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A
mother’s story, cerebral palsy prevention.
When I
became pregnant. I was scared to death, when I found
out. I went to get my pregnancy test from the local
public health department. I was told that I should have
an abortion because I was a high risk. But I was not
given any information of why I was a high risk. Nor what
my next steps should be. I went home feeling like I had
a 1000 pound weight on my shoulders. I was 17, afraid
and not sure what I should do. For me abortion was out.
Once my parents found out a few weeks later it took us
nearly 6 months to get me health care. If I had been
given the proper tools, I believe things could have been
different.
When I
was 3 months pregnant. I had a fever of 103 for 3 days.
I was sick as could be and my fever just never seemed to
break. I did not find out till my daughter was 14 that
this is probably the time she suffered from a stroke in
utero. My body was fighting her body. But that wasn’t
all of it. I had a blood disorder called ITP. Which was
not discovered until my 4th child.
So yes I
was a high risk pregnancy but what can be done to ensure
that high risk pregnancies do not result in a child with
a disability. In some cases nothing. Had I had the
finances and the hindsight to check with a physician the
minute my fever would not break instead of believing it
was just my normal getting sick. I didn't realize my
daughter needed help then and there.
When we
discovered my ITP during my fourth pregnancy things were
very different. They checked my blood often and the
slightest sniffle meant a visit to the doctor. My 5th
child we did many ultrasounds working with University of
Washington to ensure he was safe. Times have changed and
many improvements have been made.
Because my team of
doctors were armed with the knowledge of my blood
disorder they saved both of my youngest children from
struggles. It is extremely important that you give your
doctor your medical history for your pregnancies prior
as well as your own health history. You do have a right
to request your medical records from doctors and
hospitals to provide to any other medical professional
you work with.
As a mom
who has a child with Cerebral Palsy and high risk
pregnancies I can not stress to you enough to make sure
you do the following to help prevent cerebral palsy.
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