Although any type of birth injury is devastating, cerebral palsy (CP) remains one of the most severe health disorders that stems from birth injuries. In most cases, CP leads to devastating health issues and disabilities that last a lifetime. Since there is no cure for CP, these permanent disabilities not only place infants at risk for serious medical problems, but the financial aspect of taking care of children with CP is more than the average family can afford.

CP will vary in severity, ranging from light involuntary movements while carrying out daily activities, to complete loss of movement. There are numerous reasons in which birth injuries contribute to the development of CP, including physicians who fail to:

• Detect, diagnose, and treat maternal infections
• Properly monitor fetal heartbeat
• Detect umbilical cord problems, such as a prolapsed umbilical cord
• Detect maternal and/or fetal distress, and in turn fail to schedule and carry out an emergency cesarean surgery (C-section)
• Properly use birth-assisting tools during childbirth by applying too much force or improper pulling

There are Three Main Types of Cerebral Palsy: Spastic, Athetoid and Ataxic

Spastic is the most common type of cerebral palsy. It accounts for 80 percent of the CP cases. Symptoms include jerky movements, muscle tightness and stiff joints. This type makes simple actions such as walking or picking up small objects small objects. Some children with spastic CP may develop coexisting conditions including ADHD or epilepsy.

Athetoid, also known as Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is characterized by involuntary movements. Children with this type of CP fluctuate between high muscle tone which causes stiffness and sore joints and low muscle tone which causes a kind of “floppiness” in limbs.

Ataxic cerebral palsy is the least common type accounting for only 5-10 percent of cases. Ataxia meaning lack of coordination causes balance and coordination problems and as well as tremors and speech problems.