Marijuana and pregnancy

[Disco 16]

Hello everyone

All of my female smoker friends quit smoking when they found out they were pregnant. During one of my (way too) many daydreaming sessions I wondered why. Marijuana is such a great plant, what harm can it do to your baby? A very nice lady, Dr. Melanie Dreher, had the same thoughts decades ago and did a quite extensive research about the use of marijuana during pregnancy.

She studied almost fifty Jamaican pregnant women, smoking and non-smoking, and compared the exposed and non-exposed kids at 3 days, one year, and five years of age.

Here's an excerpt of her research, published in the American Journal of Pediatrics in 1994 (http://www.druglibra.../can-babies.htm):

Although no positive or negative neurobehavioral effects of prenatal exposure were found at 3 days of life using the Brazelton examination, there were significant differences between the exposed and nonexposed neonates at the end of the first month. Comparing the two groups, the neonates of mothers who used marijuana showed better physiological stability at 1 month and required less examiner facilitation to reach an organized state and become available for social stimulation. The results of the comparison of neonates of the heavy-marijuana-using mothers and those of the nonusing mothers were even more striking. The heavily exposed neonates were more socially responsive and were more autonomically stable at 30 days than their matched counterparts. The quality of their alertness was higher; their motor and autonomic systems were more robust; they were less irritable; they were less likely to demonstrate any imbalance of tone; they needed less examiner facilitation to become organized; they had better self-regulation; and were judged to be more rewarding for caregivers than the neonates of nonusing mothers at 1 month of age.

At age five, no differences were found between kids of smokers and non-smokers.

Experiences, opinions?

I know this isn't everybody's cup of tea but I felt the need to share

[Dust 6,284]

well it makes sense if the smokers mom weren't using tobacco but in jamaica i guess most momma smoke pure ^^ Cause for real what is really bad for baby when you smoke cigarette? i'm just guessing bu i guess it's nicotine, mercure and all those other poison that re in it and that will end up in blood, or is it the action of smoking something and all the lung process etc is not good for baby? if soeone would love to know ^^

but well i know some civilization that gave Rhum in milk to babies to calm them down, and it's a culture so done by everyone there, so why cannabis given by the blood f a mother would act bad on a baby i don't know.. maybe they are reasons but i don't see them, we all know we product ourselves those molecules that fit in the cannabinoid receptor, perhaps having them working uring pregnancy create something diferent in the way it works after..

Damn you and your stoner question now i wonder too ^^I'll be reading the answers but we need real specialist there lol ^^

[Exodus Please 100]

Nice piece Disco.

Food for thought so to speak. I am 100% in support if the plant and this makes me wonder if our opinion of 'mums to be' smoking pot is directly linked to our, now, inbuilt disgust at tobacco smoking mothers.

We have been drilled (correctly) for 50 years about the serious and real health risks if shitty tobacco and have formed very strong collective thoughts about pregnant women ignoring the proven risks and endangering their un born nappy fillers. Before the research in to cigarette related deaths and respiratory complications everyone smoked, it was cool and I'm sure pregnant women were not expected to quit during pregnancy.

If ganja can provide the same therapeutic results for pregnant Ladies as it dirs for recreational and medical users making the process less stressful for mother and child with harming the physical or mental development then why not?! I wonder if it is our opinion of smoking not weed that comes into question here?

I think a mother carrying a child should stay as pure as possible. Child birth is just one of those magical things we do. If i were a lady(not saying i´m not) I would stick to being healthy with good food and fresh air. It just sounds logical.

And i also think the father should support the mother by not smoking

Tokage, I'm gonna stick my neck out and suggest you haven't given up the smoke to support a pregnant partner!!

I certainly haven't and won't say its a good idea incase my wife is pregnant and suggests I should!! I do however feel your 'pure process' point completely.

Nice post Disco - I wonder if anyone else will find any good research or info.

Glad I'm a boy!!!!!

Exodus Please

[Exodus Please 100]

Wasn't there a bit in one of the strain hunter docs. I cant remember which show or writen live report it was, it was about them making a tincture of post processed product into something for sleeping, im sure it was for kids?? I'm thinking it was the morrocco doc. Ok, I'll watch it again just for you guys!!!!!

[Exodus Please 100]

Toke, very honourable. I would be less use off the smoke for nine months than while smoking, that will be my claim anyhow.

I will report back when I watch the documentaries again.

[MissKittyKat 157]

people have to remember that cannabis is NON TOXIC....cannabis is great for morning sickness, aches and pains and just plain old blues from being pregnant.

I used cannabis for morning sickness and it was fantastic! No way would I take pills from the doctor. we all remember the flipper baby horrors. cannabis is not toxic and will not harm the baby in moderation. I say moderation because sitting in a room full of cannabis smoke will harm the baby due to lack of oxygen! LOL....

[Disco 16]

I think a mother carrying a child should stay as pure as possible.

Totally agree with you on this, but if you're unable to keep any food down and not getting the nutrients your baby desperately needs, I believe using cannabis is the best remedy out there. If your wife is puking her brains out all day, every day, would you give her some of your home grown herb or get some nice chemicals at your local pharmacist?

Anyways, I've been reading a lot more on this subject, but the research is often so outdated it's not relevant anymore. Also, many researches show some serious flaws when they attempt to rule out other variables. Not to mention that many of the researchers already have a strong opinion about the use of marijuana before starting their research, or are afraid for their reputation, which makes for biased results.

Because it's very difficult to study the effects on human subjects because of the many variables, let's take a look at the effects of THC on animals

(from http://www.mothering...uring-pregnancy, brief and interesting article):

In animal studies, THC has been shown to produce spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, and physical deformities—but only with extremely large doses, only in some species of rodents, and only when THC is given at specific times during pregnancy. Because the effects of drugs on fetal development differ substantially across species, these studies have little or no relevance to humans. Studies with primates show little evidence of fetal harm from THC. In one study, researchers exposed chimpanzees to high doses of THC for up to 152 days and found no change in the sexual behavior, fertility, or health of their offspring.

And for the history fans, a 30-page research about the use of cannabis in obstetrics and gynecology through history:

http://www.cannabis-...002-03-04-1.pdf

I hope more research will be done on this subject, or maybe one day do it myself

[Exodus Please 100]

Totally agree with you on this, but if you're unable to keep any food down and not getting the nutrients your baby desperately needs, I believe using cannabis is the best remedy out there. If your wife is puking her brains out all day, every day, would you give her some of your home grown herb or get some nice chemicals at your local pharmacists?

I really like this topic! Great points again Disco.

We have fallen victim to anti nausea/morning sickness drugs in the past with catastrophic results.

Most people in the developed world of a certain age, know someone either directly or indirectly that is physically disabled due to birth defects as a result of the anti morning sickness chemical Thalidamide. Thalidamide was issued freely to expectant mothers between 1957 and 1962 when it was recognised as a teratogen responsible for causing a multitude of different birth defects. Tested by pharmaceutical firms and passed by governments this chemical, non organic reliver caused thousands of birth defects and resulted in huge compensation claims in the last two decades.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide#section_1

A non toxic herb used for generations without complication must be safer than this.

Exodus Please

[Exodus Please 100]

I should had been more accurate with my answer. I do not mean that a mother with child should be without if it helps with morning sickness. I was talking more about smoking it for recreational use.

And I'm sort of with you mate. I say sort of because this thread has made me consider my usual thoughts. I'd have always said no way? Do you think eating it for therapeutic reasons, relaxation, muscular relief etc is OK. I think I do?