***This article was originally published in the Spring 2019 Issue of The Holistic Parent Magazine ***
Is Cannabis Safe to Use in Pregnancy?
Is cannabis safe to use in pregnancy? A question that causes many to ponder. We know and have known for many years that alcohol use is strongly discouraged during pregnancy. Lots of retrospective studies have undoubtedly proven the association of alcohol use in pregnancy and developmental delays, behaviour disorders and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
Now that Cannabis is legal to buy and use in Canada, many women are questioning, Is it safe for me to smoke/vape or ingest a tasty edible during pregnancy. Seemingly harmless, it is a plant after all, which would cause most to think, “Well, doesn’t that mean it’s natural? So it must be safe…right?” I mean it must be better than smoking cigarettes or using illegal drugs like meth and heroin. You would be surprised at how difficult a question this is to answer. And this is why:
It’s really hard to study the effects of Cannabis use on mothers and their unborn babies. Although legal now, berfore it wasn’t, so who would ever admit that they used cannabis at a party, or to combat morning sickness or relieve anxiety when they were expecting for fear of having their children taken away by Family and Children’s Services and being labeled as a druggie or an addict. Even now, after legalization, a strong stigma exists for those who admit to cannabis use. Not many women were willing to admit they use cannabis during pregnancy, even if their use is rare, so it becomes difficult to gather a lot of data. We can’t study what we don’t know.
As a nurse in a busy labour and delivery unit, I have encountered patients who have used pretty much everything. It used to be, years ago, that if a mom admitted she had smoked weed in her pregnancy, we had to call F&CS. As the years have gone by, most social workers will tell you that marijuana was the least of their worries and not to bother. How things have changed.
That being said, there are a few good studies that, although they have limited data, the data they produced seems to hold up. So here is what we know:
FACT: Cannabis is the second most common substance used in Canada, it falls number 2 to alcohol.
FACT: One study reported that 70% of women, when asked, thought infrequent use of Cannabis in pregnancy would have little or no harm to their baby.
FACT: 16.9% of women in Canada self-report Cannabis use in pregnancy
10% in the 1st trimester
2.5% in the 2nd trimester
2.3% in the 3rd trimester
We suspect these numbers may be quite a bit higher because some women opt not to disclose their use.
In 2017, the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health in Ontario added questions specifically about marijuana use to the Ontario Perinatal Record. The document used by all Pregnancy care providers in the province to specifically address the increased reported use.
What we also know about cannabis use in pregnancy and its effects on neonates is that cannabis does cross the placenta. Meaning that if you smoke, vape or ingest it, it will eventually enter your baby’s bloodstream and enter their body.
Health Canada and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada have released data that states cannabis affects the brain of adults and adolescents (this has been well studied). Health Canada recommends adolescents avoid cannabis use as it can affect the rapidly developing brain of a teenager and cause mental health and behaviour issues. Theoretically, apply that same science to a rapidly growing fetal brain. It produces millions of new cells a day. Use of cannabis could then affect the growth and development of a baby’s brain. The cells of the human brain are lipophilic. Meaning they are made up mostly of lipids or fat. We know that THC deposits easily into fat cells and can stay there for long periods.
Use of cannabis has been linked to poor birth outcomes in infants. A few studies have cited Low birth weight in infants of mothers who self-reported cannabis use. Having a slightly smaller baby might sound appealing to some (I myself had a 9 lb baby and could have done with a wee bit smaller personally). But having a baby with low birth weight has been strongly associated with long-term health effects such as an increased risk of respiratory issues in infancy and adulthood, increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and long-term decreased academic achievement.
“If you choose to use cannabis during or throughout your pregnancy, talk to your health care provider. Don’t hide your use or be ashamed.”
The same studies also looked deeper at the long-term consequences and noted that infants whose mothers used cannabis daily at 0-3 years of age had difficulty being calmed, had exaggerated startle reflexes and notable sleep problems. At 3-6 years of age, researchers noted poor memory, increased impulsive behaviours and decreased ability to focus and maintain attention. Lastly, at 6-10 years of age an increase in reports of hyperactivity, learning difficulties, increased incidence of depression, anxiety, difficulty with decision making and attention issues.
All that being said, what the studies also state is that most mothers in the study used cannabis daily, also smoked cigarettes, were of lower socioeconomic status, had poor nutrition and poor physical and mental health. So, it’s hard to know if these were healthy, middle-class women who smoked or vaped occasionally, would the effects on the baby or child have been the same?
What all this means, really, is it’s hard to conclude. Should you or shouldn’t you use cannabis if you are pregnant? Could you harm your baby? We don’t have enough solid evidence to say. Health Canada and the SOGC caution women against cannabis use in pregnancy, and if they do choose to use that, they decrease their use if possible.
My final advice as a nurse and childbirth educator is, more research needs to be done. We don’t definitively know if or what amount of cannabis use is safe in pregnancy. If you choose to use cannabis during or throughout your pregnancy, talk to your health care provider. Don’t hide your use or be ashamed. By letting your Obstetrician, Family Doctor or Midwife know, they can help you if you need assistance decreasing your use, discuss safer options for use (smoking vs. vaping) and help you decide what is best for you, your situation and your baby.
