Kaiser Permanente Northern California researchers are witnessing an increasing prevalence of marijuana use among pregnant women, and can provide data as proof. Kaiser is the only large health system to screen their prenatal patients for drug exposure via questionnaires and urine testing during prenatal visits.
Pot use during gestation poses serious health risks to both mom and her unborn baby, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists who warns against it, with initial studies linking cannabis usage to low birth weight in babies.
1. It’s Not Safe
Pregnancy is a time when women should avoid smoking, drinking alcohol and using any illegal substances of any kind – including marijuana (commonly referred to as pot, weed or cannabis) with its 500+ chemicals including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC can have negative impacts on mental functioning while throwing off their endocannabinoid system balance and alter their hormone production levels.
Studies demonstrate that pregnancies exposed to THC during gestation are at increased risk of neurological impairments, including lower learning and attention scores and diminished motor skills. The impact is particularly prominent if exposure occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Marijuana use is also not safe when breastfeeding, as its chemicals can seep into breast milk and expose an infant. Babies exposed to marijuana during breastfeeding may have difficulty controlling their temperature or be more likely to contract infections such as colds, flu and stomach viruses.
2. It’s Not Effective
Researchers face difficulty investigating marijuana use by pregnant women due to ethical considerations and its status as a Schedule 1 drug, making clinical trials impossible for researchers.
Smoking marijuana during gestation increases carbon monoxide levels in mother’s bloodstream and interferes with oxygen delivery to her baby, potentially leading to low birth weight and preterm delivery.
Studies have linked marijuana use during gestation to learning problems and psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or psychosis in offspring, leading to lower academic achievement and delayed social development even as they age. Some states even require providers to report substance abuse prior to giving birth. It’s best to quit before getting pregnant – setting clear goals with help from a counselor can be useful tools in this process.
3. It’s Not Safe for the Baby
Marijuana can increase the risk of birth defects like anencephaly. This severe neural tube defect occurs when all or parts of the head, skull and spine are missing; nearly always fatal.
Due to marijuana being illegal under federal law, scientists are unable to conduct controlled trials in which pregnant people receive either marijuana or placebo and then observed. Most evidence we have comes from observational studies; while they are helpful, these don’t always take into account other potential factors (like tobacco use) which might contribute to results seen.
Shonitria Anthony reports that in three years of running her Blunt Blowin’ Mama podcast and online community, not a single mother has admitted using marijuana during pregnancy in order to get high. Most likely they’re just looking to ease pain or nausea that they might be experiencing; so she believes it’s crucial that individuals have access to accurate information on fetal health in order to make healthy choices.
4. It’s Not Safe for the Mother
Many OB-GYNs advise pregnant women against smoking or using any form of marijuana during their gestation, including vaping or eating products containing THC. The reason behind this advice is because THC can pass through the placenta into the baby, potentially endangering both mother and child as well as negatively impacting health in general.
Women who use cannabis may increase the odds of giving birth to babies born with low birth weight, who are at an increased risk for developmental delays, ADHD symptoms and emotional problems.
Researchers find it challenging to analyze the impact of cannabis use during gestation due to laws prohibiting this. But Kaiser Permanente provides researchers with access to a wealth of data; their system screens their prenatal care patients for exposure to drugs and alcohol, and researchers use this data for further analysis in correlation with fetal growth outcomes or any other health outcomes.