Cerebral Palsy, also known as CP, is a congenital disorder affecting motor skills, muscles, and the movement of those muscles. CP is generally caused by brain damage that occurs either during pregnancy or during labor. Small infants and children can be affected by cerebral palsy as well due to lead poisoning, malnutrition, shaken baby syndrome, or even an accident in which a head injury occurs. This condition can also lead to other health issues including visual impairment, hearing disorders, and speech and learning problems. (more…)

Dr. Stephen R. Quake of Stanford University and a team of other researchers found that taking the blood samples from a pregnant woman may be an affective way to test for Down’s Syndrome. While only a small group of 18 woman participated in this study, if the method is approved and successful, this would be an alternative to the current, more risky procedures that test for Down’s Syndrome in an unborn baby. Amniocentesis, one of the most popular prenatal testing methods for Down’s Syndrome, has far more risks associated with it.
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