The consumption of alcohol or drugs, including tobacco, is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy due to the serious consequences it could have on the development of the fetus, as well as being detrimental to the health of the mother. The lack of perception about the danger of some products can make it difficult for pregnant women to become aware of the risks they pose to themselves and their future babies.
An example of this is the attitude towards drugs used for recreational purposes, such as cannabis, and the fact that this substance has even been recommended to pregnant women to alleviate certain pregnancy discomforts, especially morning sickness. However, there is scientific evidence that shows that consuming cannabinoids during pregnancy negatively affects offspring.
A new study has now evaluated how the timing of cannabis exposure during pregnancy influences fetal development. “We showed that even when marijuana use occurred only in the first trimester of pregnancy, birth weight was significantly reduced, by more than 150 g on average,” said Dr. Beth Bailey, professor and director of health research. of the population at Central Michigan University and director and author of the study, who adds: “If that use continued into the second trimester, the newborn’s head circumference was also significantly reduced.”
Babies who had been exposed to marijuana throughout their pregnancy weighed almost 200 g less at birth and had almost 1 cm less head circumference
“These findings are important, as newborn size is one of the strongest predictors of future child health and development,” continues study first author Phoebe Dodge, MD, a pediatrics resident at the University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. The results have been published in Frontiers in Pediatrics.
Deficiencies in the baby due to cannabis exposure in the womb
Bailey has explained that “size deficits were greatest among newborns exposed to marijuana during gestation.” Specifically, babies who had been continuously exposed to this substance in utero weighed almost 200 g less at birth and had almost 1 cm less head circumference than babies who had not been exposed. In this study, cannabis use during pregnancy did not significantly predict newborn height.
The researchers also observed some effects on cannabis use patterns, and their study revealed that occasional use, as well as its use to alleviate first-trimester morning sickness, can slow fetal growth in the same way as its continued use for a long period of time. the gestation. This is also true for other early-stage uses, including cases where a woman uses cannabis without knowing that she is pregnant.
The study authors have noted that they did not have information on how much or how often the participants used cannabis and that their results were based on whether or not the women used it at certain times of pregnancy. Therefore, they have not been able to verify whether there was a connection between heavy use and stronger newborn growth outcomes and acknowledge that further studies are needed to determine whether timing or amount of use is more important when it comes to the effects on the size of the newborn.
“The best recommendation is that women be counseled to stop using marijuana before they become pregnant,” Dodge said. However, quitting smoking as soon as possible after becoming pregnant is the second best option to avoid detrimental effects on the baby’s health and long-term development. “There are some benefits of quitting smoking among those who start their pregnancy using marijuana,” she concludes.
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