Title: Premature Birth and Cerebral Palsy | CerebralPalsy.orgCerebralPalsy.org
Headings: Premature Birth
Premature Birth
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How does premature birth increase the risk of Cerebral Palsy?
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Content: Premature birth, occurring before 37 weeks, is a risk factor for development of many medical conditions, including Cerebral Palsy. A pregnancy is considered full term when gestation lasts from 37 to 42 weeks. Infants born prematurely face a number of challenges. Their bodies and nervous systems may not have fully developed, which can cause complications such as breathing problems. In addition, the mother’s womb shields the fetus from infections and various abnormalities; premature birth removes these protections and hence, many premature babies must stay in newborn intensive care units. Premature birth does not mean a child will develop Cerebral Palsy or any health issues. Yet, nearly half of the children who do develop Cerebral Palsy were born prematurely. Many of the neurological conditions and causes associated with Cerebral Palsy (such as damage to the brain’s white matter, known as periventricular leukomalacia, or PVL) are closely linked to preterm delivery. Preterm babies also have an increased rate of infection, another significant risk factor for Cerebral Palsy.