Pregnancy can be one of the most joyous times in life. It can also be one of the most difficult. Your body goes through extraordinary changes. As your pregnancy progresses, you gain weight. You can experience mood swings. Your ankles and feet swell. You could have nausea — and for some women, nausea can last for the entire pregnancy. Backaches are common in the later months.
With all of these issues, it's no wonder some women who smoked weed before pregnancy wonder if they can smoke weed during pregnancy. Some research has shown that marijuana can be beneficial in treating issues like nausea. Cannabidiol (CBD) is said by some to treat inflammation, which could help with swelling. Both CBD and THC are said to help relieve pain, which could also aid in treating backaches and other discomfort. But is using marijuana during pregnancy safe for the mother and the unborn child?
Many experts will say the answer is no. Most obstetricians will tell you that you should not smoke tobacco, cannabis, or take any medications at all unless they are prescribed to you. Just as it's recommended that pregnant women not drink alcohol, the same advice applies to cannabis, according to most doctors.
However, Weedmaps reports that a 1994 study of 44 Jamaican babies in Pediatrics found that 1-month-olds whose mothers had used marijuana actually had better nervous system stability, alertness, mood, and ability to self-regulate than those whose mothers didn't smoke.
The short answer is, we don't know enough yet about cannabis and pregnancy to definitively say whether or not it is safe to consume when you're pregnant.
Does Weed Affect An Unborn Baby?
In the United States, 1 out of every 20 pregnant women has reported using marijuana while pregnant.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using marijuana during pregnancy can be harmful to an unborn baby. Although the CDC states that more research needs to be done to determine the extent of how marijuana can affect the pregnant woman's body and the unborn baby, they recommend that pregnant women do not use marijuana.
Potential Health Effects Of Using Weed While Pregnant
Some research studies have shown using marijuana while a woman is pregnant can cause health issues in newborns. Cannabis use during pregnancy has been associated with lower birth weight and intelligence in children. The smoke from marijuana can be bad for both the mother and the baby. The American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology recommends that women who are pregnant, or are considering becoming pregnant, should stop cannabis consumption.
Does Smoking Weed After Birth Affect Breastfeeding?
Cannabinoids like THC can be passed to a baby through breast milk. Since THC is stored in fat, it can be released over time slowly. If there's any question concerning the health and safety of a newborn baby, avoiding marijuana is advisable, including for breastfeeding mothers.