Marijuana use: Dangerous to baby-to-be?
Looking for research on marijuana and any problems it may cause a fetus during development.
Question:
ABOUT THE EXPERT
Peg Plumbo CNM
Peg Plumbo has been a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) since 1976. She has assisted at over 1,000 births and currently teaches in the... Read more
Marijuana (THC) reported use is in a range from 5 to 30 percent among pregnant women. The use of smoking and the concomitant use of marijuana make the independent effects difficult to decipher. Some studies have shown that:
- Regular use shortens length of gestation
- Use increases the risk of small for dates babies (intrauterine growth retardation)
- Birth length has also been noted to be effected (shorter).
- Marijuana is not a teratogen (does not cause birth defects) but can cause neuro-behavioral symptoms such as altered visual responses, tremors, jitteriness; such babies are difficult to comfort and settle.
- No lasting effects on motor development have been reported
- In animals, ovulation can be affected and sperm counts decrease with use
