Cerebral palsy research brings hope to new mums

The risk of premature babies developing cerebral palsy is cut by a third if the mother is given magnesium sulphate immediately before birth, new research shows.

It has only been proven to work in babies born before 30 weeks, but advocates say the approach would still prevent up to 150 babies developing the chronic life-long condition every year.

Doctors are hailing the development as the biggest breakthrough in preventing the debilitating condition in half a century, despite the fact it is not yet being routinely used in hospitals.

The benefits of magnesium sulphate had been observed for a while, but obstetrics Professor Caroline Crowther says it was a large study in Australia and New Zealand in 2003 that gave compelling evidence.

"Since then, there have been other studies conducted around world, and there are now five that contribute to what we call at meta-analysis, where the data from all those studies can be assimilated together to give a stronger recommendation," she said.

Professor Crowther says it is good news for about 40 per cent of children born with cerebral palsy, who were premature babies.

Since 2010, The Royal Australasian College of Obstetricians has recommended the use of magnesium sulphate, but Nadia Badawi from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance says it is still under-used.

Ms Badawi is a newborn intensive care specialist at the children's hospital in Westmead, and says administering magnesium sulphate reduces the risk of cerebral palsy by 30 per cent.

"The problem is, of course, that hospitals are already overstretched," she said.

"I suppose midwives and obstetricians don't want ... to implement a new treatment without proper support. Perhaps they feel they need more workforce."

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Cerebral palsy research brings hope to new mums