manner other than head first
Emergency caesarean sections (C-sections)
Prolonged second stage of delivery (from when the cervix is dilated to 10 cm through delivery)
Premature separation of the placenta from the mother’s uterus
Premature rupture of the membranes in which the amniotic sac ruptures prior to labor
APGAR score outside of normal range
Other
Learn More About
PREMATURE BIRTH
Pre-Term Labor and Delivery – Before 37 weeks gestation
Full-Term Labor and Delivery – During 37 to 42 Weeks gestation
Late-Term Labor and Delivery – After 42 weeks gestation
First Pregnancy
Prior Premature Delivery
High Risk Pregnancy
NICU Stay
Respiratory Problems
Other
Learn More About
LOW AND VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
Extremely Low Birth Weight – Below 2 lbs., 3 oz. (Below 1,000 grams)
Very Low Birth Weight – Between 2 lbs., 3 oz and 3 lbs., 5 oz. (1,001 – 1,500 grams)
Low Birth Weight - Between 3 lbs., 5 oz. and 5 lbs., 8 oz. (1,501 to 2,500 grams)
Normal Birth Weight - Between 5 lbs., 8 oz. and 8 lbs., 15 oz. (2,501 to 4,079 grams)
High Birth Weight - 9 lbs. and above (4,080 grams and above)
Pre-Term Birth – Baby born before 37 week gestation
Overdue Birth – After 42 weeks gestation
Lungs Not Fully Developed
Other
Learn More About
MULTIPLE BIRTH AND INFERTILITY DRUGS
Infertility Drugs Used
Multiple Birth and Premature Rupture of Membranes
Multiple Birth and Umbilical Cord Accidents in Delivery
Multiple Birth and Umbilical Cord and Abnormal Presentation During Delivery
Multiple Birth and Cesarean Sections
Multiple Birth and Low Birth Weight
Multiple Birth and Premature Birth
NICU Stay
Other
Learn More About
INFECTION
Bacterial Infection - includes bladder infection, urinary tract infection, Group B streptococcus, kidney infection, sepsis, placenta infection, amniotic fluid infection, and choriamnionitis
Viral Infection – includes viral hepatitis, meningitis, rubella (german measles), varicella (chicken pox), cytomegalovirus (CNV), human parvovirus, coxsackievirus, listerosis-listeria, and salmonella
Fungal Infection – candidiasis (yeast infection), vaginosis, and vaginal moniliasis
Parasitic Infection – includes toxoplasmosis
Sexually Transmitted Infections - includes syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes simplex virus, chlamydia and human papillomavirus (HPV)
Other
Learn More About
BLOOD TYPE INCOMPATIBILITY OR JAUNDICE
Rh Blood Type Incompatibility
A-B-O Blood Type Incompatibility
Erythroblastosis Fetalis
Jaundice
Kernicterus
Other
Learn More About
PARENTAL HEALTH AND HABITS
Parental Age – includes biological immaturity and advanced parental age
Parental Weight and Height – includes overweight, underweight (under 100 pounds), malnourished, vitamin deficiency, amino acid deficiency, and eating disorders. Also, mothers under 5 feet tall are at risk
Parental Genetic Disorders – includes prior pregnancies where baby has a genetic disorder or birth defect
Reproductive Abnormalities – includes small pelvis, prior complicated pregnancies (miscarriage, abnormal fetal position, required cesareans, stillbirths, underweight babies, birth defects, premature infants), double uterus, and incompetent cervix
Maternal Chronic Health Disorders - includes gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, annemia, thyroid, autoimmune disorders, coagulation disorders, thrombophilic factors, seizures, epilepsy, preclampisa, severe toxemia, hypertension and progesterone insufficiency
Parental Exposure to Toxins – includes exposure to lead, mercury, pesticides, herbicides, flame retardants, plastics, cleaning products, kitty litter, hair dye, and harmful environmental toxins
Parental Radiation Damage – includes damage from chemotherapy, radiation or cancer treatments
Parental Habits – includes alcohol, illegal drugs, harmful prescription drugs, and nicotine ingestion
Health Care Issues – includes lack of prenatal care, lack of access to health care, lack of insurance
Other
Learn More About
PLACENTAL PROBLEMS
Placental Abruption – when the placenta detachees from the inside wall of the uterus too early, before the baby is born
Placenta Previa – when the placenta attaches to the lower part of uterine wall and covers the cervix, causing excessive bleeding before or during delivery
Placenta Accreta – when the placenta attaches deeply into the uterine wall.
Placental Infarctions – when scarring of the placenta affects one-third to one-half of the placenta affecting blood supply to fetus
Placenta Did Not Grow Properly – includes placenta too thick, placenta too thin, placenta too short (30 centimeters or less), placenta too long (110 centimeters or more), or placenta has extra lobe
Placenta Positioned Poorly in Uterus – placenta abnormally connected to the umbilical cord or fetal membranes
Placenta Did Not Function Properly – reduction in the flow of blood and nutrients to the fetus, limiting growth.
Damage to the Placenta – includes infections, blood clots, and meconium stained placenta
Other
Learn More About
INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RESTRICTION
Parental Habits – including smoking, alcohol, drugs and poor maternal nutrition
Pregnancy Conditions - including maternal weight under 100 lbs., pregnancy-induced hypertensioni (PIH), gestational diabetes. and multiple fetuses
Infection – including cytomegalovirus, rubella, herpes, and taxomplasmosis
Abnormal Placenta Conditions – including placenta abruption, placenta previa, placenta accretia, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal doppler ultrasound readings, abnormal placenta, and placental insufficiency
Newborn Conditions – Hypoxia (lack of oxygen), polycythemia (increased number of red blood cells, low birth weight (under 3 lbs, 5 oz.), and perinatal mortality
Other
Learn More About
