During pregnancy, drugs can cause various problems to the fetus and we don't talk only about hard drugs: even those considered soft drugs, such as marijuana, can be harmful. According to recent reports, American women are increasingly using marijuana during pregnancy, sometimes to treat nausea.
While in 2002, 2.4% of pregnant women admitted to using marijuana in national drug surveys, the figures rose to about 4% in 2014, a clearly upward trend. An evolution that raises concerns due to the connection of marijuana with low birth weight and other problems
Newborns of mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy may face increased risks of anemia, memory and attention disorders ... perhaps because the drug interferes with the formation of nerve cells and brain circuits during the development of the fetus.
Data on marijuana use over the years have been published online in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association by specialists from Columbia University Medical Center, who conducted surveys of more than two hundred thousand women.
These conclude that, in order to ensure optimal maternal and child health, health professionals should examine and advise pregnant women and those who are going to plan pregnancy about the effects of prenatal use of marijuana.
Nor to mitigate nausea of pregnancy
But, What happens if marijuana is taken to mitigate morning sickness? Can it be allowed in some cases? Although medical marijuana is legalized in 29 states and Washington DC in the United States, the laws do not include conditions related to pregnancy among permitted uses. However, the laws also prohibit such use and do not include warnings about possible harm to the fetus, so there may be some confusion in this regard.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discourages the use of marijuana by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and that drugs in general have a close relationship with congenital defects in the baby.
According to the "Guide for the prevention of congenital defects", prepared by the Working Group of the Ministry of Health and Consumption of Spain, marijuana could cause abortions, prematurity and intrauterine death of the fetus, as has been proven in animals. In the children of mothers who consume this drug, a higher incidence of vision and behavior disorders has been proven.
No professional should suggest the use of marijuana as an option to mitigate the nausea of pregnancy and no pregnant woman should take it, neither in this situation nor in any other. There are natural remedies and "tricks" to reduce nausea that may work for many women and if this is not your case, talk to the gynecologist, because there are certain drugs that could help you if it is considered necessary.
