Women who use cannabis in the first six to 14 weeks of pregnancy are at greater risk of their baby being developmentally disabled, dead, or born prematurely. This is reported by scientists from the American Society for Prenatal Medicine.
Almost six percent of 10,000 pregnant women had marijuana in their urine – an indication that they had consumed the substance in the first six to 14 weeks of pregnancy. These women and their unborn children had relatively more health problems, such as poor fetal growth, stillbirths and an increased risk of maternal hypertension.
“We specifically wanted to study cannabis use in early pregnancy, as this is when the placenta forms. Because a lot of the information that we currently have indicates that cannabis affects the function of the placenta,” said Prof. Dr. Torri D. Metz, of the University of Utah at Salt Lake City. “As more states legalize marijuana use, we need better data. Women need to understand the risks of cannabis in pregnancy so they can make better choices.”
The placenta (placenta) supplies the growing child with nutrients and oxygen and carries away waste products from the child’s metabolism. It also produces hormones that support the growth of the unborn child. Medicines, drugs, alcohol and nicotine can be transferred from the bloodstream of a pregnant woman to the child through the placenta.
