In many instances, a specific cause is never found. Cerebral palsy cannot be inherited. Before birth, brain damage may result from a disease of the mother. For example, German measles can severely harm an unborn child. Faulty growth of the child's brain may occur if the mother is severely malnourished during pregnancy.
Brain damage occurs in some cases of premature birth.
During birth, brain damage may result from a difficult delivery, in which there is direct damage to the baby's head and brain. Some events during birth can lead to a lack of oxygen in the brain. Brain cells die if they do not have oxygen-even for a few minutes. After birth, a baby may develop cerebral palsy if disease or injury damages the brain. During the first year of life, infections and accidental dropping of the child are the most frequent causes of the condition.