I posted this in my diary, and got a comment telling me that smoking pot during pregnancy is bad for you. I haven't found any studies leaning one way or the other, and truthfully, smoking is the only pleasure I have right now, not to mention it helps my anxiety and nausea. I know a few people who have smoked during pregnancy and they have happy, healthy children. For the record, I used to smoke cigarretes too, but I quit at least during the pregnancy. I smoke about a joint per day, and am thinking of getting a vaporizer because I've read it's better for you. Opinions, please?

I hear that vaporizers ARE better for you, because of the smoke-in-lung thing. (with vaporizers it's just vapor... kinda like those e-ciggs work).

re: for pregnancy--- I don't really know personally, but it can't be terrible. I imagine everyone in the 60s-70s doing a lot of other stuff during pregnancy. and they all came out ok....right?

Cigarette smoking is definitely bad (reduces birth weight and increases risk of birth complications, just to name a few), so I think it's really great that you've quit for the pregnancy. =)

I just did a bit of research re marijuana, and nothing glaring seems to come up. Some articles suggest that it might increase the risk of the child developing schizophrenia (usually if they have a genetic predisposition) as well as "subtle" neurobiological changes (such as impaired memory, cognition, and so on). These aren't 100% established outcomes, though.

"The effects of marihuana on the fetus are dose-dependent, with evidence of intrauterine growth retardation with heavier usage patterns, thought to be secondary to prolonged hypoxia in utero and not caused by a nutritional deficiency. [20] [98] These infants are reported to be lethargic and hypotonic, with blunted responses to stimuli.

"Marihuana-related effects on neurobehavior include a lower neonatal light response and an increased Moro (startle) and tremor. [33] Children of marihuana users have slightly longer latencies for the major wave form components of the visual-evoked response, suggesting dysmaturity of the visual pathways. [86] One report on the long-term effects of marihuana on infant development at 18 and 24 months shows differences in neurodevelopmental outcome between exposed and nonexposed children, but the investigator urges caution in the interpretation of the results given the limitation of the tests to detect small differences. [32]

"Despite its common use during pregnancy, there have been few documented long- or short-term effects of marihuana on the neonate. Continued study of exposed infants and children through later school age remains essential. Assessments limited to global developmental functioning potentially underestimate the effects of prenatal drug exposure on specific neurodevelopmental or neurobehavioral functions. [33] [86] As clinical research measures become more precise in identifying selective functions of particular areas of the brain, the understanding of specific drug effects will be enhanced. [80]"


(C.Wagner, L.Katikaneni, T.Cox, R.Ryan (1998) The impact of prenatal drug exposure on the neonate, Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 25(1):169-194)

Translation: smoking marijuana can deprive your baby of oxygen while it's developing. This can lead to the baby being less active and slower to react to things. It also slows the early development of the baby (so that they show signs of a premature baby, even if born at full term). The development of their vision might also be slower. But, more studies need to be done to assess the longer-term effects (i.e. as the kid grows older).

Schizophrenia has nothing to do with smoking weed. It's a genetic mental disorder. I agree with everything else your site said. But I just thought you all should know that's false information. My mother's a therapist and I'm currently on my second degree for mental health and I've NEVER heard that smoking weed causes children to have schizophrenia. You're usualy diagnosed with schizo type behaivors when you're 19 years old. Maybe, they meant weed helps to subpress those behaivors... But it certainly doesn't make somebody the worst mental illness known to man.............

1. I never said marijuana CAUSES schizophrenia, let alone in children. And I am well-aware of the fact that schizophrenia emerges only in the late teens/early twenties, when the brain is forming and solidifying its final connections for life. (I majored in neuroscience which means I spent four years intensively studying the science behind this stuff. I too know what I am talking about.)

2. You cannot claim that there is definitively NO link between marijuana and schizophrenia. In science, there are rarely 'nevers'. In fact, SEVERAL studies have shown that there ARE links. Not that it is a CAUSE (or else everyone who smoked would develop schizophrenia), but that those who smoke it are at higher risk compared to the general non-marijuana-smoking population. So just because you've never heard of it, doesn't mean a link does not exist.

3. Schizophrenia, like everything else in this world, is only partly genetic, and also partly environmental. Several environmental influences have been shown to play a role in the development of schizophrenia in early adulthood. Marijuana may be one, as are big life stresses (e.g. moving, changing jobs, losing a loved one). The key is that these environmental factors have to occur at around that time of early adulthood, when the brain is still somewhat vulnerable to these things.

4. I highly doubt that a peer-reviewed meta-analysis in a reputable journal would contain 'false information'. What are your sources?

Smoking anything during pregnancy is bad for you. You're breathing fire into your body.

Anything that you can ingest that doesn't involve smoking (vaporizer, pot brownies, etc.) is better for you.

However, I'm going to need a RedFrag opinion on marijuana in the system of a pregnant woman.

Not only what Oprah Noodlemantra said but why would you want to risk your baby's health anyway?

I had a friend who smoked pot throughout her first pregnancy. It wasn't even an every day thing, it was a once a week or once every other week thing. That baby came out with breathing problems. She had to put steroid masks on her face from day one so that her lungs would become stronger. She has asthma. I obviously don't know all the details of her lung problems, only what I was told. I do know for a fact that with her second baby she didn't smoke ANY pot, and that child has no lung problems. I can't say for sure whether or not the lung problems are related to the pot smoke... but why would you risk it?

With my niece, my sister smoked cigarettes throughout her pregnancy (yeah, I know it's not Pot, but it was still smoking something.) and although her first two came out healthy and 100% fine - my niece was born with under-developed lungs (or not strong enough lungs? I'm not sure, I was only 14 when she was born.) but like my friend with her kids, I had to watch my sister give her steroid breathing masks from the time she was born. I've seen first hand how my niece struggles with asthma and respiratory issues because of my sister's terrible choice to smoke while she was pregnant.


You say "Smoking is the only pleasure I have right now"
Will you still say that while you have to force your baby to lie still and breathe in steroids? When you have to sit there and watch your baby constantly struggle to breathe because you were selfish and decided to smoke every day?

I haven't seen too many people who have had an easy pregnancy. I'd rather suffer and be miserable for nine months than do anything to risk the health of my baby. You're the only thing that baby can rely on, and you get STONED? Seriously?

Please stop. There is no form of 'safe' smoking of any substance while you're pregnant.

I'm pregnant, and I can tell you that if you talk to your doctor, there are things they can prescribe that ARE safe during pregnancy for your nausea, and also possibly for the anxiety as well. Tell them your concerns about that, but don't use recreational drugs to self medicate. You are in the early stages where development is the most important and significant, and you have to ask yourself what is more important-that this child develops to be the strongest they can, or that you hang on to your 'only pleasure' even though there are alternatives I am willing to bet you haven't even looked into yet. .

And from your diary, looks like you need to go out and educate yourself on pregnancy, labor, and birth. Your friend made a choice to go med free/natural, and that may or may not be the right choice for you-but there is a variety of coping methods out there for you to choose from because no matter what, labor is hard work. You could use anything from the non medical things they do in birth centers to the drugs used in hospitals (in the IV, or an epidural) that are available to you. I also imagine if you educate yourself further it'll become quite obvious why you need to steer away from pot while pregnant at the stage you are in and for the remainder of your pregnancy.

From a legal standpoint, another poster made an excellent point-babies with an illegal drug in their system at birth (whether it's pot or something worse) are not going to remain in their mothers' custody. Would you really risk that? Whether you're for or against pot usage, it IS illegal and your caregivers would have no choice but to get social services involved. You would not be going home with your baby.

I just thought I would try to be one more non-condescending person that tries to explain my opinion this situation to you. I love marijuana, and I prefer the effects of when I smoke it to the effects of when I eat it, but like you I am looking into getting a vaporizer because my lungs and throat cannot handle smoking. I think it's great that you quit smoking cigarettes while pregnant, btw!

Thus us kind of my reasoning- the reason I get high when I inhale/ingest cannabinoids is because they interact with certain parts of my brain/ CNS. That is the scientific part, but what about what I experience? Things that sometimes happen to me when I get high are: increased heartbeat, lightheadedness, increased appetite, increased sex drive, ability to focus, and it also acts as an anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication for me. I also use it like you, to treat nausea, aches and pains, mostly migraines and pain from a back injury. Of course it doesn't affect everyone in the exact same ways, but the reason I plan to quit medication with cannabinoids if I ever become pregnant is because I look at it this way: If these chemicals have the ability to affect my fully developed adult brain (and body) in this manner, what could they possibly do to a developing infant?

I know there is no conclusive study as to how exactly marijuana harms prenatal development, if it does in fact at all. But if you just think logically that marijuana could effect your baby on a much larger scale than it affects you because your baby is much smaller and does not have a fully developed immune system, I think a lot people would conclude it's not worth the potential risks, despite lack of evidence of risks and effects. Now, most of my friends with children quit using marijuana when pregnant. However, if they had a pain or anxiety that was severe and couldn't take medication for it, they smoked once or twice during pregnancy, like some pregnant women have just one glass of wine to help themselves sleep at night. The oldest kid I know in this situation is now 13 and he is fine. But that is just my anecdotal evidence, and I fully support you talking to your doctor about it.

Plus, I am not sure where you live but if you live somewhere where marijuana is illegal, you may want to think about it from that standpoint. If there is a risk of getting your child taken away or you getting arrested because of marijuana, I would rather go to a doctor and get legal prescriptions or recommendations for legal natural remedies that are safe during pregnancy. It is not my belief that marijuana should be illegal, but I would rather not have marijuana than get my child taken away or have to otherwise deal with the legal system re: a schedule I drug possession in America, if you do not have a medical license and live in a state that recognizes your permit to possess it.

this is* not Thus us ;)

Are you for real? WOW

Everyone is different I wouldnt do it

However I have a friend who.smoked cigg entire time she was preg but cut down.baby was fine her mom did too for her n her brother they r fine

Smoking drugs drinking anytging like tgat can harm the baby I wouldnt recomend it

My sisters oldest two kids were fine when she smoked while pregnant.
Her youngest (my niece) was born with lung and breathing problems because of it. She was on steroid breathing treatments from the day she was born, and will always struggle with asthma.

While some kids are fine when their mothers smoke while pregnant - that doesn't make it safe.

Never said it would I said I woukdnt do it I have a friends whos mom did drugs n etc had heart surgry when she was born

Ugh phone didnt let me finish if u feel u need it thst bad talk to tge dr for ur needs maybe tgey can give u something safer than this

i'm pretty sure any type of smoking is bad for you. your friends are lucky they didn't have complications during their pregnancy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2871901.stm

There was an article in NewScientist not too long ago that said smoking cannabis can interfere with sexual development of male fetuses.

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. Everything you take into your body is shared with the baby. And in the case of drugs, the effect on the baby is generally much stronger than the effect on you.

Like I said in my original post, I haven't been able to find resources with strong arguments either way. They all generalize the effects of drugs and smoking during pregnancy, and while I agree cigarette smoking is proven to affect a baby's weight, there are no extensive studies correlating marijuana use and birth defects. I ordered my vaporizer today, in order to have a healthier experience while still getting the benefits. And for the record, a lot more women than you would think smoke during pregnancy. All the ones I know have experienced nothing but the benefits.

Twixie: Are you pregnant right now? Why would you risk it if you're not sure?

@Twixie: As you can see from my post, there are some definite effects that marijuana has on the baby (e.g. oxygen deprivation (hypoxia), neurobiological impairment and, possibly, drug withdrawal). The problem is is that no long-term follow-up studies have been done to actually see the effects as the child grows older. For example, the incidence of schizophrenia may be increased in individuals whose mothers smoked marijuana during pregnancy.

My personal opinion (since you asked us, and I think my opinion has some merit, as I am halfway through a medical degree!) is that it is an unnecessary risk to take and that you're better off reducing the amount you smoke. I acknowledge that the thus-far recognised risks of marijuana aren't as bad as for cigarette smoking during pregnancy, but that doesn't mean that risks don't exist.

@ lithium layouts: Thanks for your imput. I appreciate it when someone comes and explains things with facts rather than with their own biased opinions. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I will ask about the pot use. I have a feeling they will agree with you, in which case I plan to cut back dramatically. If the nausea ever stops, I might quit completely until baby is here.

@Twixie: no problem. The reason why it's such a big issue is that the growing baby is so incredibly sensitive to anything that it's exposed to. That's because crucial things are happening in its development (particularly, in this case, the development on the brain), and so all the conditions have to be perfect (that means a healthy mother).

Cannabis contains chemicals that, while they may alleviate your nausea (which should subside by the end of the first trimester) and pain, will actually have drastic effects on a brain that's just starting to form.

Good luck at your doctor's appointment. I'm curious as to what he/she says.

You can ask your doctor for anti nausea meds.