Planning for the arrival of a new baby is an exciting time for most expectant parents. Some folks have compared it to organizing a once in a lifetime dream vacation or feeling like a kid again awaiting for Christmas morning. Any new parent will tell you that the journey was well worth the wait the first time he or she looked into the baby’s eyes for the first time. Parents eagerly count fingers and toes and breathe a sigh of relief when the doctor tells them their baby is perfectly healthy.

Whether a parent is really hoping for a boy or a girl doesn’t really matter at the end of the day; deep down, he or she just wants a child that is healthy. That is why when it is discovered that a newborn has suffered a birth related injury—the news can be heartbreaking. Learning that the hospital or doctor could be responsible for the condition can be downright devastating. One disorder that can be caused by a birth injury is cerebral palsy. The following are some of the most commonly asked questions Kansas City parents have about cerebral palsy:

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy refers to various neurological disorders that impair body movement (fine and gross motor skills, posture and balance) and muscle control, coordination and tone. The exact impairments an individual will have to will depend on the type, extent, and timing of the brain injury.

What types of brain damage can cause cerebral palsy?

Four main types of brain injuries are linked to cerebral palsy, including:

• lack of oxygen to the brain, which causes the brain tissue to be destroyed (Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or HIE)
• an injury to the white matter of the infant’s brain (Periventricular leukomalacia or PVL)
• a hemorrhage inside the brain which causes damage or kills areas of the brain associated with development and motor function (Intraventricular hemorrhage or IVH)
• an abnormal brain development or brain malformation (Cerebral dysgenesis)

What type of medical errors can cause brain damage?

Various errors on the part of medical professionals can result in an infant having cerebral palsy, including:

• improper usage of medical instruments during delivery such as forceps and vacuums;
• failure to appropriately diagnose and/or treat an infection in the mother while pregnant;
• failure to diagnose a prolapsed umbilical cord;
• failure to recommend a C-section if the baby is too big for the mother to deliver vaginally or unreasonable delay in performing a medically necessary C-section; and
• improper monitoring of the fetal heart rate during labor and delivery.

Is Cerebral Palsy always caused my medical malpractice?

No. While cerebral palsy can be caused by medical error, many other cases occur for reasons other than medical error, such as genetics. Therefore, it is completely possible that the medical professionals involved in a woman’s pregnancy, labor and delivery exercised the highest level of care and a brain injury resulting in cerebral palsy still occurred.

Medical malpractice cases that involve birth injuries, like cerebral palsy, are often very complex and involve complicated questions of law and fact. To succeed in proving that your child’s birth related injury was caused by hospital or doctor error, it is vital that you immediately seek out an experienced Kansas City Medical Malpractice Attorney. Only seasoned Kansas City Medical Malpractice Attorneys have the ability to devote the necessary time and attention to detail to ensure that your family receives justice. You can trust the caring and compassionate attorneys to handle your case professionally and efficiently. If your child has suffered a birth related injury contact the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule an initial consultation.