Key Takeaways
New research involving almost 317,000 pregnancies suggests that marijuana use by moms-to-be could raise their odds for complications
Rates of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and placental abruption rose among women who used marijuana while pregnant
More must be done to caution woman that the risks of using marijuana while pregnant far outweigh any perceived benefit
TUESDAY, July 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) — There’s a slight but significant rise in dangerous obstetric complications for pregnant women who use marijuana, new research shows.
Data from almost 317,000 pregnancies in women in California found those who used the drug had higher odds for gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, weight gain that goes beyond recommended levels and a condition known as placental abruption (when the placenta separates from uterine wall).
The researchers said the findings are important since "little is known about whether prenatal cannabis use is associated with maternal health outcomes during pregnancy."
The study was published July 22 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine .
Numerous studies have suggested that the use of cannabis during pregnancy can raise fetal risks for low birth weight, preterm birth and the need for care in a neonatal ICU.Nevertheless, some women "report using cannabis to help with sleep, depression, stress, morning sickness and pain during pregnancy, and many perceive cannabis to be a safer alternative to prescription medications," wrote a team led by Kelly Young-Wolff , of Kaiser Permanente Northern California.To find out how marijuana use might affect moms-to-be, the Kaiser team looked through the medical records of more than 250,000 pregnant women living in northern California (some with multiple pregnancies recorded).The women’s level of marijuana use while pregnant — none, or use daily, weekly or monthly — was either self-reported or gleaned through toxicology testing.Overall, 6.3% of the women in the study did use cannabis at some time during their pregnancy, although only a small minority said they used it on a daily (0.6%) or weekly (0.7%) basis.Prenatal cannabis use was tied to a small but significant rise in a variety of obstetric complications, the study found. More from this section Kankakee County Alert: […]
Marijuana Use While Pregnant Could Raise Odds for Complications
