Anyone on here have a child with CP? I'd like more information about the symptoms.

My neice as born at 40+ weeks, induced vaginal delivery, no complications, no epidural. Labor was only 12 hours. She was small, 6lb 8oz, but that's still bigger than Rebekah was.

She was always a quiet baby - lazy, liked to sleep. She was "floppy", she didn't put weight on her legs for a long time. She didn't walk until 15 months. She has always had touble with bowel movements.

She was 2 in April. She only weighs 22 lbs but she is tall for her age. The other day, she was wearing size 3month shorts! She has not gained weight in 6 months. The pediatrician says she's fine. She cannot walk down steps without being extremely careful. She usually sits down to go down. She has alot of trouble going up too. She has very poor balance and she falls over easily. If you walk past her too fast, she falls over. She seems to have poor grip with her hands but she is still a little young to judge scissors or crayons. She will scribble, I think.

She walks "funny", almost like her legs don't bend quite right when she walks. She trips alot and runs very slowly. She has taken swimming classes for the past year but it hasn't helped with the muscle tone. She also complains that her legs/arms/knees/back, etc hurts all the time. Something always hurts. It's usually her legs or knees. She also cries when she needs to poop, cries throughout the whole BM, and often bleeds from it.

Anyone have an opinion or more information? My mom and I feel that something isn't quite right but my sister hasn't pursued it and the ped isn't concerned. I haven't even thought about how I'd approach my sister about it if I decide I need to.

I should mention that she is extremely smart, talks in perfect sentences that are easy to understand.

I can't really tell you about diagnosis but I do have a mild form of CP. I have a pronounced gait when walking and tend to put my toes down first instead of normal heel toe walking. I also have very poor balance and coordination. (ie I cannot skip but I can gallop)

Let me know if I can answer any other questions. I can always ask my Mom for more info.

PS I was always a little smarty pants too :lol:

Travis has mild cerebral palsy too. He says his dad took him to a specialist when he was 1 because he wasn't even crawling, so that's how they found out.

It sounds like your neice might have issues with low muscle tone. This is an issue that we've had to deal with with Amelia. This is something that has impacted not only her gross motor skills but appears to have some possible connection with challenges in learning to eat (as well as super long nursing sessions) when she was younger. While Amelia wasn't particularly floppy she was delayed in sitting up, crawling, bearing weight on her legs & walking (started around 20 months or so). With the help of physical therapy she is close to where she should be. She is still slow going up & down stairs when she can't grab on to anything & she is just barely starting to jump (though she's been trying for a while). Amelia was tested for numerous things & every single thing has come back negative. The doctors have pretty much pointed back to the low muscle tone. Also, there seems to be some familial issues with this given that 2 of Amelia's 3 cousins had similar problems & were both behind with gross motor. One cousin has Aspergers & is not all that self aware. The other went on to compete in gymnastics.

You guys are making me think....

Khalila was also born 40+ weeks, but she was 8lbs 9oz, and always on the big side. I did note that she moved very little in utero...

She wasn't floppy, but refused to bear weight on her legs for a long time. At 9 months when most kids like to "cruise" or bounce around in the exersaucer, Khalila would draw her legs up and refuse to put her feet on the floor. She didn't crawl much at all, and didn't walk until 16 months or so. When she did finally walk, she was unsteady for a long time. She always tip-toed and fell all the time. At 18 months, Kareem was running and hopping, Khalila was consistently unsteady.

My mom cried because she thought Khalila was handicapped, but her ped was not concerned, so I tried not to be. By the time she was two, she was still a little unsteady, but much better. She, too, always had trouble with bowel movements. They were a huge ordeal.

Khalila has always been a bit solid, though....She was never diagnosed with anything. Although she is now eleven and still walks a little odd...she doesn't bend her knees much...Kinda looks like a flamingo, kwim? She has complained about walking on her heels, and we have been back and forth to the doctor to no avail. They typically say her discomforts are the result of playing soccer.

I never thought that it could be something more serious...In fact, I didn't know there was a such thing as mild CP...I usually think of CP in terms of the more extreme cases.

Your niece sounds a bit like Khalila at her age...minus the size difference. If I were your sister, and would definitely about the lack of weight gain in the last 6 months. I am surprised the pediatrician is not concerned...

Travis got the CP because he was born dead, and it caused brain damage.

Oh my Hilary! I didn't know that.

:nod: It is caused by lack of oxygen.

I was born 7 weeks early and stopped breathing numerous times.

Travis got the CP because he was born dead, and it caused brain damage.

:woa: I had no idea!

Brooke~ Both Jennie's twins have CP. One more progressed then the other. Did you want me to give her your email address and you can ask her questions?

Sure. That would be great.

I know that Molly has low muscle tone. I think that's why she has so much trouble with bowel movements.