Twins - one CP one normal

alphafe · Dec 17, 2004

Hi everyone,

My 15 year old daughter just got her first job as a personal care assistant for a 5 y/o girl. This is what I know: Child is developmentally 9 mos -- wears diapers, crawls, has feeding tube, and has active seizures. No speech, just code sounds for various things. She is *happy* and has a gorgeous smile.

Mom says she gets sick more and more, colds, etc.

Her twin is normal. My dd is being paid through the CP Association but the mother said her dd does not have CP.

Is it a case of failure to thrive in utero? Would an ultra sound have shown this? Damage to one twin at birth? I don't know much terminology -- just in prenursing, but I found it interesting that this little girl's twin is so robust.

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2004

Probably a birth asphyxiation. Could have been any number of things.

breastfeedingRN · Dec 22, 2004

http://accessible.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/press_releases/pressrelease_twinsandcp_120893.htm

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/cerebral_palsy.jsp

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000716.htm

http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic533.htm

interesting articles. major risk factors are low birth weight, twins or other multiples and prematurity. she probably fit into all those categories. it used to be thought that birth asphyxiation was a major cause, but a recent study found that not to be true. lawyers still successfully sue docs though and i imagine nurses as well. i see commercials all the time..."if your child has CP...call now for a free consultation." ugh. lawyers.

i knew twins when i worked as an MA in peds that had the same situation. one was without problems and the other a beautiful little girl with CP. they had twin to twin transfusion in utero as well and i think that can contribute to the risk. one developed just on schedule and the other had many problems. i will always remember them. so beautiful, parent's first babies, so sweet. i always had a weak spot for the one with CP.

LydiaNN · Dec 22, 2004

I hope this doesn't critical, because it isn't meant in that spirit, but as you mentioned you don't know much terminology, I'd like to take the opportunity to encourage you to use the word "typical" rather than "normal" when referring to any individual who doesn't have a disability. My child has autism, and although I try not to take offense when none is intended, I really hate that word, and I know that many of my peers share my feelings.