Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a condition caused by damage to parts of the brain that affect movement and coordination. The brain damage usually happens before or during birth but can also occur shortly after birth. Cerebral palsy may be mild, moderate, or severe. Symptoms vary depending on what parts of the brain were damaged, but […]
Some prescription medications can be extremely dangerous when taken by pregnant women. These drugs can harm the developing fetus and cause life-altering birth defects. At the same time, pregnant women may have or develop medical conditions that do need to be treated with prescription drugs. In that situation, the woman’s doctor is responsible for ensuring […]
Healthy infants, toddlers, and young children are expected to develop specific physical, mental, and social skills and abilities within certain age ranges. These skills are called “developmental milestones.” For example, babies are expected to be able to lift their heads and support their upper bodies while on their backs at the age of three months, […]
Birth defects are fairly common, occurring in one out of 33 babies in the United States. Doctors and other medical professionals have a legal obligation to inform parents about known risks that their child may have a birth defect. Medical providers who withhold this information from parents, who fail to perform necessary prenatal tests, or […]
What is Spina Bifida? Spina bifida is a birth defect that affects a baby’s spine. In the United States, spina bifida is the most common type of birth defect that causes permanent disabilities. It occurs early in the mother’s pregnancy, usually within the first month — often before the mother even knows she is pregnant. […]