Smoking Cannabis While Pregnant Harms Babies’ Brains And Fetal Brain Development
Created by Drew | : Brain Studies
As you may already know, there are many things that kill brain cells. I have always been wary of any statements made about marijuana affecting the brain in a positive way. Smoking marijuana has been known to do slight forms of (sometimes permanent) damage to the brain depending on the amount smoked or ingested. Anyways, recent research has shown that “smoking cannabis while pregnant” will harm the developing fetal brain of your baby.
Smoking cannabis has a detrimental affect on developing babies’ brains
A group of researchers at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK) discovered that smoking marijuana while pregnant will likely do damage to the fetal brain. They also discovered that taking certain prescription drugs could also have an negative impact in the womb. Their research focused on the importance of healthy molecules and molecular structure in the brain. They studied how certain nerve cells connected and formed networks with each other. Any substance (cannabis, illicit drugs, and even prescription drugs) have potential to disrupt this “networking process” can do damage to the brain. Smoking marijuana while pregnant happens to be just one of many ways to disrupt this naturally occurring molecular-binding process.
Brain molecules given the title endocannabinoids, function in a similar way to T.H.C. (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is found in cannabis. When marijuana is smoked or ingested, its T.H.C. targets the same receptors as the endocannabinoids and disrupt the natural formation of key signaling systems in the fetal brain. Scientists and researchers say that the endocannabinoid signaling process should be “naturally occurring” in order for the brain structure to properly and healthily develop. These findings show that the signaling system in our brain’s should be properly maintained if we hope to develop healthy, powerful brains.
Complex neural-networking in the brain
Jan Mulder, first author of the study and head of the Alzheimer’s disease Research Trust at the University of Aberdeen’s Institute of Medical Sciences stated: “Our initial findings showed the importance of these naturally occurring molecules in guiding the growth and connections of nerve cells in the developing brain.” Based on these research findings, we can allude to the fact that the endocannabinoid signaling can aid in higher cognitive functions such as: thinking, problem-solving, and memorizing. When this signaling is disrupted by something like T.H.C., our the higher cognitive functions in our brain do not develop normally.
Unfortunately, marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs by women at reproductive ages. If you happen know anyone who is a frequent user of marijuana and is pregnant, tell them the facts about harming their fetal brain and get them psychological help. It will ultimately save the brain of their developing child!
On a side note: past research dealing with pregnant mothers has shown that: babies with mothers who ingested marijuana while pregnant, experienced problems with physical activity (showed a lack of exercise) early in life.
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Nice article, but where are your sources? You make some claims for which you should probably have sources.
http://www.workout-fitness-videos.com/watch/?vid=23973
This video is probably the most reliable study on marijuana use and pregancy that exists today. It was done in jamaica for over 30 years with the mothers use ranging from light(10 joints a week) to moderate (20 joints a week) to heavy (21-70 joints a week). The results of this study show that infants that had been exposed to marijuana during their development when compared to infants who hadn’t been exposed:
-were less irritable
-had better motor responses
-had higher scores on responses to stimuli (touch, sound, etc)
-were more alert
- and had fewer startles and tremors
So ya, marijuana isn’t bad for fetuses….
@ Brandon – Sorry for not including the sources. I pre-write the articles and obviously forgot ‘em.
@ Ubah – I checked out the video that you included. Thanks for bringing this to my attention! There has always been a lot of contradictory research done with marijuana. Very interesting stuff.
With that said, the study that I wrote about above is relatively newer and there are many other similar studies that tend to find the same results… More conclusive research needs to be done in this area… The study which you shared tended to be the only study that I could find linking Ganja with positive fetal development.
IMO, it is probably not a good idea to use marijuana while pregnant!
Drew I have to agree with you on this topic, I am no expert in any sense of the imagination however if you look at the history of findings in regards to other such topics such as Autisim and FASD, these are newer topics of reseach, and Marijuana use while pregnet is also a much newer topic, so it has taken years for reseachers to conclude and provide evidence that drinking while pregnet does cause damage to the fetus, so in conclusion I would have to say that yes alot of people believe that smoking pot is ok while pregnant, however I honestly think in 10 years time they will have evidence concluding that it does in fact cause damge to the fetus and we will have a whole new syndrome based on the effects of mothers who were stupid enough to beleive that using a DRUG during pregnancy would not hurt their baby. My question is why would you take the risk, if the evidence is inconclusive? My mother always told me it was better to be safe then to be sorry, why play with a soul before it has a chance to play with itself?
I also think anyone giving advise that using pot while pregnant should really stop, I work with youth and it is these people that these kids listen to when someone like me is trying to discourage tham from using drugs while they are prgnant to prevent from having thier child at my doorstep in 15 years time. Then we have nerve to ask why society has become such a mess of homlessness, and poverty. Do you think that these people would have had a better chance at life if they had not had parents that committed illegal activities in front of them? When you add in the possibility of mental illness mixing marijuana into it sure is not going to help the child develop into the full potiental of a human being it could be without such people who live in dream worlds and beleive that marijuana is still the same as it was in the 60′s.
Hello all readers;
My wife and I have done foster care now for 6 years and most of our children have been from young parents that never checked the affects of drug use, WELL I can say that there is a LARGE number of children we have had with all kinds of affects from “Drug use”.
We ALL WILL THINK That it won’t be mine, and yet you not really knowing your child has the affects of drug use.
You will call it Hyperactivity, HDHC, ADD, Lable what ever you want.
These children are affected in so many ways the food and drug won’t say and it is dishearting.
YOU MAKE THE CHOISE TO GET “PREGNANT” when you give yourselves to each other, “Think of the outcome”, A beautiful baby that needs the best chance at life, “STARTING FROM THE RESPONSIBLE PARENTS”
GOD BLESS YOU ALL STARTING YOUR FAMILY, START CLEAN AND SEE YOUR REWARD WHEN YOUR CHILD IS WITH YOU! every 1s DAD
@ Melanie, Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts in the comments section! It’s absurd for pregnant women to put their children at risk by smoking marijuana!
I wonder if the rise and accepted, almost defiantly proud, use of marijuana since the 70′s has contributed to the rise in Autism and ADHD.
I Never see any reference to the possible correlation. Anyone find anything on-line?
Uba.
Perhaps this study shows the reason why Jamaica is such a world power contributing so much to society.
Hello?
My mother used a small amount of marijuana (1 joint or less per day) during her pregnancy after suffering morning sickness so severe she lost 15 pounds and was admitted to the hospital. She chose marijuana after a great deal of research and thought and as an alternative to conventional medications. I was a perfectly healthy baby and I continue to be a perfectly healthy adult- I was never hyperactive and was actually a “gifted” child. I think that women who make the choice to use marijuana shouldn’t be demonized- would you rather use a drug made in a laboratory or something natural that’s been used for many years with remarkably few effects? Most research has found that marijuana use is safe during pregnancy if used responsibly and moderately. Don’t forget that Thalidomide was once prescribed for morning sickness!
for the last comment. i have done some research. i am a mother, an icu nurse and foster parent.
i know for a fact that THC can affect the infants motor function. a mother who is smoking one joint, your right, probablly will not affect the fetus in serious deficits. from what i am reading it is more than 6 joints a day. remember , the marj cigs can be laced with other drugs and chemicals. so to ok this to mothers, i would not. unless they grew their own plant and were strict with just a 2 to 3 puffs a day.
many people who are habitual smokers needs are greater than a one cig. my husband mother smoke it habitually . he was on redlin as a child. he has adh and others can recognize it. that is funny, as he is now a grown man. i think it can also pre-habituate the child as a user. it has been proven that mothers who smoke, the baby’s dopamine receptors are stimulated and it pre-links them to becoming smokers. I am sure this is the same with THC. more studies later will conclude this.
Remember, what is moderate use to one is heavy use or light to another. how can we determine that per individual and know that person’s limits and strengths to only have that one joint a day.
9 months a life sits in a women, creating a beautiful life. time is so quick. can a mother sacrifice her habit for that being?? i hope so.
Fist I’d like to say that I have smoked weed through both of my pregnancies, and both my children are healthy and smart and happy.
To the DAD that has foster/adopted children, I admire what you do very much, my husband and I want to get into that when we are a little more well established, (and people smarten up about marijuana and legalize it one day). But the topic is Marijuana, not general “street drugs”. There is a difference, as Marijuana is grown natually and harvested from a plant, and street drugs are usually harvested out of battery acid, and propane gas. Quite different!
To andrea smith, your husband isn’t ADD because his mother smoked marijuana, if anything that would have prevented it… If you knew anything about what marijuana does, it mellow’s you out, not speeds you up. You being a ICU nurse, doesn’t make you an expert about smoking marijuana during pregnancy, so you don’t know for a fact. I know for a FACT, that it doesn’t do anything, because I’ve smoked it, and my children are well behaved, smart kids. No birth defects, no learning disorders, and NO ADD.
So to everyone who says that smoking Marijuana is harmful to the fetus, I’d like to see your sources, it’s only fair since everyone who has said that smoking weed isn’t harmful, has with links, or personal experiences.
Thank you and have a nice day!
You are a very smart person!
I truly believe that smoking while pregnant does not harm a baby. I am totally into moderation. I have been both a heavy smoker and light smoker. I have three healthy smart boys. One in school is in the gifted and talented program and two others who may very well be when they reach school age.
How long does thc stay in fetus system? I am 30 weeks and smoked as that is the only way I could eat or sleep. I am not a druggie and don’t want to lose my baby.
I am sorry to say it again but why take that chance? I am not a coffe drinker and was unable to keep anything down while i was Pregnant with my daughter, I was told that if you drink a cup coffee it helps with the nausea, I tried it and it worked for me, now had someone told em to use marijuana, No WAY would I take that chance, there are other options out there that are healthier then using drugs to deal with nausea. I recently took a refresher training course on FASD (Fetal Alchol Spectrum Disorder), those unfamiliar with the term, This is something that is caused from drinking alcohol while pregnant. It causes the brain to not completey form properly leaving holes in the brain and making it immpossible for that human to function properly. These people then require supports for the rest of their lives and the saddess part is if it goes undiagnosed that person will spend their life homeless or in jail because they can not link the reason and the consequence and do not learn the way everyone else does, some are very fourtunate and do live simple lives but with the efforts of many spports and extensive threapy to help them deal with life, anyways a couple years ago when I had taken this same course which is offered by the Chilren’s Authorities (a government department designed to address and prtect the needs of children and youth, they made no mention of drug use, however this time around they did discuss drug use while pregnant and the reason for the change in the title FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) was changed to FASD because of the broad spectrum they see and also beleive now to be true, is due to the use of drugs while pregnant. Marijuana was also brought to our attention. It is very similar to alchol’s effects in many weays, and because it slows the body down, it then slows the development of the fetus, which in turns effects the development of the brain and could explian why humans have holes in their brains and struggle with everyday life. They also brought up the Drug called Crystal Meth and have said it was found that mother’s who use it while pregnant, their babies DNA actualy changes, this is new research being done so I am not sure how much there is for resources on it but this was quite alarming for me. The fact of the matter is that Marijuana is not just made with THC anymore, there many other drugs/chemicals that are put in to it and you don’t truely know what is truely in it when you buy it.
It used to be said that drinking a beer or glass of wine each day was okay and even suggested while pregnant… but now we have FASD
It used to be said that using non perscription dugs was okay while being pregnant… but now we have Autisim
It used to be said that sunbathing was ok… but now we have Cancer
Just because we are told that it is ok to smoke marijuana while pregnant are you really going to think it is true. Any respectable Doctor would not give you that OK
To those peple that are so open minded to believe it is Okay then be open minded enough to due the research and look at what is comming out with all the new research being done on the effects of marijuana use while pregnant…ITS NOT OK! You want resources then take the time to google it, ask your doctors and other proffesionals in the feild of medical as well as social services that see the effects everyday, see if they tell you it is OK!
Thanks and I hope that this will be taken into consideraton when you are making your choice to either stay chemical free while pregnant or take the chance and use drugs that could ultimatley effect your child for the rest of their life. Have a great day!
Also if you would like my notes from that course on FASD as RESOURCES…I can forward them to you.
Check this out
http://www.ireta.org/sbirt/pdf/Marijuana_in_Pregnancy.pdf
And this one:
http://www.thinkpregnancy.org/english/marijuana.htm
There are many things out there saying not to use marijuana while pregnant, just look
This site also has tons of resources and is very informative
http://teratogenmarijuana.pbwiki.com/
I am not saying that smoking marijuana while pregnant is good or bad. I will say this For people who do not have exact resources or any hard facts of what it can do or not do, should not put others down for saying not to do it, or say it has no affects. If you chose to smoke while you were pregnant is your choice. As for my thoughts, is would you give your newborn a joint or your child a marijuana joint to smoke on ? Then, why would you give it to your unborn baby who is less developed ? Another thing just because for those who did it and their children are “perfect”, doesn’t mean that the next person who does it their child would not be affected. Everyones pregnancy is different and so is every child. As for those who say ADD is a result, I can see where they are coming from. If someone was to smoke throughout there pregnancy the baby is used to feeling mellow….as they are no longer on it when they are born can cause some kinda irritability and affect for dependency….ie: have you ever seen someone who is a habitual smoker who can’t get their fix right away ???? They sure ain’t mellow ! All I’m saying is for those who are getting all upset cause people are saying not to do it, cause it can cause affects. If you choose to do it that is your choice. But stop encouraging others that it causes no affects when in fact you’re not sure.
I’m a special education teacher, and everyday I see kids with learning disabilites, ADHD, emotional disturbances, autism, etc. Someone earlier wrote that their baby came out just fine, but I’d like a follow-up once he or she starts school. I’d like to hear what you have to say once he can’t sit still in a seat for 45 minutes, and you can’t figure out why. I’d like to hear what you have to say once you’re wondering why he keeping bringing home C’s and D’s…or worse. Or maybe you have a low IQ yourself, so that’s considered normal in your household. You’re absolutely right to say that the studies were inconclusive…but why on earth would any mother take that chance? If you’re too selfish to stop smoking for 9 months, you shouldn’t be speading your legs and getting pregnant, because you’d probably be too selfish to be a good mom anyway. Smoking ANYthing deprives the baby of oxygen. Depriving the brain of oxygen can cause learning disabilities or ADD…it’s that simple. I’m tired of seeing “slow” children everyday whose ignorant, selfish mothers listened to and believed the crap some of you keep preaching.
Melanie: you do not know what you are talking about. Please do more research before posting links to websites. Those links you posted are websites created by the US people who study marijuana use during pregnancy. What they don’t tell you is the women they gather their results from also smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol. Yes i can agree with smoking marijuana deprives the fetus of oxygen but thats the extent it goes to. It doesn’t cause ADD/ ADHD, doesn’t lead to lower IQ, doesn’t lead to Asthma, Doesn’t lead to anything like that. Its very biased that people come on these forums talking about how they know so much about marijuana studies, then their sources come up as US studies, which are completely unreliable, and usually steered by the government. The government, as you know is only focused on “the war on drugs” so they will tell people anything to get them to stop, be it lies/falsely aquired research.
After reading all of these people’s responses, I have only one person to refer you to:
Go to Google
Type in Melanie Dreher And Marijuana study in jamaica.
She did a study on marijuana use in pregnant women. The only thing about this study that is important to know is: it is strictly marijuana use during pregnancy, nothing else.
So please, to all of you who are about to comment about smoking marijuana during pregnant and saying its wrong and will harm your baby, go somewhere else. You are filling these women’s heads with nothing but lies and judgments of your own. The fact that someone’s baby came out with a learning disability after smoking weed is clearly coincidental and most likely genetic. I smoke weed and I’m pregnant, and my doctor says i’m having a “textbook” pregnancy, my babies heart beat is fine, he does his 10 movements/hour, and Yes i go to all my prenatal appts. This will probably influence the hospital’s decision on drug testing my baby. They usually only drug test the baby if there was something sketchy going on, like lack of prenatal care, or a previously failed drug test done by your doctor which neither has to do with me.
One important thing to remember is: The meconium drug screen the hospital does goes back about 4-5 months of your pregnancy so if you appear sketchy to the hospital you will probably be confronted by CPS. But remember, if you yourself get drug tested without consent, that is a violation of your 4th amendment right and you can sue.
I hope this answers any questions pregnant women have about the subject, and I hope the rest of you deliver unbiased answers, otherwise stay away.
I have a cousin who did “bong hits” almost everyday while pregnant. Her baby is severly underwieght, she is 9 months and looks and acts like a 5 month old. Drugs are for losers and if you are pregnant you need to stop and think about the baby!!
I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
There’s a serious issue here that many people are ignoring due to their strong personal feelings on the topic. For many women, the first trimester comes with debilitating nausea which leads to severe weight loss and hospitalization for some. This also causes some women to lose their jobs. This is serious. I’m experiencing crippling nausea right now and have for the last 2 weeks. I can’t get out of bed. I am fit and healthy and always have been. Nothing in my diet or personal life is contributing to this horrible nausea. I’ve tried every natural remedy.
Cannabis has been used to treat nausea in cancer patients for as long as I can remember. The medical community knows that it is an effective cure for nausea. I am trying to find research that has determined whether there is a safe, defined, dosage (not bong hits – don’t be ridiculous) that can alleviate nausea and is shown to be safe for the baby.
The people thinking of this as a “drug for losers” have obviously not watched a loved one die of cancer and use cannabis medically to alleviate symptoms. There’s a BIG difference.
For anyone reading this who is also looking for a cure…
The only possibilities I know of are cannabis and acupuncture. I will give acupuncture a try on Monday. As for the cannabis…I’m still searching for answers.
For those of you with strong personal opinions – you can voice your opinions without personally attacking other people and calling them stupid. Seriously – life is a lot more pleasant when filled with love and understanding rather than hate.
Please remember pregnant and/or future mothers… do your research for YOURSELF. If you so choose to smoke while pregnant, that is YOUR choice and who gives a flying f**k if someone looks down upon you for it.
My opinion… I don’t think there is anything wrong with smokin a little weed for morning sickness. It’s all about moderation and what YOU are comfortable with.
Melanie, I think you need to go smoke some pot and THEN come back and discuss.
Erin, your cousin? That’s her own damn fault and now she has to live with it everyday. Bong hits? REALLY?!? What is happening to my generation?!
Preg Woman, I like your comment and I have myself read up on Melanie Dreher. Thanks for your thoughts!
SpEd Teacher, how can we as adults expect children to sit still for 45 minutes?? Are you serious?!? Your expectations, along with a lot of other educator’s expectations are TOO HIGH!
I am back here, just had my baby he is 1 month old now. I smoked weed throughout my pregnancy. The baby came out healthy as can be, weighing in at just over 8lbs. no complications at all. Now please explain to me why this happened when marijuana supposedly harms the fetus. I think if pot were to definitely harm the fetus then it would have harmed mine. my baby has already learned to roll over at 1 month, he should be doing that at 3 months. It just further backs up my belief that it doesn’t harm the baby whatsoever. I hope that with the years, this country will learn to appreciate the true use of ganja, and maybe decriminalize it. The govt. makes tax money off it where its legal, so why does the govt. want to make it a crime if it makes them money? I really believe its no big deal to smoke a little here and there. But as long as it’s illegal I have to make my son follow that as well. Call me a hypocrite, but I have to do it until he’s old enough to make the decision for himself.
So I really think the writer of this article needs to do a little better research along with the rest of you folks against marijuana.
Wow this is now getting interesting. To those who don’t know nicotine in coffee is a drug too and can be harmful if too much is ingested. People really need to look at sources when they read things on the web any body can put up something that says cannibus is bad. I hate when people make it to be such a bad drug if that is really true then why is it being legalized in some states. I think this is causing mixed facts about the drug. Not to mention the other countries who were smart and always had it legal and are making money off it. The problem with the US is that they make too much money keeping it illegal
Now for the pregnancy thing. It works wonders on Headaches in which other medicines don’t work and those other pills that are legal have worse side effects. So don’t tell me that those are better than a plant that God himself created. It helps me with nausea also and when I was preg. with my son I couldn’t eat at all unless I smoked a little to ease that. I would have been emitted to the hospital if not. People need to stop categorizing cannibus with other real drugs that can kill a fetus. I have not heard of one story that cannibus did that or caused great harm to the baby without another drug being involved. Until then there is no real proof it is bad and it is good but like all things done in moderation.
I am horrified by some of these comments!! I have 3 healthy children…and call me stupid, but from the first day I learned I was pregnant, I did all I could to remain healthy for the health of my child, b/c that’s what good mothers do. Of course, if your a heavy pot smoker, u probably don’t have enough brain cells left to make good choices. It’s just selfish to take any risk on your baby to satisfy yourself. I had horrible morning sickness as well, but there are other tx’s for this to try.
I have a home day care, and two of the children I watch are from a couple that do nothing but smoke pot. Her kids are so slow in every way. They have a blank look on their face all of the time and have a hard time socializing. Guess what, their parents don’t even notice there is a problem b/c they are always high! These kids don’t have a chance! It’s so sad that people are justifying drug use during pregnancy now! I’m sure someone will find a good use for crack during pregnancy next, right?
My mother smoked weed (probably heavily) while she was pregnant with me and both of my sisters. All of us are normal, healthy adults with at least average intelligence. None of us had ADD or any other learning difficulties. No major health problems. I see nothing wrong with it.
I think if you have three joints a week is not going to harm your baby if you dont do it in the last few weeks as your baby does need all the fat he can get. I did not smoke cannabis at all in my first trimester but I have started having a few drags of it a day. I dont understand how so little amount can evan make the difference its like having a glass of wine really in my opinion actually no alcohol is worse. My mum smoked weed done much heavier drugs and drank alcohol with me and to say the least i am above average and have basically taught myself everything as I was very neglected and never started school till I was 7 but I came out with amazing gcse’s especially as i did not evan revise for them. I must admit my brother was not as lucky but has now caught up and will do just fine. Cannabis is ok if your not smoking it like you would fags. It has to be and if a scientist can sit there and show me a fact that smoking a little bit a week makes me baby ‘thick and slow’ then I would def be against it. I do feel guilty everytime i do smoke it but it helps me relax as I am very worried my baby is going to die on me. I am 24 weeks pregnant and my baby is very active and very big so it has not affected his weight at all. I will be stopping all drags soon so that he comes out a perfect weight as I feel guilty to much if he came out ill. Everyone i know has very healthy above average children and they smoked alot more cannabis then me. So i say go ahead just no more then four joints a week. (oh and mine are shared with other people so not whole ones plus home grown weed)
im 7 wks pregnant and have been experiencing the worst nausea ever!! i cant eat anything without wanting 2 throw up..initially i was so scared 2 smoke “weed” because of the hype people have made about smoking while pregnant!! but i know soooo many people that have smoked during pregnancy or even worse drugs and all their kids are perfectly fine 2 my surprise..i thought kids come out retarded or slow, however ud like 2 put it,when their parents do drugs?..melanie,maddie?..well needless 2 say i smoke mayb 4-5 puffs of a joint in the am and then the same at nite..im no expert but i think its all about moderation when smoking weed while pregnant.im not planning on continuing 2 smoke past my 1st trimester because although it sends my nausea 2 hell, lets me sleep like a baby, makes everything sooo much more interesting and funny!!..it makes me just a lil 2 relaxed and i need 2 b on point once i have my child so i want 2 stop for that matter otherwise i would probably b a pothead. and thats the honest truth..it doesnt change who i am..im 25 have my life together, have been an office mangr with the same employer 4 the past 7 years!! i am definitly not a loser as ERIN would call us weed smokers!! i hope and pray 2 god that i am blessd with a healthy baby (ill let yall know in about 7 months)in the meantime 2 all of u that have made your comments without having concrete evidence should go smoke a joint and then let us pregos know how the hell 2 get rid of this horrible nausea and restlessness!!!( oh and watever u come up with has 2 relieve it faster than 3-4 puffs of a joint!!)thanx 4 all the comments KMV,ALISHA,PREG WOMAN,JANE DOE…very satisfying 2 know im not alone
Preg Woman,
we learned in med school that it’s usually a red flag when a baby learns to roll over too early. It can be a sign of hypotonia, you might want to ask your pediatrician to evaluate him/her just in case.
As far as marjuana smoking goes, none of you have presented any clinical based medicine as evidence for or against. In school we learned that it is not recommended, but the focus was more on alcohol and cocaine, which have clinical studies that definitively show they harm the fetus. So I will do some research over the holidays and see if I can find any legitimate studies that are peer reviewed and represent an adequate population, if I find any I will post their results.
Student doctor:
It sounds to me like you still need to have more medical school, and maybe confront the whole ganja use while pregnant head on. Why don’t you go ask your doctor why its bad to smoke weed while pregnant. I bet you they won’t have a good answer, or they’ll just present to you studies done that are tainted with other variables like alcohol and cigarettes. Truth be told, alcohol and cigs are worse for you than marijuana. Every doctor knows that whether they admit to it or not. Now, why don’t you take my advice and google the nurse who did the study in jamaica. Her study is one of the only studies done on this topic that is strictly only marijuana use. The US government hasn’t found any bad results, which makes them mad because they are out to destroy the one drug that doctors actually prescribe for cancer and glaucoma. Why would doctors do that if the drug is supposedly unsafe? some doctors in California actually prescribe medical marijuana to pregnant women to help with nausea. why would doctors do that if the drug is unsafe? hmmmm. think about that.
Preg woman,
if you would actually read my post you would see that I did not agree or disagree with the opinion that marijuana is harmful to a fetus. I stated that there have not been any peer reviewed clinical trials on this subject, and that includes your Jamaican nurse. I don’t appreciate being told I need more medical training just because I did not agree with your assessment. My medical training has taught me to look for legitimate clinical trials for evidence before advocating a treatment or medical opinion so that I do no harm to my patients. As I am now training in pediatric oncology, I know all too well the uses of marijuana for treatment, but that was never the issue addressed in this article. Many medications you might take for a common bacterial infection are contraindicated for use while pregnant. This is the question being raised with marijuana. It has many beneficial effects, but not enough research has been done yet to make the statement with 100% assurance that it is not harmful to a fetus.
Dear Studentdoctor,
Thank you for the refreshing stance. I appreciate your level-headiness on this controversial topic. After reading all the posts, yours is the only truly educated commentary with no hidden agenda. I look forward to hearing more on your findings.
Thank you!
I was born to an unmarried teenager, I don’t know much about her cos i was adopted at 6 days old, but having made contact with my birth family I know she was a heavy smoker, and also used drugs.. acid, cannabis and god knows what else. As a child and adult I have always had a high IQ but I am plagued with problems concentrating, learning and organising. I am now 40 years old and I have abrain that feels permanently fogged. I have to work twice as hard to jjst keep up with normal life. At primary school i was so hyper
oops, sorry…to continue, i was so hyper the school and doctors wanted to put me on valium. I am now a mother of two children, both were born early, and from what i know about myself i was a very small baby, and my head is very small.. adult hats are too big for me… I can’t tell if this is all genetic or caused by what my birthmother was doing while i was pregnant, but i suspect i can guess what a 15 year old was doing in 1968 if she was also “liaising” with boys on holiday and getting pregnant by accident…
well, there is nothing dramatically “wrong” with me, i guess, but so many people have said i am totally spaced over my life there has to be a reason for it. Of course i have learned strategies to cope, but my life is still pretty chaotic because thinking ahead and planning is for me like trying to look ahead into the fog… i have two university degrees and several post graduate diplomas, i work as a teacher, so don’t get the idea i am deeply damaged, just take it from me, it is very possible something affected my development during my mother’s pregnancy, and i am living the consequences, so if in doubt, don’t!
i am not a heavy pot smoker but i do have the occasional puff if any of my friends pop round. i have just discovered i am 14 weeks pregnant and i am a bit worried about this. do any of you think i should be really worried?
Pam,
Unfortunately I don’t think you are going to get a good solid answer that will make it easy for you to make a decision that you will feel good about. There seems to be a 50/50 split regarding smoking pot while you are pregnant. I do know, as I’m sure you know, that of all the trimesters the first trimester is the most crucial time for the development of your baby. I personally say why take that chance. I have had 5 children and my first one was at 15 and as soon as I found out that I was pregnant I STOPPED EVERYTHING..CIGARETTES,DRINKING,POT,ETC.(my wild teen years) I felt that I needed to do my best to give my baby a clean place to live and grow…my body. I had a healthy baby as well as the other four. FYI – For the first 3 months I had nausea and vomiting with all 5 pregnancies. I know that you said you only smoke on occasion when your friends pop by. I think with that being said, you should have no problem with holding off until after you have your baby. There are many things that even the smokers or non smokers might not do because they MIGHT get hurt doing it….rock climbing, sky diving, surfing, etc., let alone being pregnant, you get my drift. The thing is the person growing inside you does not have a say in what you decide to do and really isn’t fair. Someone mentioned in one of the comments about pot these days has more than THC in it. If you had “home grown” then and only then would it be “natural”. It is true that the pot today is not like it was back in the 70′s. Still don’t know if that is still safe. I hope that you decide to take the “better safe than sorry approach.” I could go on but I won’t. Wishing you a happy and healthy baby. Good luck.
Reading all of these posts leaves me lost and confused! I think it would be helpful if instead of posting your opinion, people only posted facts. I don’t care to hear about small isolated cases, I want to hear about hard evidence, and see links to studies done all over the world not just the US and Canada, two countries whom are clearly biased in this issue. I’ve heard enough ‘opinions’, I’m ready for the facts. I’ve checked out Dr. Melanie Dreher’s study, which was helpful but still leaves me wanting more. Any help?
One more thing, why is it that people still feel the need to compare cannabis to alcohol, cigarettes and and cocaine? In the history of mankind there have been no reported deaths directly linked to cannabis, in fact there are lives being saved by this miracle plant! We now know that we can cure brain, lung, prostate, cervical, breast, and many other cancers with this plant! When are we going to stop demonizing cannabis? Before you pass judgment, try to learn a bit about cannabis first, don’t just trust what your parents and teachers and our government have told you. ASK QUESTIONS!
i have smoked cannibis for 16 years i have found out i am 4 weeks pregnant and have stopped smokin tobbacco but missing my joints terrible as i enjoy them i dont drink after reading alot of other peoples comment it seems that if i smoked a joint it would help my nausea what can i use instead of tobbacco in my joints so i enjoy them again
It’s obviously potentially a bad thing. The stigma that can attach itself to a child born to marijuana smoker (whether it’s home grown or factory produced with all those awesome FDA approved steroids and pesticides) might be larger than any stigma a smoker will accept responsibility for on their own behalf.
So, let’s face it, everything effects a fetus. Common Sense. Wake up people.
And stoners are generally not very sharp people. While they are high, to say the least.
I am pregnant now and just gave birth to my beautiful son Angelo…I am a frequent smoker of marijuana OUTSIDE of my pregnancies. Even though I love how I see things differently and think a lot deeper about things when I smoke, EVERYTHING has a good and bad effect…even though the good effects are tremendously larger than the bad..adhd and autism are mental disorders that also have very good effects on the brain…both have capabilities of being genious’s…but none of you all see the good. Only the negative
Oh and I’m actuallly pretty sharp thanks. Look it up. Some of the most recognized scientists, your inventors, mathmeticians, musicians, artists, presidents…ect. smoked pot. Tell them their not very sharp