Smoking Weed while Pregnant

Weed, marijuana or pot is considered as a 'safe drug' amongst the community of drug abusers. It is safe in a sense that it is not as hazardous as other stronger recreational drugs! Weed, therefore is the most widely abused drug in the United States. Smoking pot is also a common practice among women of all age, without the exception of pregnant women. Due to the 'safe drug' tag attached to weed, women knowingly or unknowingly inflict damage to their growing fetus along with their own bodies by smoking weed while pregnant. In this article, we will try to highlight some harmful effects of weed and uncover some myths surrounding the (ab)use of weed while pregnant.

Effects of Smoking Weed on Baby

Not only weed, but smoking anything during pregnancy can affect your baby. When you inhale some harmful substance, your baby is deprived of vital oxygen and blood supply. Besides, it is not just weed that might be hazardous to your baby, but the additives such as tobacco or alcohol can cause lasting damage to your developing fetus. Some women may smoke during initial days of pregnancy and then quit it as they progress into third trimester. However, one must understand that smoking weed in first trimester has as many risks as smoking in late pregnancy. During the first trimester, your baby's vital organs have just started to develop. Hence, smoking of any substance at this critical stage can be risky.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a harmful ingredient in weed which can enter placenta and cause some undesirable effects on the baby's nervous system. The insufficient oxygen and blood supply often results in low birth weight in babies. It also puts you at a risk of having a preterm labor. A low birth weight or smaller gestational age can make your baby susceptible to various infections, severe jaundice, feeding problems, respiratory troubles, etc. These infants are also at a greater risk of death due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Children of mothers who smoked pot during pregnancy are also vulnerable to having more behavioral problems than children whose mothers did not smoke. These children are often diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity, poor judgment, short term memory, etc. Although, there is no clinical evidence to support this theory, a clear correlation between smoking and these disorders has been suggested through years of studies by experts.

Misconceptions Regarding Smoking Weed and Pregnancy

As mentioned above, women often believe that it is entirely safe to smoke weed while pregnant. This conception stems from the fact that they have seen scores of mothers who smoked during their pregnancy and yet had perfectly healthy children. Indeed, there are number of women who had normal pregnancies and delivered healthy children, irrespective of their weed addiction or other drug abuse. However, assuming that the same will hold true for you is sheer foolishness. The lack of sufficient clinical evidence regarding the hazards of pot during pregnancy is often used as a shield to encourage women to smoke during pregnancy. I came across forums and online communities of expecting mothers who were ignorant and unapologetic about their addiction and the dangers it presented to their unborn child. What more, some of them even suggested smoking weed as a remedy to women suffering from morning sickness! I understand that morning sickness can be difficult to deal with, but smoking weed is not the only solution to cure it. There are number of natural morning sickness remedies that can comfort you.

Supporters of pot often lash out at those who advise against it. Even as I write this article, I am sure I will get some vicious comments blaming me for objurgating pot users. All said and done, smoking weed while pregnant is definitely harmful. However, at last it is your decision to smoke or not during pregnancy. But do remember the old adage, 'it is better to be safe than sorry!'