Pregnant women who use marijuana may put their babies at greater risk, from birth defects and low weight to developmental delays and difficulties with concentration. No amount of marijuana is known to be safe during gestation; its chemicals, including THC which passes through the placenta to reach its fetus, may interfere with its brain development, according to recent research.
This study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, included over 600,000 pregnant women who were screened for marijuana exposure via questionnaires and urine tests as part of their prenatal care. Researchers discovered that mothers who smoked during and before gestation gave birth to babies with lower birth weights than their counterparts whose mothers did not smoke, as well as higher rates of behavioral issues such as difficulty speaking and attention problems among their offspring. They believe these effects are caused by THC’s main chemical being able to limit oxygen from reaching all areas in blood vessels so essential in keeping growth of fetuses alive during gestation affecting its development during gestation causing issues with its growth as an unborn fetus’ development during gestation affecting its growth potential during utero.
THC accumulates in maternal fat stores, and this allows it to cross the placenta directly into the fetus’ system. A study concluded that fetuses exposed to cannabis use during their mother’s first trimester pregnancy–whether smoking or eating edibles–were exposed to 10 percent of THC their mothers consumed; as THC remains stored within their body fat for weeks following its use by mother or fetus.
Though marijuana legality has spread across more states, it is still not considered safe for pregnant women to consume during gestation. While marijuana may help relieve morning sickness symptoms temporarily, there are safer treatment alternatives that should be utilized instead. Furthermore, using any kind of drug – even prescribed ones – during gestation could harm both mother and fetus, leading to serious health complications during delivery and after.
Marijuana use in early pregnancy can also alter the hormones necessary to become pregnant. It can lead to anemia caused by low red blood cell counts, miscarriage and premature birth as well as not producing enough breast milk resulting in malnutrition of her newborn child.
Women should keep in mind that even though marijuana is legal to access during gestation, no amount can be considered safe. If there are any concerns with your medications or supplements during this time, speak to your health care provider immediately. Provide you with information regarding safer treatments for morning sickness and other health concerns, and recommend support groups to assist in quitting using drugs or alcohol during gestation. As part of an effective breastfeeding strategy, it is also vital that mothers refrain from smoking cigarettes during breastfeeding as the THC in marijuana can transfer through breastmilk into an infant’s system. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages smoking or drinking alcohol during breastfeeding; also any illegal substances like heroin or cocaine should not be taken while nursing as these could potentially pose health risks to both mother and fetus.