Why Not Vaping Marijuana During Pregnancy Matters

 Vaping marijuana during pregnancy can lead to passing the drug to your unborn baby’s body. Marijuana contains nearly 500 chemicals, including THC, the chemical that causes the “high.” Using marijuana during the first month of pregnancy can cause the baby to be born with part of its brain missing. Using marijuana through pregnancy may cause your baby to be very sick at birth, or can lead to premature birth or underdevelopment, which makes it more likely he or she will need to be cared for in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). Additionally, women who use marijuana during pregnancy have a 2.3 times greater risk of stillbirth.

Infants whose mothers use marijuana can seem sluggish and weak and have poor feeding patterns. Research suggests that the baby’s brain and motor development can be negatively affected, leading your baby to have difficulty responding to you, increased trembling and fussiness, and high-pitched crying. You may find it difficult to soothe, feed, and comfort your baby.

Anything you choose to take into your body can be passed to your baby through your breastmilk. THC is stored in breast milk for up to two weeks. Chronic heavy use of marijuana results in higher levels of THC in breast milk than in the mother’s blood, and extended exposure to THC can affect your baby’s brain development. Marijuana use can also reduce the mother’s milk supply, making it difficult to adequately feed your baby.

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If you want to quit vaping marijuana, contact your healthcare provider.