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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Parents of children with CP

24 replies

fairydust · 24/03/2004 14:49

Me and dh are considering having another baby - does anyone know what the chances are of us having another child with CP????

OP posts:

misdee · 24/03/2004 14:54

generally CP is not inherited, its just something thats happens. however in my sisters case, her and her dh have gentic reasons which means her kids are more at risk of having CP. I'm sure she'll be along later to explain it better as i get all confused.
do they have an idea of what caused your childs CP?

Original poster

fairydust · 24/03/2004 15:02

there not 100% sure were waiting for the medical notes from the hospital.

is your sister mieow???

OP posts:

misdee · 24/03/2004 15:09

yup.
she's been away for the weekend (lucky moo). i'll tell her to look out for this thread.

Original poster

fairydust · 24/03/2004 15:13

thanks i've spoken to her before she's on my msn

OP posts:

lou33 · 24/03/2004 15:27

Genetic reasons are extremely rare FD. It's more likely that it was due to hypoxia at birth, or a lack of oxygen to the brain during the pg (as was the case with ds2). In fact I think most causes are during pg, and not birth as well, so it's almost out of our hands iyswim. There isn't any tests afaik that can determine in advance if a baby has cp either.

Original poster

fairydust · 24/03/2004 15:28

thanks for that lou - we just wanted to look at every angel before we take the plunge

OP posts:

fio2 · 24/03/2004 17:25

Lou what is hypoxia at birth?

FD if you are worried about genetic reasons I am sure you could get referred for genetic counselling if you asked. If nothing it would put your mind at rest. We are having genetic counselling atm but I am sure now our dd has cp even though it has not been officially diagnosed. I have had a 2nd who is NT, but I understand your worries completely. You are being very sensible and if you want to ever chat offline I will always be happy to chat to you.

Original poster

fairydust · 24/03/2004 17:30

thank you fio for that - sorry to sound thick but what is genetic counselling???

OP posts:

fio2 · 24/03/2004 17:34

Oh well it varies FD. Basically you are refferred to a clinical geneticist to make sure your dd's condition is not genetic and whether it will affect your future children. When I had GC for my sisters condition, CF, it was just a chat blood taken and results and risks etc. For dd (undiagnosed) it was a bit more thorough and we have only just started this, but looks like we will be signed off soon anyway.

Tamum knows more than me, and she is lovely

Original poster

fairydust · 24/03/2004 17:38

do i need to speak to the gp or dd's specialsit for this????

OP posts:

fio2 · 24/03/2004 17:48

either, tamum will know. Our Paed referred us. Dont worry please

lou33 · 24/03/2004 18:12

Lack of oxygen Fio.

fio2 · 24/03/2004 18:12

tamum · 24/03/2004 18:49

Hellooooo Fio, you're so nice.

I have to say up front, have never counselled anyone in my life, but I think fio's right, either your paed or your GP could refer you. It's pretty rare for CP to have a genetic basis. In the UK it's about 2%, higher in countries where there are a lot of first cousin marriages (because the rate of CP is higher too).

I would definitely ask to be referred for genetic counselling, fairydust (esp. when the alternative is me) but I think you can be fairly sure that the chances of you having another child with CP are pretty low. It's worth doing because there may be unusual aspects (like extra clinical symptoms) which make a genetic basis slightly more likely, so they would look into all that. Hope that helps a bit.

fio2 · 24/03/2004 18:59

tamum you are lovely i feel like emailing you regular but i would bore you

tamum · 24/03/2004 19:00

No!! Never, I won't be in the least bored, please do. I just wish I could do something to help

fio2 · 24/03/2004 19:04

dont look sad tamum!! I wil email you though if you dont mind and you can tell me your sad & happy times too?

tamum · 24/03/2004 19:06

It's a deal See, I've cheered up already!

lou33 · 24/03/2004 19:17

Fio is very boring, she bores me all the time via email .

fio2 · 24/03/2004 19:51

oh no I'm sorry

I have bored tamum before you know LOL!

lou33 · 24/03/2004 20:55

zzzzzzz....zzzzzzzzzz....zzzzzz....huh what were you saying?!

tamum · 24/03/2004 21:08

Ooo, how mean you are lou! (not really, you're lovely too). Can I just say here and now I like getting emails from fio

Original poster

fairydust · 24/03/2004 22:09

thank you all so much for this - am gonig to speak to gp asap as it's sometihng we want to cover.

OP posts:

mieow · 24/03/2004 23:26

FD, Hi, CP isn't genitic generally, but as Misdee said me and hubby have a genetic Multifactorial Predisposition for brain damage which can therefore cause CP. Because all my kids were premature they had a higher risk anyway and with the predispoistion they have weaker brains vessels. I have had 3 kids, the older two have mild/modarate CP and the baby (who was the smallest at 3lb 8oz) is fine.
I was told that even with a child with CP, you still have the same chance as someone without a child with CP (1 in 400) unforutally we have a 1 in 10 chance of it happening again so we have thought long and hard about having another baby and have decided not to have another one till I have been to the doctors and have had the checks I need to discover why my kids were all premature.

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