I have a friend whose daughter was not breathing when she was born (on Spetember 6th, 2006). The hospital that we live by is a smaller one and the baby had to be transfered to a bigger city ASAP. The next day, she started to have seizures and a following EKG test showed that she had no cerebral brain waves. They said more than likely, she'll have CP. Is this true (that she will have CP)? And what will happen to her? Can anyone give some advice on how to deal with this? This is their first baby and they don't know what to do. Will the baby even live long? Thanks!
2006-09-08 09:49:08 · 8 answers · asked by Meg 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Hi there, I know all about that. I have CP myself. I was born in 1983 though. Anyway I was a "stillborn" and didn't breathe for 11 mins. Anyway they did all the tests and the doctors told my parents to take me off life support because I would be a vegetable. Well, as you can see they decided not too. I am fine except I can't use my right hand. I do everything with one hand. I actually can't imagine doing anything with two hands. Don't give up hope!!
2006-09-08 10:53:38 · answer #1 · answered by bugsbunnylookalike2001 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you'd really have to know a heck of a lot more about the baby's condition to say from here wether the baby would live or not. If the baby was in danger of death, im sure the doctors would have made her aware of it. If she has no brain waves at all, she would be brain dead? so i'm not sure thats the actual case.. there are degrees of CP, some people have it very mildly and you would never even know.. some people have it so severe that they require wheelchairs the rest of their lives.
FWIW, i was told that my premature daughter had a high risk of developing some form of CP later on (you can usually diagnose at around 12 months of age), but she did not.. She had bleeing and significant swelling in her brain and sometimes that causes CP. The parents should really ask to see a copy of her brain scan and definintely talk with a neurologist.
2006-09-08 16:54:31 · answer #2 · answered by Mina222 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ok, if the baby does have CP, it doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. I know 3 people who have it. One is a guy, he's in a wheelchair and can't do much for himself. But, he's very intelligent, even started his own business.
Another person I know, a girl I was friends with in HS. She didn't have it bad. She had a seizure on occasion, and walked with a limp. Other than that, she's completely normal.
The last person I know, also a friend in HS. Only thing with her was a problem with one of her hands, and one of her feet. All of them are at or above normal IQ.
So the best thing to do is to just love her. Don't treat her any different if possible. Yes, she may have it bad enough to require a wheelchair, but it's not as horrible as some let on. If they are religious, prayer could help with the stress that is sure to be there. I haven't experienced it personally, but I have been around people who have it. God bless, and best wishes to you, your friends, and their little one.
2006-09-08 17:13:35 · answer #3 · answered by ★Fetal☆ ★And ☆ ★Weeping☆ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how long she was not breathing, even minutes could cause some kind of brain damage. Depends on the damage, it could be CP or something else. Cereberal Palsy typically only impact motor skills, and not brain functions or intelligence. So they'll have delayed physical development, like crawling, walking, picking up things, writing, etc. This really does not sound like CP to me, because they cannot diagnose motor skills at birth, but then I'm not a doctor. Check this out:
http://www.cerebralpalsyhelp.com/cp.html
2006-09-08 16:58:39 · answer #4 · answered by mom_of_ndm 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since the baby has cerebral palsy or brain damage, the baby can live long but you would have to take constant care of it in which would be extremely hard work. Just wait and see what happends then decide what's the right thing to do with a baby that has this disorder.
2006-09-08 16:54:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work with babies with special needs, and early seizures do cause brain damage. the degree of the CP you will not know until the baby is closer to 1 year old. There are Early Start programs that are free of charge in all states and the hospital will refer your friend to them. The baby is going to need physical therapy and occupational therapy.
2006-09-08 16:52:55 · answer #6 · answered by Melissa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She will probably have to have extensive Physical therapy... and there are a few different kinds of it.. please read the links below and I def recommend the last one to inform yourself of her life cycle..
2006-09-08 22:53:34 · answer #7 · answered by nknicolek 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://gait.aidi.udel.edu/res695/homepage/pd_ortho/clinics/c_palsy/cpweb.htm#RTFToC4
try that and see if that will answer your question. I will pray for the baby
2006-09-08 16:51:50 · answer #8 · answered by PUDDIN 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋