{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-question-tags-template-js","path":"/question-tag/pregnancy/2","result":{"data":{"allQuestion":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Question_9839-markdown","title":"If you use a THC/CBD infused bath while pregnant does THC/CBD get to your baby?","slug":"if-you-use-a-thc-cbd-infused-bath-while-pregnant-does-thc-cbd-get-to-your-baby","content":"\n_____________________\nIn theory, if cannabis is against your skin for a length of time, small amounts could soak into the bloodstream, which would then cross into the placenta.  However, I would imagine that the amount in the diluted bath water would be exceptionally small.\n\ndrbultman","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_7279-markdown","title":"Can I get medical marijuana card in Virginia ?","slug":"can-i-get-medical-marijuana-card-in-virginia","content":"\"If so, what are the qualifying conditions, and what type of cannabis can I access? \"\n_____________________\nUnfortunately, the passage of the law HB1445 within your state only allows fro medical cannabis for those with epilepsy. It has often been the case that a bill like this is passed without a deeper understanding of what medical marijuana can do for people with numerous conditions. The law in your state allows for low or no THC cannabis oils, and is a complete travesty and misunderstanding by law makers.\n\nYou have no options to obtain legal cannabis in your state at the moment, which is unfortunate as it is an option you should be afforded. The best option is to ally yourself with organizations that lobby for legalization and also to write your congressman and local law makers.\n\nI hope this helps. You can read further here:\n\nhttps://www.mpp.org/states/virginia/\n\npamelahadfield","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_7249-markdown","title":"Trying to conceive","slug":"trying-to-conceive","content":"\"Hello, I am a male (30 years old) and I am trying to conceive with my wife.  I suffer from anxiety which is why I became interested in (and starting using) cannabis.  Browsing the internet for actual studies on the effects of cannabis on MALE fertility is like looking for a needle in a haystack.  There is not much good information out there for men, as it seems mostly focused on pregnant women.  I'm mostly using balanced thc:cbd ratio cannabis tinctures or vaporizers to medicate, however I'm curious what effect that could be having on my sperm and fertility as a whole.  I would like to continue to medicate my symptoms, but would like to also be sure that I'm doing the right thing for my future children by doing my due diligence here in researching possible issues with this use.\r\nIs using cannabis as a man trying to conceive something I should be concerned about?  \"\n_____________________\nNo cannabis will not decrease the likelihood of you and your wife conceiving a child. Have you heard of \"reefer madness\"? Cannabis has undergone the biggest smear campaign in history, and is still thought by some people to cause cancer, brain damage, male breast development, laziness, mental health diseases, and a decay of society. I call bull**** on all of this. Cannabis is the oldest, safest, best medicine on the planet. It is safe during pregnancy and for children. However, belief is a powerful thing, and if you and your wife believe that cannabis will hamper your ability to conceive a child, what you believe may influence the outcome.\n\nandrewvanmd\n_____________________\nActually, I have read the opposite, regular use of cannabis can interfere with male sperm production and tends to promote a larger number of abnormal sperm that are not capable of fertilization. Have you actually had your sperm analysis done to prove that you have a problem? That is usually the first test that's done because men are much easier, less expensive and less invasive to test.\r\nThe other question is, to achieve what you want isn't it worth it to consider going off your cannabis for a couple months? If your sperm count is being suppressed by Cannabis it may be possible that you may have a rebound in your sperm count by going off the cannabis and that could encourage a pregnancy at that time.\n\ndrolson","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_7112-markdown","title":"I am 6 months pregnant and have a lot of lower back pain. Can I use this product?","slug":"i-am-6-months-pregnant-and-have-a-lot-of-lower-back-pain-can-i-use-this-product","content":"\n_____________________\nThere are a lot more studies coming out about cannabis and pregnancy - though not much in the terms of cannabis topicals yet. I can tell you that most topicals do not enter the bloodstream - whether there is a transference to the child in any way is unknown. This is completely a personal choice. Congratulations and I do hope you find relief for your pain.\n\njessies\n_____________________\nWith all due respect to Jessie from Strictly Topical,  in a paper I've just read, there is actually potential for  a sizable amount of absorption into the bloodstream.  Admittedly, said paper was using a transdermal patch, but even I was surprised to find that THC levels in the bloodstream were almost half that seen in smoking!  As for transference to the child, this has definitely been established;  cannabinoids can cross the placenta, blood-brain barrier, and also be found in breast milk.  Other literature I'm reading also states that there is an abundance of evidence  prenatal exposure to cannabis adversely affects neurodevelopment with negative consequences for neuropsychiatric, behavior and executive functions.  I would stay away from cannabis products, including topicals and try to use tried/ true measures like heat/ cold pack, yoga, and other methods.  I hope this helps!\n\ndrpark\n_____________________\nCannabis use during pregnancy is a controversial subject. The bottom line is that cannabis is safe for both the mother and the fetus. If there are ANY negative effects, they are miniscule, especially when compared to the effects of some of the commonly prescribed prescription drugs. You may want to read about the \"Roots Daughters\" in Jamaica, who use cannabis in various forms throughout their pregnancy. Dr. Melanie Dreher has spent a great deal of time with these women and their children and has done further research into the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy. Her conclusions are that cannabis during pregnancy is safe. I also personally know many mothers who have used cannabis during pregnancy and are raising healthy, happy, well adjusted (and often above average) children.\n\nandrewvanmd","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_6645-markdown","title":"Is it safe to use CBD products during pregnancy?","slug":"is-it-safe-to-use-cbd-products-during-pregnancy","content":"\"Can you recommend cannabis products that are safe for use while pregnant?\"\n_____________________\nThis topic has been addressed several times. There is not enough data to state that CBD is safe to use in pregnant or lactating women. While it MIGHT be safe, contrary to what some people will state on the internet, there are NO clinical studies to prove it's safety. For that reason, I do not recommend it's use. There are too many other medicines - pharmaceutical and herbal,  that have been proved safe so why run the risk? I urge mothers to err on the side of caution when it comes to the health of their developing baby.\n\ndrfrye\n_____________________\nWhile there are no studies on CBD per se with pregnant women, in the 1970s there was a study done in Jamaica with cannabis that showed no negative effect. Proceed with caution. \nI'm curious, what are you thinking you need it for?\n\ndneice\n_____________________\nHi!!!  To date there has been no evidence that pregnant women should avoid CBD-rich products, however they should avoid THC until more research is published. It is also worth mentioning that women in Jamaica and other cultures have used cannabis during pregnancy. While the jury is still out on THC products, nothing suggests that CBD is harmful.\n\nrustyw\n_____________________\nActually, I would ask you, \"Why do you want to do Cannabis during pregnancy?\"\nThe whole point of the pregnancy is to have a healthy pregnancy with an excellent outcome. One study did show that if you use cannabis during pregnancy there was a slight increase risk of a premature delivery and that actually put your baby at higher risk for medical complications. Until we know the facts, it's always best to leave off the drugs that are not necessary during pregnancy because those drugs may actually be safe for us as adults but they may not be safe for very tiny baby. Even if the Cannabis may be safe for an unborn baby, the cannabis may be contaminated with chemicals that may not be safe for an unborn baby. Why even risk the health of your unborn baby?\n\ndrolson","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_11323-markdown","title":"Can you use these products while pregnant or breastfeeding? ","slug":"can-you-use-these-products-while-pregnant-or-breastfeeding","content":"\"I'm six months pregnant and have lower back pain. I'd like to try cannabis to see it can help. \"\n_____________________\nI am not a doctor, but a HelloMD doctor addressed this very question in a previous question:\n\nhttps://www.hellomd.com/answers/573b68f0676b91000c000177/i-m-10-weeks-pregnant-and-have-morning-sickness-can-marijuana-help-with-the-nausea\n\nTo paraphrase Dr. Solomon's answer, in a University of Adelaide Study \"showed that women who use cannabis up to their 20th week of pregnancy have a 5 times higher risk of labor and birth before their 37th week. Of these women, 64% delivered at less then 32 weeks.\"\n\nJudging by this study which took into account a large control group, it is not advised. You will see a lot of information online to the contrary.\n\nHope this helps\n\npamelahadfield","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10727-markdown","title":"I'm 10 weeks pregnant and have morning sickness. Can marijuana help with the nausea?","slug":"im-10-weeks-pregnant-and-have-morning-sickness-can-marijuana-help-with-the-nausea","content":"\"My morning sickness lasts all day long and I'm totally drained. \"\n_____________________\nMarijuana may be helpful for nausea in general.  However, it is currently not advised to take medical marijuana while pregnant or breastfeeding, because cannabis does enter the placenta and breast milk. Not taking medical marijuana is the current recommendation provided by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American College of Pediatricians (ACP).\n\ndredmunds\n_____________________\nA recent study out of the University of Adelaide which studied a group of 5500 women stated the following:\n\n\"The results, published online ahead of print in the journal Reproductive Toxicology, show that once all other major risk factors have been accounted for, continued marijuana use through to 20 weeks' gestation is independently associated with a five-fold increase in the risk of pre-term birth.\"\n\nThis is one of the first controlled studies to absolutely show that marijuana in any form is very dangerous for unborn babies. You can read the study from the link below:\n\nhttp://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news84762.html\n\nThe answer is, Yes it could potentially help with nausea but it would probably be a bad idea to do so based on this recent study. It came out only this month I believe.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\npamelahadfield\n_____________________\nActually, I read the study by University of Adelaide and I came away with a different point of view. In the study they admitted the number of women total who fit in the study was very low. They also sited the risk is if you are continuing to use cannabis after the 20th week of pregnancy, then it potentially increases the risk of a preterm delivery. Their definition of preterm was 37 weeks gestation but having delivered babies for 45 years, full term is 40 weeks + or - 2 weeks, or 38 weeks to 42 weeks is considered normal, so in many of the cases we are talking about 1 week early on delivery. That makes this study less significant because a significant number of women will deliver at 37 weeks simply due to miscalculation in the correct date of conception but the study did not assess the baby for age of maturity at birth. \nI do not see where there is any reported negative effect if the mother uses cannabis for morning sickness for a very short time and in the smallest amount possible to relieve symptoms but that the mom should terminate the use before the 20th week of pregnancy. Many moms will use cannabis in active labor to help with relaxation without detrimental effects to the baby especially in comparison to the effect of narcotics, sleeping drugs, benzodiazepines and anesthetics given to the mother in Western Medical treatment, which of course was the reason newborn intensive nurseries were started in the 1970s. The babies born under the effect of Western medical drugs had to be observed because the baby could forget to breath.\nMost mothers will never do a drug if they think there's potential harm to the baby so I really don't advocate any drugs at all during pregnancy or birth, I encourage mothers to learn how to cope with discomfort and fear. Fear is typically the reason women will take drugs, she fears the pain could get worse. Hospitals restrict the use of immersion in salt water tubs which will also take the pain away but it's not profitable to the hospital.\nWhen women are given all the information about all the side effects of any of their decisions, the woman typically makes a very wise choice on the side of protecting her baby.\nLearn how to cope with your fear in preparation for your birth but for your morning sickness right now, have soda crackers next to your bed and eat a few of them in the morning before you get out of bed.\nAcupressure bands also help and there are a few homeopathic remedies that work well for nausea in pregnancy. \nThe nausea will pass and you likely will have fun in the second trimester. Babies are so sensitive to chemicals in the first three months of pregnancy, the nausea is a protected factor to keep you from ingesting anything that could potentially harm your baby.\n\ndrolson\n_____________________\nAlthough I'm not qualified to answer this question as it relates to the safety of your unborn baby, I can tell that I was on a high-dosage of antibiotics after a dog bite. The trip to the ER resulted in the worst flu I've had in my life. So that I could keep down a couple bites of banana AND the antibiotics, I used a THC spray that goes under your tongue (sublingual), worked like a charm!\n\nGood luck hon... I have 2 kids and only had nausea with my daughter, but it was VERY brief.\n\n~kc\n\nkcsnowhite\n_____________________\nI would like to address Dr. Olson's comments as to the University of Adelaide study that is referenced. While the authors admit that the number of preterm labor was small, their study group was quite large. The universal definition of preterm birth is one that is earlier then 37 weeks and the percent of women who fall under this definition is normally 11%. This study has shown that women who use cannabis up to their 20th week of pregnancy have a 5 times higher risk of labor and birth before their 37th week. Of these women, 64% delivered at less then 32 weeks.\n\nThe study stresses that they could not evaluate short term use or define any length of time at all that cannabis use was acceptable to use without effecting these statistics. They did not address cannabis use for labor. However I would doubt that, as a Schedule 1drug, cannabis would be allowed in any hospital delivery setting. And I do not know of any living creature at birth who \"forgets to breath\" with \"Western medical drugs\". \n\nAs Dr. Olson pointed out there are many other methods other then cannabis to help with the nausea of morning sickness that can occur early in pregnancy. No one knows why morning sickness occurs. Some think its tied to the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that is elevated in the first trimester of pregnancy or other hormones such as estrogen.\n\nAll of that being said, I believe the take away message is that with your unborn child's health at risk, why take a chance using cannabis at all?\n\nPerry Solomon, MD\n_____________________\nDespite claims that cannabis has no detrimental effects to the fetus, I am not aware of any studies substantiating the statement, thereby proving it to be safe during pregnancy. I would like to see the studies that have determined how much is not too much, how long is not too long, and what makes it's use up until the 20th gestational week safe. Despite it's many medicinal benefits, it is a potent, psychoactive substance which alters brain function.  It has been repeatedly shown to affect neurodevelopment in adolescents and young adults whose brains are still developing. While anecdotal accounts may be dismissive, there is no data to show that this affect does not have lifelong consequences. As an advocate for children with learning and behavior problems who have been in the family court system, where history of marijuana use during pregnancy is commonplace, I would tread very cautiously. Until there is solid clinical data showing that there is absolutely no risk to the developing fetus, I recommend erring on the side of caution and refraining from using it. For more serious conditions in the pediatric population, such as intractable seizures, intractable pain, or malignancy, then I would argue that the benefit may outweigh the risk. I maintain that until we know with certainty that cannabis is not harmful to the fetus, there are other safe and effective holistic ways of dealing with nausea during pregnancy. \n\ndrfrye","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10706-markdown","title":"Is there any truth to marijuana negatively affecting sexual function in men?","slug":"is-there-any-truth-to-marijuana-negatively-affecting-sexual-function-in-men","content":"\"My husband recently started using marijuana to help with the pain from an old football injury. He's 32 years old and I'm concerned that this will affect his sex drive/function because we are trying to get pregnant.\"\n_____________________\nSeveral studies have demonstrated that marijuana use decreases testosterone in men, which may lead to decreased sex drive, impotence, and gynecomastia.  Cannabis also decreases sperm count and sperm motility. Interestingly, there is an association between premature ejaculation and cannabis use. \n\nHaving said that, some men find that marijuana actually increases arousal and sex drive. These effects most likely occur with sativa dominant strains and THC. \n\ndredmunds\n_____________________\nI've heard that it's possible, but from my experience my libido skyrocketed. I'm 29 and my sex life has been better than it's ever been with my girlfriend, my workouts have been better, and I'm on the way to being in the best shape I've ever been. Some men experience the negative side effects but in my case, it's been enhancing in many ways.\n\ncannabear","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10665-markdown","title":"I suffer from really bad cramps and PMS. Can marijuana help with this?","slug":"i-suffer-from-really-bad-cramps-and-pms-can-marijuana-help-with-this","content":"\"I've tried different types of birth control, advil, etc. and nothing really helps. If marijuana can help, what kind of strain or product should I use?\"\n_____________________\nTerrific questions that we hear a lot, and are really 2 questions.\n\nAs for the cramps, the monthly pain the women experience with their period is one that differs with each woman. Some just need to take a over the counter medication  and some need to have their physician prescribe opioids to help the pain. Cannabis has been used for many years to help with this type of pain. In the late 1800's Queen  Victoria was prescribed cannabis by her team of physicians to help with her pain.\n\nWomen have been using cannabis in many forms by smoking, vaping, tinctures etc. However since menstrual pain occurs all day long a longer acting and more direct acting solution seems to make sense. A company that we have heard about, Foria, developed a vaginal suppository that contains both THC and CBD for both pain and anti-inflammatory relief.  The feedback from many of our patients is that it seems to work very well within 20-30 minutes after use without any, or very minimal,  psychoactive side effects.\n\nWhat I think is remarkable about this product, is that it is one of the very few products that was tailored to treat a very specific medical condition. I think that in the future there will be more and more targeted products for different medical conditions, but right now Foria seems to be the first.\n\nConcerning the PMS, that condition can have widely varying symptoms  including physical, behavioral and mental/emotional. Physical symptoms can include headaches, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, night sweats, altered sex drive, insomnia, sleeping too much, lowered coordination, fatigue and pain -- similar to period cramps. Mental symptoms can include depression, anxiety, confusion and negative thoughts/feelings. Behavioral symptoms can include mood swings and fits of hostility or anger. The severity of these symptoms can differ widely even in the same woman from day to day.\n\nIt helps to separate what symptoms effect you most and deal with a one or two since there is not one single type of cannabis product that can help all of them at once. For example if you take insomnia, it might help to take a indica strain edible with a combined THC/CBD profile that would last through the night instead of vaping. When visiting your local bud tender they may suggest several different products for the symptoms of PMS that bothers you the most.\n\nPerry Solomon, MD\n_____________________\nA nice indica hybrid, that has a good ratio of CBD, such as Lavendar Kush High CBD, is great for helping to alleviate cramps and fabulous for evening and helping with sleep during your cycle. For daytime use, we've created an elixir called Full Moon that works wonders for balancing hormones during PMS and alleviates cramps. Designed to offer the benefits of cannabis without the high, you can take it throughout the day, every few hours, and still be able to be present and functional for your daily life. Quiver is our sensual lubricant. Because you apply it internally, it works wonders for helping to relax the cramps at the site of pain. Please feel free to look us up if you have further questions. We're here to help and have seen wonderfully positive results with these products from dozens of women.\n\nherbabuena","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10616-markdown","title":"I am pregnant and was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). I cannot stop vomiting.","slug":"i-am-pregnant-and-was-diagnosed-with-hyperemesis-gravidarum-hg-i-cannot-stop-vomiting","content":"\"My midwife is recommending marijuana. Can this be harmful to my baby? Should I smoke it or is there a safer way? I'll do anything to get relief.\"\n_____________________\nThe current recommendation by both the American College of Pediatricians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is to avoid marijuana both during pregnancy and while breast feeding.  \n\ndredmunds","image":null}},{"node":{"id":"Question_10578-markdown","title":"I use marijuana regularly to help with migraines. Can I use it while pregnant and breastfeeding?","slug":"i-use-marijuana-regularly-to-help-with-migraines-can-i-use-it-while-pregnant-and-breastfeeding","content":"\n_____________________\nUsing cannabis while pregnant and during breastfeed is probably one the most contentious subjects when discussing cannabis. Quite frankly, its easy to see why. Logically one would think that if pre-natal exposure to intoxicants such as alcohol and tobacco poses proven health risks to the fetus, then exposure to cannabis would likely pose similar risks to a child's health and development.\n\nThe problem wit this, of course, is that the scientific facts to justify this are almost impossible to find. There are many reason for this. One of these is that it's virtually impossible for investigators to obtain permission to conduct any type of prospective clinical trial that knowingly exposes pregnant mothers – and their future offspring – to cannabis. Two, because women often face severe legal sanctions (such as the loss of child custody or incarceration) for admitting that they have smoked pot while pregnant, most mothers refuse to divulge such information – even to researchers conducting anonymous surveys years after the fact. Moreover, among the handful of surveys that have been conducted, several fail to adequately control for mothers' use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs during the course of their pregnancy. This is because cannabis is still labelled a Schedule 1 drug and illegal by the DEA.\n\nThere are retrospective studies from all over the world that show the pros and cons of cannabis during pregnancy as well as during breastfeeding., There are surveys of Its use on hyperemesis gravidarum, characterized by severe nausea and vomiting, malnutrition, and weight loss during pregnancy ( not your typical morning sickness). A web search of this topic will reveal opinions on both side of the question.\n\nThis is obviously a very important decision for you to make on behalf of your child, either while pregnant or when breastfeeding. I don't think that there a absolute right or wrong answer to this question. Just research the \"facts\" thoroughly and hope that you choose correctly.  \n\nPerry Solomon, MD","image":null}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":12,"numPages":2,"currentPage":2,"id":5656,"name":"Pregnancy","slug":"pregnancy","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}