Cannabis or Marijuana is becoming more popular, which makes it extremely important to tackle the effects or complications it might cause for pregnant women, especially that it would be a double effect (affecting mother and baby at once). What happens to babies in case the mother smoked marijuana while pregnant?
According to a new analysis, babies exposed to marijuana in the womb are likely to be born smaller than those not exposed, and more likely to need intensive care after birth. Researchers report in the journal BMJ Open that mothers who smoke marijuana while pregnant are also more likely than those who don’t to have iron-deficiency anemia.
The team reviewed results from 24 studies across the world to determine how marijuana use affected pregnant mothers and their unborn children. They looked at various health factors including how much babies weighed, their length and head size at birth, as well as how many weeks the infants were in the womb before being born.
Babies who were exposed to marijuana during pregnancy were 77 percent more likely to be born underweight, meaning they weighed less than 5.5 pounds, compared to infants whose mothers did not use marijuana.
The average weight difference between exposed and unexposed babies was approximately 4 ounces. Babies of mothers who used marijuana while pregnant were also twice as likely to be placed in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Mothers who used marijuana were 36 percent more likely than those who didn’t to have anemia, but were not more likely to have issues with prenatal care, labor, bleeding, weight gain, or to have longer hospital stays.
Many marijuana users also use tobacco or alcohol, the researchers note, and these factors were not examined separately in most studies, so it’s not possible to separate out the effects just of marijuana.
Further limitations include the fact that not all studies looked at the same outcomes, the authors point out. So understanding the effects that are consistently seen among mothers who use marijuana while pregnant, and their infants, requires more research.
Pregnant women must consider the consequences of marijuana use, one of he team members said. “She and the rest of the family have to determine whether it’s worthwhile to take the drug for its positive effects versus its potential issues for the newborn.”
“Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should have a discussion with their doctor about the risks and possible adverse effects to their baby for all medications and substances they are taking,” Christ said.
“As use of cannabis gains social acceptance, pregnant women and their medical providers could benefit from health education on potential adverse effects of use of cannabis during pregnancy,” the team concluded.
Previous studies show that the mental functions of people who have smoked a lot of marijuana tend to be diminished. The THC in cannabis disrupts nerve cells in the brain affecting memory.
According to scientific studies, the active ingredient in cannabis, THC, remains in the body for weeks or longer.
Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke. One major research study reported that a single cannabis joint could cause as much damage to the lungs as up to five regular cigarettes smoked one after another. Long-time joint smokers often suffer from bronchitis, an inflammation of the respiratory tract.
