If you go to the CDC sight and look up the info on CP one of the problems
again is, no one has been keeping an accurate count.  However, there was a
time when the incidence (new cases) of cp where decreasing.  Now we have
more medical advances where lower birth weight babies are surviving (the
rise of the use of surfactants to help premature lungs).  With that rise in
survival, we are starting to see a small increase in cp again.

beth t. the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kathleen Salkin
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 4:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Small preemies


It's very strange - if you go to WebMD.com and look up "Cerebral Palsy," up
pops a link to an article stating that the rate of CP has not decreased, nor
has the rate of premature births, in spite of all the medical advances that
has been made since I was born 49 years ago.  Doctors still don't know what
causes CP, but they can (and do) guess at a list of possible risk factors,
one of which is low birth weight and another, premature birth.  So it may be
the luck of the draw, a random chance, or genetics (although that is not
currently a huge risk factor), who knows?

Kat


"St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List" <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> My boys were born at 30 weeks. Early, but not too early if you consider =
that fuul-term for triplets is 34-36 weeks. Nowadays, 85 - 90% of babies =
born after 28 weeks are free of complications strictly related to =
pre-mature birth.=20

Bobby was 2 lbs. 14 oz. - had the most trouble breathing at birth, most =
trouble with feeding, septicemia at 10 days, small bleed, slightly =
enlarged ventricles. Perfectly healthy today.=20
Joseph weighing in at 2 lbs even, did best of the 3 at birth - least =
problems breathing, started feeds first, etc. Sustained most brain damage =
in utero - ultimately died of complications at 20 months.=20
Anthony was my biggest baby at 3 lbs. 2 oz. Had trouble with apnea but =
otherwise stabilized fairly quickly. Massive brain bleed from prematurity =
resulting in extensive PVL and ultimately diagnosed with spastic quad CP. =
He should be much worse off than he is though. Typical 4 year-old, no =
seizures, no concurrent medical issues whatsoever now (outgrew reflux by 9 =
months).=20

We have friends whose twins were born at 24 weeks - one twin was 3+ lbs., =
the other a little over 1 lb. The larger twin died of pre-maturity =
complications at about a month of age; the smaller twin turned 5 last =
weekend. We went to her birthday party - Bobby has a hard time keeping up =
with her. :-)
Other friends we know: first child - full term, typical pregnancy, good =
birth weight, no apparent reason for the child's CP (she's in Anthony's =
class). Their second and third children were both more than 6 weeks early =
- perfectly healthy and typical!
Our babysitter, 17 years old (honours student, plays volleyball and rugby) =
was born at 24 weeks and weighed only 2 lbs.

You just can't tell. I'm sure if we polled the list, there are no common =
"causes" for CP. Even pre-maturity and very low birth weight doesn't =
necessarily mean anything. I agree that there will be more babies "saved" =
in the future but I don't know if the incidence of complications or the =
severity of those complications will necessarily go up.=20

Just my thoughts. :-)

Yvonne
Mommy to triplets:
Bobby (nda);  Anthony (moderate spastic quad CP);=20
and our Angel Joey {Apr.14/97 - Dec.31/98} (severe CP with many medical =
complications...)=20
Ottawa, CANADA

=20