Cerebral Palsy Malpractice Lawyer

An early sign of possible Cerebral Palsy is the failure of your baby to achieve certain "developmental milestones" as soon as normal babies do.  To know whether your baby is reaching his or her developmental milestones at a normal pace, you need to know what the developmental milestones are and when most babies typically reach them.  Of course, no two babies are exactly alike.  Your baby will develop at his or her own special pace.  Nevertheless, there are certain generally accepted guidelines for baby development.  As you watch your baby develop, see if he or she meets these guidelines:

1.  By the end of their first month, most babies are able to make jerky quivering arm motions; move head from side to side while lying on stomach; keep hands in tight fists; prefer human faces over other shapes; hear very well; and recognize some sounds, including parents' voices.

2.  By the end of the third month, most babies can raise their head and chest while lying on their stomach; can support upper body with arms while lying on stomach; can stretch legs and kick when lying on stomach or back; can open and shut hands; can bring hands to mouth; can grab and shake hand toys; can follow moving objects with eyes; and can begin to babble and imitate some sounds.

3.  By the end of the seventh month, most babies can roll over both ways (stomach to back and back to stomach); can sit up; can reach for objects with hand; can transfer objects from one hand to the other; can support whole weight on legs when held upright; and can explore objects with mouth and hands.

4.  By their first birthdays, most babies can sit without assistance; can get into hands and knees position; can crawl; can pull themselves up to stand; can walk while holding onto furniture; and can use "pincer grasp" (thumb and forefinger).

If your baby is not reaching these developmental milestones at this pace, you should let your pediatrician know.  Your pediatrician will examine your baby closely and may order certain tests to determine the cause of your baby's developmental delay.

The lawyers at Berger & Lagnese have a wealth of experience helping the parents of children with Cerebral Palsy determine the cause of their child's Cerebral Palsy, and helping them decide whether a medical malpractice lawsuit is appropriate.

If you have a child with Cerebral Palsy and you would like the attorneys at Berger & Lagnese to help you determine the cause of your child's Cerebral Palsy, call us at 412-471-4300 or toll free at 800-350-6161, or email us.  Berger & Lagnese has an experienced team of lawyers and doctors that specializes in medical malpractice, and works on cases in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Erie, Beaver, Washington, and throughout Western Pennsylvania.