Understanding this compound in cannabis is a great advantage today for addressing various health conditions. This is because the numerous benefits of CBD have become quite extensive for many diseases , treating everything from the mildest symptoms to, sometimes, the most serious ones.
When a woman is pregnant, it is undoubtedly a beautiful stage in her life, bringing the fruit of her love into her womb, the beginning of a beautiful family, is a new level for every pregnant woman, an advance in the future, but, Many times illnesses arrive at these times and when consuming medications, you must always be very attentive to whether or not it is harmful to the baby's health.
Every medication registered and accepted by the corresponding administrations has warnings for pregnant women, this has been previously studied, in order to establish whether its components interact negatively with the baby, CBD is no exception, and this is why Next, we will talk about whether or not it can be used during pregnancy. What does science say about this? And how could this cannabinoid act on a pregnant woman?
Pregnancy and its stages
Before we begin, let's dig a little into the basics and refresh our memory. Pregnancy can be defined as the time that passes between the moment of fertilization of the egg until the birth of a newborn, which, in humans, tends to last 37 to 42 weeks.
During this period there are 3 stages divided into 3 months each, the first trimester, characterized by the months where the woman experiences all the changes that pregnancy entails, these include eating, as well as nausea and vomiting, this is a quite month. delicate for the fetus, since during this period the formation of the baby as such occurs and sometimes abortions occur, due to defects in the placenta or other reasons.
The second trimester, the baby's gain in size and weight, the mother continues to experience changes, mostly anatomical; Finally, we find the third trimester where our baby is in its last steps of development, maturing its organs and mainly its lungs, preparing them to begin a normal outside life.
During these months, some women may experience vaginal infections, lower back pain, mood swings, and more . The baby also faces certain risks, including malformations and developmental delays, but these will be due to specific reasons. However, attending monthly checkups is the best recommendation, as it allows you to monitor your changes and those of your baby.
What does the science say about the use of CBD in pregnancy?
A study conducted in 1989 by Dreher and titled "Effects of Marijuana Use during Pregnancy on Newborn Cry" demonstrated a negative effect of prenatal marijuana use on newborn babies , noting that their cries became somewhat different and strange than normal, with a shortening of the cry, dysphonia, and a much higher frequency.
However, this effect was noted in babies whose mothers smoked marijuana during pregnancy , while those who ingested non-THC cannabis compounds through other non-combustion methods gave birth to fairly healthy babies with a normal acoustic range of crying.
Subsequently, another study by Dreher was conducted on 24 newborns whose mothers had used marijuana during pregnancy and another 20 with no exposure. At one month old, no significant difference in weight was observed between the two groups. However, when they were over two months old, the babies of mothers who used cannabis, either inhaled or ingested, began to show a significant advantage in assessments of reflexes and autonomic stability. They were less irritable and interacted with others more easily.
A study carried out in 2010 focused on demonstrating the action of CBD on myometrial contractility caused by oxytocin. This analysis was done in vitro and the results obtained were quite beneficial, since a reduction in contractions produced by oxytocin in cells was demonstrated. of the myometrium, which had been extracted from biopsies performed in elective cesarean sections, exerting an inhibitory effect.
On the other hand, an important study carried out in 2012 managed to demonstrate that a minimal variation in the levels of the endocannabinoid system in the main stages of pregnancy could negatively affect the development of the embryo. This was discovered when researchers altered this system in mice, either blocking it or increasing it through anandamide through the CB1 receptors, uncontrolled the speed at which new cells called trophoblasts proliferated and formed in the wall of the uterus.
Because the results are not in humans and to date no study has been done in them to evaluate this finding, there is no complete reliability of this, however, the similarity that the endocannabinoid system of mice with that of humans, allowed researchers to conclude that cannabis could negatively affect the early development of the embryo.
Another study from 2018 showed that cannabis use had no relation to psychotic symptoms in the baby, compared to normal tobacco use.
As we could see, scientific research is quite dispersed, on the one hand it is certain that the consumption of cannabis components during pregnancy is harmful, and on the other, that it does not have important repercussions on the baby, but we can conclude It will depend on the stage and the way in which you administer cannabis, since when ingested, studies have shown that it does not have much relevance in terms of damage.
Ways CBD Can Help During or After Pregnancy
Although the studies are not complete and do not give the green light to freely use this wonderful cannabis compound, there are many women who have consumed these cannabinoids during and after pregnancy to eliminate certain serious conditions that are difficult to live with, Next, we will name a few.
Hyperemesis gravidarum
This condition is quite common and bothersome for pregnant women . It consists of uncontrolled vomiting, which is poorly alleviated by conventional medications. Consequently, appetite is lost, and what little food is ingested is immediately vomited up. Many women familiar with cannabis and its benefits know that it can help reduce vomiting , so they have decided to consume it on their own, and the result has been quite favorable.
Dr. Wei.Ni Lin Curry is one of the women who has suffered from this terrible condition and thanks to CBD oil she was able to improve her condition and continue her pregnancy normally. She tells us how she began to have horrible nausea and vomiting that was present throughout the day and night, to the point where she began to vomit blood.
After going to the abortion clinic several times, always regretting it and returning home, she decided to use medicinal cannabis, which led her to a treatment at night and in the morning if needed, being able to notice a whole day of well-being, she recovered her quality of life and was able to continue with her pregnancy calmly.
During the delivery
This is a beautiful, painful, distressing, and intense time for every mother. Many have noted that using cannabis during this process significantly reduces stress and anxiety , and also provides considerable pain relief and relaxation that can make the process easier.
In fact, numerous studies carried out in the last century consisted of evaluating patients during the birth process. Likewise, there is a renowned midwife, named Ina May Gaskin, who says that laughter and humor have a beneficial influence during this process, and There is a belief that this plant has properties on contractions and a certain hormonal influence.
Stretch mark care
A well-known function of CBD is its effect on damaged or affected skin, thanks to its ability to promote the production of vitamin E and collagen . This could be quite beneficial for some mothers whose bellies are covered in stretch marks due to the stretching of the skin during pregnancy.
And since studies haven't shown any positive or negative effects of CBD while breastfeeding, this compound is available in specific creams that act locally, eliminating the need for ingestion. You can protect your skin while keeping your baby safe from any risks. For this, we recommend our CBD creams and balms.
Finally we can say. . .
The information available on the effects of CBD during pregnancy and while breastfeeding is incomplete and unclear, so the recommendation would be to consult with your doctor and agree with them on what is best for you and your baby.
Although there are many women who have decided to use this wonderful compound without first consulting a doctor, we do not recommend it, since, having little information about the effects of these compounds on the baby, both in childhood and in life adult, the conditions that this could cause are not considered.
THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis, present in marijuana and some CBD oils, and the FDA indicates that this cannabinoid can affect the brain development of the baby, so we do not recommend its use.
CBD, however, is a less aggressive compound, but we don't have concrete information about its benefits during pregnancy. We invite you to stay tuned to our news and curiosities section to keep informed about scientific advances regarding cannabis.
