Cannabis and Pregnancy

2009.05.10

Marijuana has serious adverse effects on pregnancy, both for the mother and the baby. It is advisable that a pregnant woman stays away from marijuana during her pregnancy.

Marijuana use can reduce fertility in both men and women, making it difficult to conceive. One needs to know that marijuana crosses the placenta and can affect your baby. In men testosterone, sperm count, and potency is reduced by marijuana. In women who smoke marijuana have increased risk of abnormalities in ovulation and therefore more infertility.

Women have higher rates of spontaneous abortion, pregnancy complications, and problems with labor and delivery. Birth defects are associated with marijuana use.Use by father effects the child passively and leads to higher rates of certain heart abnormalities while use by mother leads to with mutated lymphocytes--deranged immune cell factors—that may lead to higher rates of childhood cancers.

Cannabis can lead to lowered body weight of the baby and the baby is prone to a greater chance of malformations. The newborn baby can experience mild withdrawal and some nervous system effects. Some studies revealed that women who smoked cannabis regularly whilst pregnant tended to have babies of a lower weight than those who did not.A report of the WHO(World Health Organization) suggests that there is scientific evidence to suggest that cannabis causes any chromosomal or genetic damage. Mothers who smoke Cannabis has shorter gestation period.

There is enough proof that smoking tobacco during pregnancy has adverse effects. Smoking while pregnant can lead to premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight, still birth, Cot death, bleeding and nausea for the mother. During the first six months of life babies are exposed to a greater risk of developing asthma, chest infections, and other breathing problems.

It is complicated to illustrate conclusions on the special effects of cannabis use on unborn kids due to a lack of research in this area however there is little proof behind any association between cannabis use during pregnancy and any abnormalities in children. How much of the negative effects of cannabis smoking during pregnancy, which has been reported, is actually due to cannabis compared to the effects caused by general smoking is unknown.  It therefore is hard to distinguish the effects of cannabis from the effects of general smoking, which has been proven to have a range of negative effects on mother and child; pre and post natal.

An expecting mother should stay away from smoking and places where she can find smoke for the sake of life of her baby and herself. If you can't give up this habit by yourself, visit your health care provider for assistance.

Quitting any bad habit is always difficult, but pregnancy is the strongest motivator for women. Know that god has given you the power to create a life…but don’t risk your life too. Enjoy a happy motherhood!