The Health Risks of Marijuana and Breastfeeding

The Health Risks of Marijuana and Breastfeeding Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Print The Health Risks of Marijuana and Breastfeeding By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 22, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 15, 2020 Tatyana Tomsickova Photography/Moment/Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Marijuana, also known as cannabis or weed, is the most commonly used illegal drug?? and many women use medical marijuana for recreational use in states where it is legal as well. Although generally considered a harmless or soft drug, there are risks associated with marijuana use. Parents need to be cautious about exposing their baby to marijuana smoke or to breastmilk if the mother has been consuming marijuana. Research has been studying the effects of marijuana and breastfeeding and the findings are very interesting. The Breast Is Best Philosophy The Breast is Best message is one that new moms often receive and with good reason. A 2012 policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed the evidence on breastfeeding. The AAP concluded that given the short-term and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages, breastfeeding should be promoted as the norm to new parents.?? For example, there is a 36% lower risk of SIDS when babies are breastfed.?? The stereotype of the new mom and the stereotype of the chronic marijuana user dont align very well. Everyone wants to be seen as a good parent. Physicians dont want to upset a pregnant woman or one who has recently given birth. They often dont even bring up the subject of drug use if a woman doesnt look like the type who would use drugs. Given this fact, many physicians do not routinely ask pregnant women or mothers whether they use marijuana. Far less advise them not to breastfeed because of it. The discomfort around the implications of whether a drug-using woman should even be caring for her own child would make many new parents either avoid the question  or give the expected answer â€" that they do not use marijuana. Tip: The stigma around marijuana use and the universal promotion of breastfeeding may get in the way of getting accurate advice on breastfeeding from your doctor. Breastfeeding and Marijuana Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among pregnant and breastfeeding women.?? Probably because of stigma, we dont hear the same public health messages about marijuana use as we do with substances such as alcohol and nicotine. Yet, the same policy statement advocating for breastfeeding actually cites marijuana use as a contraindication for breastfeeding,?? meaning that women who use marijuana should not breastfeed. A number of studies support this view. If you smoke marijuana, you should not breastfeed. What Marijuana Will Do to Your Baby If You Use It While Breastfeeding More research is needed to accurately predict the effects of a mothers marijuana use on children who are breastfed, but there are some risks we know about from research: Effects on the Brain and Nervous System: As a psychoactive drug, marijuana has a direct effect on the brain and nervous system. Babies who are breastfeeding are still rapidly developing, so using marijuana while you are breastfeeding increases the risk of impaired brain and nervous system development.??Mental Functioning:  Executive functioning  can be damaged by early exposure to cannabis. This includes flexibility in thinking, being able to pay attention for long periods of time, and being able to hold information in working memory.  Emotional Regulation: Early exposure to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, has been found to cause long-lasting changes in the emotional reactivity of children.Risk of Drug Use Later: There is some evidence from animal studies that early exposure to cannabis increases the reinforcing effects of other drugs, such as opiates. Although more research is needed to confirm this, it is well-known that substance use runs in families. If you are using can nabis, exposing your baby to the drug through breastmilk may increase the risk that your baby will go on to use drugs â€" possibly even harder drugs than marijuana. Early exposure to marijuana is associated with a range of short-term and long-term mental, emotional, and behavioral problems. The Bottom Line The best thing you can do to protect your baby from the potentially harmful effects of marijuana is to quit and make sure no one smokes marijuana, or any substance, around your child. If you cant quit, dont breastfeed â€" marijuana sticks around in the body much longer than most other drugs. You can express and discard your milk if you plan to breastfeed once you are clean. Dangers of Drug Use When Breastfeeding