Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a heterogeneous group of neurological conditions appearing in early childhood, causing permanent motor dysfunction, and affecting muscle tone, posture or movement. These conditions are caused by abnormalities of the developing fetal or infant brain and are non-progressive in nature. They are often accompanied by cognitive and sensory impairments. While forms such as spastic quadriplegia and dyskinesia are notably associated with fetal hypoxia, existing evidence indicates that intrapartum events contribute to only 10–20% of all CP cases. Establishing a causal relationship between CP and events arising during labour requires multiple criteria to be met. Recent advancements in neuroimaging and diagnostic laboratory techniques have shed some light on the diverse pathways leading to brain injury. However, further research is still necessary to evaluate the impact of intrapartum fetal monitoring and obstetric interventions on the incidence of CP.