Smoking Pot while Pregnant

[BryLo]

I know none of you are Doctors and this is a touchy subject, but looking for your opinions on smoking pot while pregnant.

Do you think having a puff here and there is alright?  

If you have nothing but rude remarks, please keep them to yourself.

Thanks!

[wantingbabies]

I don't honestly know if it's harmful or not.  But personally, I don't want to do anything to put my baby at risk.  I avoid everything that I think has the potential to harm my baby.  But it took me 6 years to get pregnant, so I am really protective of this pregnancy.  Anyway, I guess my opinion is I wouldn't want to risk it.

[loismwallace]

I personally haven't done it since I found out I was pregnant with my 14 yr old, but my sister-in-law did smoke while pregnant and they have two of the smartest kids. Not saying that the smoking contributed, but doesn't seem to have harmed them. By no means and I promoting it, but this is the only expereince I've had with smoking pot and pregnancy. You might do some research and get a medical opinion.

[JoyRenee]

Smoking pot can cause birth defects in your baby. Taking any illegal substance can! Also, you're going to want to set a good example for your child.

Think of it this way... would you hand your baby a joint or give them a bottle of alcohol? Any time you inhale or eat something it gets passed through the placenta to your baby.

Make a wise choice! Smoking pot or using any drugs/cigs/alcohol could harm you or your baby. ;-)

[mamaofonetrying42]

Like wantingbabies said. I wouldnt want to do anything that would hard my baby. I mean if I did do something like that(and Im NOT) ANd if somthing happened to the baby how could you for give yourself......

[melanie594]

i myself smoke pot, and have for a few years now, as soon as i found out i was pregnant, the morning sickness literally hit me as i looked at the preg test, and got so bad , but i didnt smoke until i went to the doc, i asked her straight out , then again with anther two docs at my next to apts. and all three told me that there have been studies done on pregnant women and pot, and of all the studies, none have shown to cause any birth defects or abnormalities, the only thing that has 'ever' been found was sometimes you can have a smaller birthweight, but as long as you carry to term your good. when i found that out i went home and smoked a bit with my guy and it did a world of onders for my morning sickness...like it helped sooo much, and it encourages you to eat more, just when you get the munchies turn your cravings t fruits and veggies, it is great, up until now i have smoked and my docs are aware of it, they told me at first that is i was a regular user to actually not stop but cut down if i could stop then good, but if not dont stress you and little one, just cut down, so if your not a regular user i would say take a puff when you feel nauseus and you will feel alot better, but thats just what all my different docs told me and im in canada, i know most of the people on here are in the states.

[JoyRenee]

You do realize melanie594 that they could be using you as a sort of "case study" and recording everything you're going through without telling you, then submitting it to a panel of OBGYNS and their organizations... Just a thought!

[JoyRenee]

Okay, here is some info I found:

First of all, smoking anything during pregnancy deprives the fetus of oxygen. Just as smoking tobacco is discouraged in pregnant women, so is smoking marijuana. Smoking any type of substance interferes with the fetus's blood supply. This can mean the fetus doesn't get enough oxygen, and s/he may be born smaller in both weight and length.

Smaller babies have a higher risk of other problems after birth, such as infections, severe jaundice, difficulty feeding, breathing problems, low blood sugar, difficulty regulating temperature, bleeding into the brain, and problems with vision.

[BryLo]

Thank you for everyones opionions.  Thanks to Melaine594.  I too live in Canada.  

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Personally I wouldn't do it...I don't think there have been enough CONTROLLED studies to say with certainty whether or not marijuana causes birth defects.  Aside from that, becuase marijuana is an illegal substance, unless you grow it yourself, you don't know where it came from...who knows what it's been laced with.  

[BryLo]

Thank you for your research JoyRenee

[JoyRenee]

You're welcome!

[nikisinki]

going to nursing school myself and studying in the maturnity course, i had to do a paper on just this!!! it causes birth defects, and it was prooven, i wish i oculd find the articles that i used to write the paper hun, but its somewhere off of my colleges website using their library, but now that im writting this, im going to check my computer for the bibliography to see if i can find the article, only if i saved it to the computer. honestly, i wouldnt smoke while being pregnant, i cant tell you what to do because i dont smoke pot to begin with, but i do smoke cigarettes, and i am going to quit as soon as i find out im preggo, but in a weird way i guess you can say i know what its like with the cravings and having to quit suddenly because i had to when i found out the last time i was preggo, but i had a m/c, so needless to say i started to smoke cigs alot more after that happened from the stress i went through., but seriously, just think about it before u decide anything., it could be harmful for the babies lungs while their still trying to develop, you know?? but its all up to you, nicole

[loismwallace]

I'm not encourging this, but I've been researching this since my post 41 minutes ago. Nothing compared to years of study ofcourse...I found no studies done on humans, only labratory experiments on animals. I'm not "pro" smoking, just feeling my brain with as much knowlege as I can...I find it interesting that I found no actual links to "human" birth deffects, only speculations. Personally, I wouldn't smoke anything while pregnant...If anyone knows of an actual study done on humans, I would love to read about it.

[beautifullychaotic]

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA262120


I just plain would not do it! Why risk it?  Just what I think.

[guatmommy]

I don't mean to be rude- but why would you do ANYTHING that could even have the slighteset chance of putting your unborn child at risk.. In my opinion.... very irresponsible.

Good luck!

[melanie594]

i dont sit on the computer all day reading up on what random companies may post, because your gonna get 50 billion different opinions about it anyway, i go by what my doctors are telling me, and if they are actually saying they dont encourae it but it wont do serious harm, then im gonna listen to them. and have been, i have kept up with all my pats, and actually just got back from one this morning, and if all my u/s keep showing up normal, they say baby is a good weight and size, already head down and ready to join us in a few weeks, then i see everything as ok. if my doctors 'tell' me it does NOT cause birth defects then im gonna listen to them as well, cause te internet is gonna tell you yes it does, then 40 other sites say it doesnt, and thats where alot of the people on here get info from, random sites that , since they read it often, they must be right...and yeah marijuana is an illegal substance, but keep in mind it is also one of mother natures weeds, is one of the only drugs out there that can grow in the wild without mans help to alter or feed it in an way, just like other herbs we use give us different reactions(like teas). and im not here to tell everyone they are wrong just cause i smoke as well, but i think that as long as everything is monitered closely(which i have been by choice) and you know where your herb is coming from(like home grown, or not coming from timbucktoo then i dont see how it can be all that bad if the doctors are saying its not going to hurt the baby providing i had to cut down and they said they were aware alot of people use it as an anti nauseant. they dont recommend it by no means... but they knew i was a regular user(cause i told them) and they said the first three months are the most important, if you cant stop then cut down, which i did. and thats 'my' story/opinion.

[anxious2]

i would not smoke anything during the pregnancy and definitely not a illegal drug.  I am a social worker and have had to remove several babies or put services in the home due to babies being born under the influence.  Although your doctor may know you are using if your child is born with drugs in him or her system they are mandated to call in a report.  Just because the child may be born ok does not mean there wont be any effects that show up later.  I cant quote any studies and dont care to. Smoking while pregnant just isnt a smart or healthy thing to do when it comes to the health of a baby.

[Shannon125]

I am a research scientist and have access to all medical journals online. Just so you know, it can cause harm to an unborn child. Since I can't post the entire articles for you I will post just a few of the titles that should explain it all.

Discrete opioid gene expression impairment in the human fetal brain associated with maternal marijuana use.

Marijuana impairs growth in mid-gestation fetuses

Prenatal exposure to a cannabinoid agonist produces memory deficits linked to dysfunction in hippocampal long-term potentiation and glutamate release.

A history of induced abortion in relation to substance use during subsequent pregnancies carried to term.

Frequencies of hprt mutant lymphocytes in marijuana-smoking mothers and their newborns

So there you have it... you can make your own choices but I thinks it shouldn't even be a question. And to loismwallace: the reason you don't find any studies done on humans is because it would be unethical and against the law to conduct a study asking pregnant women to smoke pot just to "see what happens." We researchers rely on animals whom are closely related to us as well as those that aren't to draw these conclusions and conduct these studies. Just in my research alone, I use monkeys infected with Simian HIV (SHIV). I couldn't conduct a study knowingly infecting humans with HIV. I would lost all my grant money and my job.

[adawning4]

I SMOKED HEAVILY BEFORE I GOT PREGNANT THE FIRST TIME. I STOPPED SMOKING AS SOON AS I GOT THE + TEST. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD NOT WANT TO PUT ANYTHING INTO MY BODY THAT MAY HARM MY BABY..... SURELY YOU CAN WAIT JUST  A FEW MONTHS TO SMOKE AGAIN. YOUR BABY DESERVES A HEALTHY START....... DONT DEPRIVE HIM/HER OF THAT!

[rachie204]

if you are 100% sure it wouldn't cause any problems you would not have asked this question and if you are even a little unsure you should not use.  There is so much that science has not discovered yet.  It could or could not be dangerous but if there is even the slightest risk it could harm your child then why do it...the only reson someone would be willing to risk harming their child by using pot is if they are addicted to it....and if you are willing to hurt your child to get your fix you should look into getting some help for yourself.

[rachie204]

if you are 100% sure it wouldn't cause any problems you would not have asked this question and if you are even a little unsure you should not use.  There is so much that science has not discovered yet.  It could or could not be dangerous but if there is even the slightest risk it could harm your child then why do it...the only reson someone would be willing to risk harming their child by using pot is if they are addicted to it....and if you are willing to hurt your child to get your fix you should look into getting some help for yourself.

[loismwallace]

Shannon125:
Smoking pot is "not" illegal in all countries so I am just surprised there has not been a study on humans, or atleast that I can find. I am NOT a smoker, but just curious as to the effects on the human fetus. Just like some of the posts suggest they smoked and had normal pregnancies and children.

If anyone else has a link to a "human" study, I would really like to read it. I like knowing both sides of everything.

[BryLo]

rachie204.  I've never said I am 100% sure about anything as obvisioly NOONE is! Hence why I asked the question.

Everyone has their own opinions on this topic and noone should be judged!!!!!

It was just a question...no need to imply that i'm an addict or would intenaonlly hurt my child.

[Shannon125]

I tried to give you the links to the full articles but my PubMed account is password protected and unless I give you my password you can't read full articles. I have however provided links to the Abstracts of some of these studies. Hope this helps.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16477274?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15734273?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9726006?ordinalpos=11&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

[BryLo]

Thanks Shannon125!

[loismwallace]

Thanks Shannon125...I'm going to check them out now...I just want to make myself better educated on the subject, so I can give honest answers and advise. So many lives have been sacraficed in the name of sceince, it just surprises me I can't find a study on humans.

[rachie204]

I kinda ment the respone in general terms...didn't really mean to target towards any one person....sorry if it sounded that way. Been cleaning up throw up from my 3year old all day and didnt really take my time to word that response better.  I'm not judging you I promise.  I really don't think anyone should risk it though as there is no telling the effects it could possible have in the future.  Best of luck.

[KStarr07]

Whooaa, lots of replies, I only read melanie's, and personally.. Everything i have tried to find on the subject, is basically inconclusive. no real concrete data. a friend of mine who is now 7 months pregnant, smokes pot, i don't know how regularly.. but she does and so far everything is FINE. But I am also absolutely sure that if you smoke heavily during your pregnancy, there could be negative consequences way farther along in the child's life that you may not even associate with the pot smoking during gestation.. So just be careful. I'm sure every once in a while is not too harmful.

[KStarr07]

Okay I took the time to read them all. And I want to add that, while marijuana is "illegal" it is not really much worse than actual drugs that have been created by humans. The drugs that we take, sometimes as medicine to get rid of infections, antibiodics, ETC. are very likely to have effects that have never been studied, or discovered. the human mind, and scientific study, can only get someone so far. Marijuana was made by the earth, and illegalized in most countries, by man. And there is actually an interesting economical reason for why it was actually illegalized, that I won't get into, as I am not 100% sure on the complete facts, but i know the jist of it. it isn't as harmful as people seem to think. I know women who simply can't .. or well, don't, quit smoking cigarettes throughout their pregnancies and go on to have normal healthy babies, birth-weight and all. Althought I don't agree with it, it happens, QUITE often. And much more often back many, many years ago, before they had discovered that the effects of cigarettes were even harmful to the body. just as cocaine used to actually be prescribed and sold all around the world to "cure" all sorts of things, decades ago. you think pregnant women had not recieved that in the past as well? .. although yes, cocaine has it's CLEAR-CUT effects.. because it truly is a harmful, "illegal-drug" not just an "illegal herb" like marijuana, OR "legal-drug" like cigarettes. Just because cigarettes are legal, does not mean they are any better by NO means. because they are filled with chemicals and poisons and toxins, but still, are legal. and women around the world smoke them and have healthy babies. where as marijuana, is just a pure herb. [if you of course know where it's coming from] My point here, is that just because it's illegal, doesn't mean it is something deadly. There are differences. Yes, it is taking a risk.. Which most pregnant women who cared about their babies would do most anything to avoid[not targetting you to say you do not care about your baby's well-being], it does not mean it's going to do any actual harm.. just because there is possibility of it, because of the unknown. but it doesn't mean it is completely safe either. [like when cocaine was in the grey area of the "unknown" when it came to effects, and now humans are smarter, and understand this] That is just my own, personal opinion.

[lucky2bme]

i have a 5 week old and i smoked ciggerettes and i did smoke weed here and there not alot maybe a couple puffs a month while iw as pregnant but i did smoke it a couple times during my pregnancy and my boy came out fine and veary healthy 8 pounds .. and i know a couple friends that did smoke weed while pregnant more then once a month and there kids came out healthy nothing wrong either.. but everyone is different just because sum1 has done it and tehre kids came out fine doesnt mean that urs will .. like i smoked my pregnancy if i had another kid i wouldnt smoke ciggerettes my next time around ..evan though my kid came out a healthy beautiful boy .. doesnt mean that it wont harm my next .. like i said every person body and pregnancy is different .. so it is really up 2 you im not gonna tell you not to do it n im not gonna tell you 2..

[Shell24]

I used to party a lot, but stopped about 5 years ago. I was afraid of what all of it would start to do to me...I would not do it to myself anymore, let alone my unborn baby...doesn't weed cause depression and make underlying mental illness worse for some people....I wouldn't want to risk it. These are just my feelings.

[KStarr07]

Another thing I'd like to add, is that whole "just because it was okay once doesn't mean it will be okay the next time" no offense, but isn't it that way with EVERY pregnancy? every single time a woman gets pregnant [smoking, or NOT smoking] she faces the risk of birth deffects, health problems, low birth-weight, etc. etc. all touchy subjects, but these things happen. It does not mean that it is caused by something a woman is doing. And I think blame is the last thing someone wants to have on their shoulders, or PUT on another woman's shoulders. Although it happens more often-times than not.. I think a woman who smoked pot on occasion, is JUST as likely to have a baby with something wrong as anyone else in the world. But that is my opinion. Just as you have yours.. Of course, I don't know this 100% for sure, but neither do you know 100% for sure that it is otherwise. So you should let people do what they feel is acceptable, especially if monitored and okay'ed by doctors, without JUDGING them, first.

[chicka4samson]

Personally I think its selfish. I quit smoking cigarettes when i foud out I was carrying "life". If you need something to calm down or to help you cope, then talk to friends or just get relaxationcds, it helped me. Drugs are only temporary anyways and are harmful, heavily smoked or not. Weird subject but look at all the responses you are getting.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I saw a commercial once (for smoking cigarettes while pregnant) and it was something like a baby smoking a cigarette while inside the mom.  It didn't show for very long.  Probably because it was pretty graphic and disturbing to watch.  Anyway, that's what I think of.  I wouldn't hand my baby a cigarette or a joint or a beer.  In my mind, it would be like getting your baby high.  I mean surely the baby would feel the effects of the pot.  What KStar said is right....There are risks during pregnancy no matter what you do or don't do.  But there are things that a woman can do to put her or her baby more at risk.  And there are measures you can take to put you and your baby at less of a risk.  Like the label on the cigarettes talking about what CAN happen if you smoke while pregnant....doesn't mean it WILL happen.  It just means that it CAN.  So, in the end, you just have to do what you feel is right.  I personally would not do it.

[luv2bmommy]

it definetly doesnt improve anything! dont do it!

[scared1988]

im not a doctor but i did have to do research for one of my classes on pregnancy. it is proven that any kind of substance (alcohol, smoke, and drug, etc.) that crosses the placenta could harm your fetus.it could cause soo many birth defects pre-term labor and even worse, death. im not trying to scare you but if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant you shouldnt do anything that can harm you because it is surely going to harm your baby.so be careful.most doctors advise you not to even be around toxins at all including pot and things of that sort.so Just dont do it sweetie.best of luck

[girl0319]

I have heard about some women being told to smoke some marijuana to get them to eat during the first few months of pregnancy because of morning sickness...