What are the chances my baby will have CP and/or mental retardation?

Question

My husbands older brother has cerebal palsy along with mental retardation (which I have found out through research often go hand-in-hand.) It was never determined if his brothers CP was a genetic issue or not. My husband shows no signs of any genetic disorder. However, my husbands father was born with a clef palate (but I'm sure that does not have anything to do with his brothers CP.) I'm just wondering how likely it is that my husband is a carrier of CP or mental retardation? I have no family history of either one. What are the chances our child will be affected by these disorders? I'm currently pregnant and very worried.

Answer 1

CP is NOT genetic!!!



CP happens when the brain of an infant is deprived of oxygen for a length of time. Often the result of a complicated labour or delivery. Mental retardation can be from a number of things like unsafe meds taken during pregnancy, alcohol, drugs, you know...that sort of stuff. Also other brain abnormailities can go hand in hand with retardation. Cleft palate is often the result of too much Vitamin A during pregnancy, but can also happen for many other reasons, none to be genetic.



I don't think you need to worry :) But do speak with your OB in a month when you see them, I am sure they can reassure you.

Answer 2

I was just reading about this last night. From what I read, it occurs in 2-3 out of 1000 babies. It says that it can occur from an infection during early pregnancy and some genetic disorders- but often the cause is unknown. It's not usually diagnosed until the child is 2 or 3 years old.

Cleft Palate is also often caused by causes unknown. It occurs in 1 in 1000 births. An ultrasound might reveal it- but sometimes it is too difficult to tell.

Answer 3

They don't actually know the cause of CP in most cases. Years ago, the excuse for the increase in c-sections was to prevent CP, but it made no difference in reducing the cases of CP. So, clearly CP occurs prenatally.



Look at this section of Wikipedia on causes as it addresses some of the most recent research into CP.



Cleft palate is related to a lack of folic acid. That is why everybody is on the bandwagon about folic acid as this is one defect that is preventable in many cases. It is not usually genetic. If you are obese or have diabetes or PCOS, doctors are currently recommending that you start taking 4 mg (not 400 micrograms) of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects which includes cleft palate and cleft lip.



BTW, cleft palate and lip are nearly always repairable in the US.

Answer 4

Mental retardation is a generalized term and doesn't identify any specific disorder or defect. You would need to know the exact disorder to know if it was genetic. CP is NOT genetic.

Answer 5

CP is not genetic, it is caused by lack of oxygen or a tramatic brain injury. I have CP and I am 7 weeks pregnant. I have a very mild form of it, and it does not affect any part of my everyday life. I cannot pass it on to my baby.

Answer 6

The cleft palet is genetic so that is a possiblity the CP n MR i really dont know much about but they can do genetic testing to see before u give birth so u have time to prepare if so

Answer 7

well, according to research done on the subject, if your husband's older brother's condition is in fact genetic, and there are NO OTHER instances of the illness in either of your families, you have, at best, a 54% of having a healthy baby. That is of course, if the Moon Goddess permits it.

Answer 8

Honestly yes for specific information and statistics I would ask your ob. But to me every family has risks. If you guys want children together you would have to take those risks.