By Joseph Jaramillo
Over the last 10 years there has been a marked increase in cannabis use in developed countries across Europe, in Israel, and in the United States. The increase in cannabis use has in turn raised questions about the extent to which cannabis may have harmful physical or psychological effects. One aspect of this concern has focused on the extent to which cannabis use during pregnancy may lead to adverse outcomes including miscarriage, prenatal death, congenital abnormality, preterm delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, reduced gestational age, or other neonatal problems.
There is a growing literature on the fetal and neonatal consequences of maternal cannabis use during pregnancy, but the findings of this literature have been inconsistent. There is some evidence that the offspring of cannabis users may have slightly lower birth weight and/ or increased risk of preterm birth, but not all studies agree. For example, it was found amongst U.S births that the offspring of relatively heavy cannabis users had a higher incidence of low birth weights and were also more prone to preterm delivery. The research showed that the low birth weight relationship was entirely due to excess preterm delivery; nevertheless, they found no relationship between relevantly lower use cannabis users and adverse outcomes, and even the numbers in the heavy use category were small. Similarly, a study of 1226 mothers from an American prenatal clinic found that the offspring of relatively heavy cannabis users had lower mean birth weight (79g), and were shorter at birth (0.52cm) than the offspring of non-users when allowance was made for a number of confounding factors including cigarette smoking and gestation, thus implying some growth retardation.
A large study comprised of 12,424 singleton (single-child births) deliveries in Boston identified 880 mothers who occasionally smoked cannabis in pregnancy, 229 who did so at least weekly and 137 who smoked daily. Unadjusted data indicated increased rates of low birth weight (<2500g) and preterm delivery (<37 weeks), but adjusted analyses gave odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for any cannabis use of 1.07 (0.87, 1.31) and 1.02 (0.82, 1.27) for low birth weight and preterm delivery, respectively. No analysis was carried out to see if there was any reduction in mean birth weight among cannabis users. A study of 3857 pregnancies in Connecticut found the adjusted risk of giving birth to a low birth weight baby (<2500g) to be 2.6 (1.1, 6.2) among women who were regular users of cannabis. They also reported an almost twofold risk of preterm delivery in the same women. In a group of adolescent mothers who used cannabis use during the first trimester resulted in a seven day reduction in gestation after adjusting for various confounders (including smoking) and use in the second trimester gave an odds ratio of 3.8 (1.2–14.0) of having a baby that was small for gestational age. Despite the negative associations noted above, other studies have reported no significant effects of cannabis use on preterm labor, birth weight or adverse intrauterine growth. A meta-analysis of 10 studies of cannabis use concluded that the evidence of cannabis use affecting birth weight was indicated. Although the literature on the effects of maternal cannabis use during pregnancy has been steadily growing, it has a number of limitations which include: the use of relatively small samples; the failure to provide estimates of the extent of maternal cannabis use; lack of prospectively collected measures of cannabis use; and failure to control for factors that may potentially confound the association between cannabis use and pregnancy outcomes. Against this general background, this paper reports on the relationship between cannabis use during pregnancy. The aims of this study were, 1; to estimate the proportion of women who reported cannabis use before and during pregnancy, 2; to document the social, individual, and related factors that distinguish women who used cannabis during pregnancy from those who did not use cannabis, and 3; to examine the extent to which use of cannabis during pregnancy was associated with increased risks of late fetal death and perinatal mortality, reduced birthweight, birth length, and head circumference. We don’t know a lot about what the effects might be. But while the research is in progress, most experts, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), advise pregnant women not to use cannabis. Why? Mostly because the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis (tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) – that is, the ingredient that makes you “high” – passes through metabolisms into a gestating baby’s bloodstream. This is true whether you’re smoking cannabis or consuming cannabis edibles. During pregnancy, 10 to 30 percent of the THC in your system can reach your baby. And babies are much more vulnerable to chemicals and toxins than adults. Most parents wouldn’t dream of feeding cannabis to their baby after birth. Even though we don’t know exactly what the effect would be, common sense tells us it’s not a good idea. The same caution applies while you’re pregnant and the cannabis you use crosses the placenta and enters your baby’s system. What’s more, cannabis may be contaminated with other drugs or herbicides that could harm your baby – even if you bought it legally. Some
dispensaries claim their products have been approved or certified, but dispensaries are not closely regulated, and cannabis is not less risky than other drugs (such as anti-depressants) because it is “natural.” It’s difficult to study the specific effects of using cannabis during pregnancy, for a couple of reasons: Women in studies may also be using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. And cannabis may be contaminated, as mentioned above. Here’s what we know for sure: ● The chemicals in cannabis pass from your system to your baby’s. ● Smoking cannabis (or tobacco) raises carbon monoxide levels in your blood. This can reduce the amount of oxygen that your developing baby receives, which can affect growth. Studies have also found these possible effects of cannabis on a baby in utero: ● Some researchers have linked prenatal cannabis exposure to increased irritability in newborns. ● Prenatal cannabis exposure may also have a persistent negative effect throughout childhood on what researchers call highe order thinking, which includes problem solving, memory, planning, attention, and controlling impulsivity. Some studies show lower academic scores in these children. Finally, there are legal risks: In at least 14 states, using drugs during pregnancy is considered child abuse. Women risk losing custody of their children, and several states require women who use drugs during pregnancy to undergo mandatory drug treatment. At least one state threatens criminal charges. After your baby’s born it is not a good idea to use cannabis while you’re breastfeeding, either. THC and other chemicals in cannabis pass through your milk to your baby. Some of the women surveyed who use cannabis during pregnancy report being recreational users prior to becoming pregnant and having turned to the drug to help deal with some of the unpleasant side effects of pregnancy. A recent study showed that cannabis use is much more frequent in the first trimester than later in pregnancy. One explanation may be that women are using cannabis to reduce nausea
and vomiting that occurs early in pregnancy. There are many other options to alleviate physical discomfort and pain, such as massage, physical therapy, and pregnancy bands – all of which have been proven to help. Pregnant women are at higher risks for depression than people in the general population, but cannabis is not a treatment for this illness. Better alternatives include counseling, behavioral therapy, yoga, and meditation. There is also the question of CBD oil as a safer alternative then THC or prescription medications to alleviate pregnancy symptoms. Some experts say yes, and with CBD being legal in all 50 states many are now using it to alleviate symptoms associated with pregnancy such as premature contractions, back aches, morning sickness, vomiting and nausea, chronic pain relief anxiety, and postpartum depression. Vomiting and nausea are the body’s natural defense in preventing the digestion of certain things. However when pregnant this particular reflex can be over stimulated especially in the first trimester. Consuming CBD oil can assist the body and activate the neurotransmitter known as 5hydroxytryptamine. This is the neurotransmitter responsible for slowing down the expulsion reflexes – this can aid in the lessening of some symptoms as well as morning sickness. CBD is also well-known for diminishing pain usually associated with inflammation and can have a profound effect in subsiding the pain caused by swelling and the strain of supporting excess weight from a growing baby. A study conducted in 2015 revealed that the use of CBD inhibits myometrium uterine premature contractions – such contractions can be caused by a number of different reasons such as environmental pollution or stress. Many women also experienced an increase of depression after giving birth known as the postpartum blues or postpartum depression. CBD oil can help fight these feelings of anxiety and depression by activating serotonergic signaling using the 5HT1A receptor defense mechanism. This process can assist the body in activating the “feel good” chemicals, sometimes an effective treatment. Everybody has an opinion on what you should be and should not be doing during pregnancy but at the end of the day it is your body and your pregnancy, wellness, and health so be good to your body and consider what habits and products that work best for you to ensure a happier, more enjoyable, and healthy pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before you become pregnant if you use cannabis, if possible. Such consultations will help you find longer-term solutions that will be effective for you and safe for your baby. In my opinion, using cannabis during pregnancy simply isn’t worth the risk. Most of us believe in its healing powers and the benefits of the beautiful plant however much more testing needs to be analyzed so we can separate the positives from the negatives. Being knowledgeable and keeping our children safe for generations to come is what matters. Be Well, Peace And Love.
