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Marijuana Use & Pregnancy

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Have you been told that using marijuana during pregnancy may help with nausea and pregnancy jitters?

Because of its widespread use and availability, many assume that marijuana is safe to use, but what about during pregnancy?

Although previous studies suggested that marijuana use did not complicate pregnancy outcomes, further evidence has been found to the contrary. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that anyone who is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should completely abstain from using marijuana.

Medical marijuana use has more than doubled in the last ten years, as marijuana use has been increasingly decriminalized in several states. Many believe that "medical" marijuana is safer than recreational marijuana, but that is not the case, especially for pregnant women.

One reason for the discrepancy may be due to the fact that newer cannabis products contain higher levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. While THC is a psychoactive compound that occurs naturally, the synthetic products created by pharmaceutical companies contain higher levels of the compound. Manufacturers originally marketed medical marijuana to chemotherapy and AIDS patients in the form of pills and creams. According to the National Library of Medicine, however, research is limited as to synthetic THC's effectiveness in treating these patients, not to mention the long term effects of such treatment.

The ACOG has studied the effects of marijuana on pregnant women and their developing babies, and the results were enough to recommend complete abstinence from any form of marijuana during pregnancy. They found that marijuana use disrupts the function of the placenta, the organ that provides oxygen and nutrients for the developing baby, which may lead to the following: 

*Disruption of brain development prior to birth

*Low birth weight

*Increased risk of premature birth

*Higher risk of stillbirth

*Behavioral problems in childhood

There are also risks involved that not only jeopardize the mother's health, but further jeopardize her pregnancy. Pregnant women who use marijuana may experience the following:

*Permanent lung injury

*Breathing problems

*Dizziness, leading to falls 

*Impaired judgment

*Increased risk of injury

Bottom line...It's not worth the risk.

https://www.acog.org/womens-health/infographics/marijuana-and-pregnancy

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563174/#:~:text=Delta%2D9%2Dtetrahydrocannabinol%20(also,the%20class%20of%20cannabinoid%20medications.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-12-12/using-marijuana-while-pregnant-raises-complications-risk#:~:text=TUESDAY%2C%20Dec.,the%20pregnancy%2C%20the%20researchers%20added 

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