If you use marijuana, a positive pregnancy test may have your mind wondering, “Is marijuana use during pregnancy safe?” It’s a surprisingly touchy subject; doctors do not want pregnant women to use marijuana, yet some pregnant women think it “is helpful” for certain symptoms during pregnancy.  

As an Registered Nurse (RN) who works with pregnant women, most of whom are in their first trimester, I have personally seen a vast increase in the number of women who use marijuana while pregnant and the studies we will discuss below also show it is on the rise.

THE #1 REASON FOR MARIJUANA USE DURING PREGNANCY

The most common reason given for continuing marijuana use during pregnancy is: “It helps with the nausea.” I sympathize. Feeling nauseous is absolutely miserable. As an RN, though, I cannot condone it. There is no evidence validating the continued use of marijuana in any form during pregnancy.

That means it does not matter if you smoke, eat, or vape it, none of it is safe in pregnancy, nor is it safe for you or your baby to be exposed to it via secondhand smoke.  According to the NIH “there is no research confirming that this is safe practice”. 

THE RESULT OF MARIJUANA USE DURING PREGNANCY

One study done at the College of Medicine at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant showed that there was a “significant decrease in birth weight of 154 grams” when marijuana was used during the first trimester. That does not sound like a lot of weight to us, but a third of a pound for a developing baby can be significant, and it has been linked to health problems in children as they grow.

According to this same study: “Low birth weight is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s health and development long-term.” Marijuana use during pregnancy has been linked to higher rates of:

• Developmental Delays
• ADHD
• Learning Disabilities (including memory problems)
• Emotional problems