Baby's amazing fightback after stroke in womb

Jan 28 2010 by Helen Rae, The Journal

A BABY who suffered a stroke in the womb is taking to a mini-gym in the hope it will prevent her from having weakness on one side of her body.

Following complications before birth, little Madeleine Robson, five-months, is at risk of developing severe hemiplegic cerebral palsy – a condition that affects one arm and leg on the same side of the body.

Left untreated, children can grow up ignoring their weak side and often do not learn how to carry out two-handed activities which are important for independence. But Limbs Alive, a local project supported by the region’s leading child health charity, The Children's Foundation, is using ground-breaking research in an attempt to prevent the development of the condition.

A mini-gym has been set up at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and uses carefully chosen, age-appropriate play activities that allow babies to learn how to use both of their hands and legs together whilst having fun.

Madeleine’s mum, Amanda Halliday, 21, of Blaydon, Gateshead, said: “Madeleine cannot move her left side and since the age of three-weeks-old she has been playing on the mini-gym twice a day, for an hour each time.

“The improvement I’ve seen in her has been amazing. She’s trying her best to move the left side of her body as much as she can. She’s getting much better and enjoys playing with her toys.