If you’ve been feeling sick and tired, you might have wondered if CBD can help. But think twice before taking this stuff.
CBD stands for cannabidiol. It’s a chemical found in both marijuana and hemp plants. And it doesn’t get you high—which makes it good news if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Marijuana can be used to treat nausea or vomiting from morning sickness, anxiety, or stress. It comes in the form of oils, edibles (like cookies), drinks, and even bath bombs! And since CBD is legal in all 50 states as long as it has less than 0.3% THC (the chemical that gets you high), lots of companies are making products with it.
If you’re pregnant and you’re using CBD, don’t worry! You’re fine.
When we talk about cannabis and pregnancy, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of what might happen if you use it before getting a positive pregnancy test. But the truth is that most of us don’t know exactly how cannabis affects a developing fetus—we just know that THC can cause early miscarriage in animal studies. And since CBD is a component of cannabis and has some similar effects on the body, it’s easy to assume that if you use CBD before getting a positive pregnancy test, it could also cause an early miscarriage.
But here’s where things get interesting: According to Marco Mouanness, MD (an OB/GYN and fertility expert at the Rejuvenating Fertility Center in New York City), there simply isn’t enough evidence to show that using CBD before getting your positive pregnancy test means there will be any negative effects on your developing baby. In fact, he says that as long as you stop using CBD right away, the earlier use won’t cause miscarriage.
But there are two big problems with using CBD during pregnancy: First, we don’t know enough about its effects on pregnant women and their babies yet—we need more research! Second, even if it turns out to be safe for mothers-to-be and newborns, there could still be risks from other ingredients in cannabis products like pesticides or mold spores from growing conditions (which can make some people sick).
As a pregnant woman, you may be interested in using CBD. But before you do, there are some risks you need to consider.
Possible Miscarriage
Animal studies have linked CBD use during pregnancy with a risk of miscarriage. This means there is a chance that your baby could die early on if you take CBD while pregnant. However, these studies were conducted on animals—not humans—so there is no way to know for sure how this would translate to humans.
Possible Reproductive Harm
Animal studies have also found that CBD can cause reproductive harm in male offspring if their mothers took it during pregnancy. This means that there is a potential for lower sperm production in boys who were exposed to CBD while still in the womb (or even later). If you have a boy on the way and want to avoid any risk of future reproductive problems, stop taking CBD now!
