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Marijuana And Pregnancy

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the United States. Marijuana use is a concern for individuals who are pregnant. Is it safe?

While many states have legalized its use for medicinal purposes, and several states, including Oregon, also permit it for recreational use, marijuana is still federally illegal. Because of this, the regulations on its study are highly restricted and there are few experiments on its effects, both positive and negative. Additionally, most of the studies that have been done used marijuana with THC levels equivalent to what they were in the 1980s or earlier. THC levels have nearly tripled since that time, so it has been argued that the findings of these studies may not accurately report the risks associated with marijuana use by the average American today.

Many pregnant women report using marijuana to either manage anxiety or to deal with morning sickness. As we’ve mentioned before, there is little data to support it’s use to minimize morning sickness. We do know that studies have shown that higher doses of THC are linked to increased heart rate and anxiety and panic attacks, the opposite of the intended outcome.

When it comes to marijuana, many of its compounds can cross the placenta, so what the mother takes in, whether through topical application, ingestion, or inhalation, will affect her baby. THC, the compound in marijuana that alters mental perception, is stored in fat, so it may accumulate in the baby’s tissues over time. Additionally, smoking marijuana poses risks similar to those of smoking cigarettes. Tar is present in smoked marijuana like it is in cigarettes, and some of the carcinogens found in cigarette smoke were found in higher concentrations in marijuana smoke. Smoking marijuana has been linked to premature birth, increased rates of stillbirth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, and smaller head circumference.

Marijuana use not only affects a baby in the womb, but it can affect the baby if the mother chooses to breastfeed as well. The same marijuana components that cross the placenta also cross into the breastmilk of women who use marijuana. The most significant of these is THC. Because of the fat content in breastmilk, THC levels in breast milk can be higher than those measured in the blood plasma of the mother. Additionally, THC can be detected in breastmilk up to 6 days after the mother’s last use. Thus, even though the exposure to THC is lower in the infant than in its mother, the baby is still exposed to a significant amount of THC over time, especially if the mother uses marijuana on a regular basis.

Even with only a few studies being done to show the effects of marijuana on a pregnant woman as well as her unborn child, the information we do have shows that the possibility of marijuana having a negative effect are high. If you think you might be pregnant, schedule an appointment with us today for a free pregnancy test and if you have any further questions or concerns related to marijuana and pregnancy, and please do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor.

References:

ACOG. (2017). Marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation, Committee Opinion #72.

Ashton. (2018). Pharmacology and effects of cannabis: A brief review, British Journal of Psychiatry.

Avery, J. (2019). Marijuana: An honest look at the world’s most misunderstood weed, Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

Bertrand, Hanan, Honerkamp-Smith, Best, and Chambers. (2018). Marijuana use by breastfeeding mothers and cannabinoid concentrations in breast milk.

Bridgeman and Abazia. (2017). Medicinal cannabis: History, pharmacology, and implications for the acute care setting, Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Accessed 12/2021). Marijuana and public health: What you need to know about marijuana use and pregnancy.

Di Forti, et al. (2019). The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study, The Lancet Psychiatry.

DOH, Government of the District of Columbia. (Accessed 1/2022). Medical cannabis: Adverse effects & drug interactions.

MedlinePlus. (2021). Marijuana, National Institutes of Health.

Nall, R. (2018). The effects of smoking weed while pregnant, Healthline.

National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). “Prenatal, Perinatal, and Neonatal Exposure to Cannabis”, ch. 10, pp. 245-266, The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research.

National Academies Press. (2017). The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research, National Academies Press.

National Institutes of Health. (2020). Marijuana research report: Can marijuana use during and after pregnancy harm the baby?.

Sohn, E. (2019). Weighing the dangers of cannabis, Nature, 572.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Marijuana and pregnancy.

I Never Wanted To Be A Mom

Have you found yourself facing an unplanned pregnancy and asking yourself, “How did this happen? I have never wanted to be a parent.” It can be difficult wrapping your head around a pregnancy when this is something you told yourself would never happen.

As a teen I decided I didn’t want kids.

I had a front row seat to the deep pain and grief my parents experienced at the hands of my siblings. I vividly remember the tensions and the “I hate yous” that were thrown around along with the yelling and screaming that filled their conversations.
As I sat on my bedroom floor, trying to drown it out, I decided that I wouldn’t have kids. Why would I willingly open myself up to be hurt??

After graduating from college and getting married I became a nanny. My first position was with a family who had 3 young boys. It was a sharp learning curve to say the least, but it didn’t take long before those sweet kids worked their way into my heart.
I vividly remember driving to work one morning and this beautiful sense of pride came over me. I was incredibly proud of the littlest boy who was learning and growing by leaps and bounds every day. In that moment I knew that if I could feel this much emotion for a child that wasn’t mine, surely, I would feel it a thousand times more for one who was.

That was the day my heart began to open to the idea of having my own children.

Nearly 10 years later I now have 3 kids. I never would have guessed how much I’d love being their mom. Of course, there are days when I lose every ounce of sanity but never once have I regretted having them. They fill my days with wonder, early mornings, joy, frustration (which forces me to grow) and an abundance of love. One day they will likely make choices that break my heart, just like my siblings broke my parents’ hearts, but I know that because of the deep love I have for them, we will make it through every bump along the way.

We can’t predict our future and often what ends up happening is far greater then we ever imagined.

Navigating Relationship Differences

You know how they say “opposites attract”? That may be true, but attraction doesn’t equate to having the right tools to navigate a healthy relationship. Even if two people are extremely alike, they may not know how to handle conflict when it arises.

The reality is, that all couples will have conflict at some point. It is totally normal to disagree with your partner. It’s all about how you handle these disagreements that will make or break a relationship.

Seek first to understand. NOT to prove your point.

In conflict, it’s often our first response to think about what you’re going to say next or to think of ways prove your point. Make sure you are consciously making an effort to not only hear what your partner is saying, but trying to understand where they are coming from. Don’t talk over each other and keep your tone and volume at an even level as best as possible. Work as a team to solve the issue instead of going against each other. Try not to take things personally.

Understand that you each have a past and triggers.

We were all raised in different households with different families which means we all have a different idea of what’s “normal”. Whether you grew up in a healthy environment or a not-so-healthy one, we all have different triggers that we inherited at some point growing up. It’s important to know what those triggers are so that when they arise, you can recognize them and respond appropriately instead of letting your emotions get the best of you.

It is okay to call “Time-Out”.

Sometimes, naturally, arguments can escalate. When you notice that the discussion has gotten to a point that it is no longer productive, say “time-out”. If both you and your partner agree to both stop the conversation at that moment and take some time separately to cool off and then regroup, it will help keep things productive and respectful. It is important that you always come back together after a few minutes. Don’t use this as a way to give your partner the silent treatment but as a pause to take a moment to calm down.

Having good communication in a relationship takes work. No one is perfect, but healthy relationships acknowledge our imperfections and have grace.

Recreating 2022

“New Year New You” is a statement we hear often this time of year. But can you really recreate yourself? People seem to think that when the ball drops and the clock strikes midnight that a new self emerges but that’s just not true. Into the new year we carry our habits, cares, and baggage.

How can we really change?
Change happens one choice at a time. January is a great time to make changes because it’s easy to track during a calendar year. But in order to make those changes we have to choose to do something different. It’s difficult to change behaviors that have been repeated for so long.

Here are some steps you can take to achieve your goals this year:

Tackle one change at a time

Don’t fall into the trap of making several goals at the same time. Changing your diet, editing weekly rhythms, adding in exercise, or focusing on self-care are all great goals but can’t be done well all at once. When you stick to one goal, you can focus on one change at a time. Once you reach a goal it will encourage you to tackle another!

Make a goal that you can control

Your goal should be something that you have control over. Goals are for us, desires involve other people. You may have a desire to have better communication with your partner but that isn’t a goal. You can’t control how they communicate with you, but you could have a goal to work on your own communication skills. If your goals involve others, you may find yourself frustrated if that person lets you down.

Make your goal measurable

Find a way to track the progress of your goal. When you track your progress, you are encouraged to keep going. Getting into a routine of measuring your results weekly also helps keep this goal in the front of your mind. If it’s something that can’t be measured it may be easy for you to forget about it entirely.

Have grace for yourself

No one is perfect and like we’ve said, change is hard. You will mess up at some point, but don’t let that derail your progress. If exercise is your goal and after 2 weeks you miss a day, it’s easy to be tempted to give up after “your perfect record” is ruined. But don’t let a mistake stop you from achieving your goals. Positive self-talk is essential to reaching a goal. Instead of being angry at yourself for slipping up, encourage yourself with how far you’ve come and why you are doing this. It’s important to consistently remind yourself of your “why”. Why are you making this change? Why is this important now? Why should you work hard to change this habit? Having an answer and reminding yourself daily will be your best motivator.

Make your “why” visible

Create a vision board! This can be made with photos that resemble your goal or encouraging quotes or words. Have fun and get creative! You can print this out, cut out pieces from magazines and do it scrapbook style, or create a collage on your phone. Make sure that you place this vision board somewhere where you will see it every day! Tape it to your mirror, put it on your desk at work, or make it your screensaver on your phone!

Hopefully these tips are helpful for you and they makes goal planning a little less stressful! Remember, it doesn’t all have to be done in one day. You got this!

Welcome to Our New Blog!

Welcome to Options Pregnancy Resource Center’s blog! Options exists to support women who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant. One of the best ways we can support is to offer a variety of local resources and evidence based medical information to all of our patients. We know that our patients often feel overwhelmed when thinking of their options and what their next step should be. That’s where we can help. Every day we meet with patients who are experiencing a variety of pregnancy symptoms and pressures. We have an amazing nursing staff under the direction of our medical director. Our team of trained patient advocates are passionate about supporting our patients and will walk through the whole appointment with you.

Our new blog will cover a range of topics on all three options, as well as supports for pregnancy. Pregnancy is our business. Our team of staff and volunteers are very knowledgeable and this blog is a way we can share all that we have learned over the 35+ years we’ve been open. This blog will showcase a variety of guest writers covering topics from abortion, adoption, pregnancy symptoms, dealing with morning sickness, to navigating difficult conversations with loved ones about your pregnancy.
No matter what you’re going through, we’re here to help.