People have been using marijuana products for thousands of years, and since the sale of weed has been legalized in Canada and some states throughout the US for both medicinal and recreational use, there has been a major increase in the number of people using the substance.
The legalization has been incredible news for those suffering from physical or mental problems that use marijuana to treat these issues. However, as more people are using cannabis products than ever before, there has been growing concern amongst the general population. Scientists and other experts are very worried about the effects that medicinal cannabis will have on certain groups, such as elderly people, those suffering from psychological problems, and pregnant women. Very few experts or doctors would recommend a pregnant woman to use weed so why are so many ladies consuming cannabis while they are expecting a newborn baby?
Some Women Use Marijuana to Help with Morning Sickness
The majority of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness during their pregnancy. Although not all ladies get it, it is very common especially with those expecting their first baby. Some women find this one of the most challenging parts of being pregnant.
People all around the globe use cannabis products to help cure nausea. There are compounds in cannabis known as cannabinoids that help people avoid feelings of nausea. Often pregnant women suffer so badly from morning sickness, they can’t get on with their daily tasks. To help, many of them use weed. Although it’s not a great solution due to the health risks, many pregnant women feel it works really well for them.
Although using cannabis to help with morning sickness might not be ideal, suffering from stress brought on by morning sickness is also dangerous. Lots of expecting mothers feel that using cannabis is safer than all the rest of the dangers that go with morning sickness.
Cannabis is Used to Help Fight Back Pain
People of all ages who suffer from back problems use cannabis to give them relief. Plenty of pregnant women complain about intense back pain during their pregnancy. The extra weight caused by their unborn child can cause a lot of stress to a pregnant woman’s back, making being pregnant very difficult. Through the course of the pregnancy, back problems can increase due to the baby growing and getting bigger. Some women not only feel serious pain in their back while they are pregnant, but it can be very painful on their legs too while trying to support the rest of their body.
Although a lot of people smoke weed or ingest cannabis to help them get pain relief, many experts believe pregnant women should use CBD oil instead. This non-psychoactive cannabis extract is available in oil that can be used to massage into a pregnant lady’s back or legs. Cannabis stores like Canna Cabana have a wide range of CBD products available. You can purchase CBD products such as tea, oils, edibles, and even vape juice.
Use of Cannabis During Pregnancy can lead to Lower Birth Weight
Although marijuana products have been made legal in certain countries, it doesn’t make the substance safe. At the end of the day, both tobacco products and alcohol are legal but you don’t normally see pregnant ladies queuing up to buy them. Yes, cannabis can help with many problems people face, and for some, the substance is life-changing.
If a person who rarely uses cannabis consumes marijuana, you can expect them to get stoned very quickly as they are unable to handle the substance. If a fully grown adult struggles to handle weed, you can imagine the level of tolerance an unborn baby has.
A recent study was carried out in Colorado, one of the states in America where it is legal to purchase weed for both medicinal and recreational use. The study consisted of over three thousand pregnant women. The study revealed that 5.7% of participants used cannabis while they were pregnant and 5% of mothers used the substance while they were breastfeeding their new baby. The study showed some alarming results, with approximately 50% of women who had used cannabis while they were pregnant had babies that were born with lower birth weight.
Risk of Stillbirth
Experts believe that THC, a compound found in cannabis can be very dangerous for the fetus. Recent studies show that similar to smoking tobacco, THC can have a very damaging effect on the health of a baby. Some experts claim that smoking cannabis while pregnant can increase the chances by three times of having a stillborn baby.
A study was carried out in 2013 in fifty-nine different American hospitals where researchers tested different samples of blood and the umbilical cords from stillborn babies. Their research showed those who used weed while they were pregnant were a 2.3 times higher risk of giving birth to a stillborn baby.
How can Cannabis affect your Mind while you are Pregnant?
Being pregnant can take its toll on the mind and body. The fear of giving birth, especially for the first time can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. Some of the side effects that pregnant women feel are as follows:
- Uplifting: Some cannabis makes the user feel really positive. Some women who suffer from pre or postnatal depression turn to cannabis to make them feel better again.
- Helps a person sleep: Cannabis, especially weed grown from the Indica plant can help a pregnant woman get a good night’s sleep at night. Pregnant women must be well rested, so it is unsurprising so many women use cannabis products to help them get some kip.
- It can cause Paranoia: A lot of people suffer from paranoia while they are stoned. Being paranoid and pregnant at the same time can be very dangerous. It can cause pregnant women to feel stressed and make them panic, which is very unhealthy for an unborn baby.
- Anxiety: Although many people use cannabis to help reduce anxiety, others feel that the substance actually increases anxiety. If you have suffered from anxiety in the past while using cannabis, perhaps avoiding it while you’re pregnant is probably best.
Cannabis that is found for sale in dispensaries comes from either the Sativa or Indica marijuana plants, which both contain a compound known as THC or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is what makes people feel stoned due to its mind-altering properties.
Conclusion
Experts warn pregnant women never to smoke cannabis while they are pregnant. If they are going to use the substance, they should consider using a different method of consuming weed as opposed to smoking a joint or a bong. A very popular method that pregnant women use is cannabis edibles that can be found for sale in a legal pot shop. If you are considering using weed while you are pregnant, consider talking to a trained expert before you consume it. Also, check how potent the weed is before you use it. Some cannabis on the market is extremely high in THC, so check the label in case you are unable to handle it. However, all cannabis products should be avoided while pregnant according to experts.
