Saturday 16 April 2016

Marijuana And Pregnancy: Smoking Pot Proven To Harm Baby During Pregnancy

By Snow McDiggon
 Massachusetts Freedom Rally to Legalize Marijuana
  • A young woman smokes a marijuana joint on the Boston Common September 16, 2000 in Boston, Massachusetts.
    (Photo : Darren McCollester/Newsmakers via Getty Images)
Smoking pot during pregnancy? Take caution. Now, there is proof that shows how marijuana harms your baby.
 
A number of pregnant women turn to marijuana use during pregnancy to avert morning sickness. However, latest study has shown that smoking pot does more harm than good, especially to your baby.

Anemia during pregnancy
Parents reported that researchers analyzed 24 different studies aimed at understanding the effects of marijuana on the baby. Results revealed that smoking pot during pregnancy exposes pregnant women to higher risk of anemia.

Anemia during pregnancy can potentially harm the baby in utero. This could lead to either a preterm delivery or a baby with low birth weight, as per Mayo Clinic.

Underweight baby
Another unhealthy effect on the fetus if the mother uses marijuana during pregnancy is that babies are more likely to be underweight. This is whether the mother is suffering from anemia or not.

NICU visitor
Aside from being anemic and having an underweight baby, smoking pot during pregnancy can also result to a visit to NICU. This just means that a baby is more likely to suffer from complications that would necessitate him to stay at the NICU.

Jayleen Gunn, Ph.D., the author of the study said, "The data summarized here may be useful in guiding policy, practice, and future research on the benefits and harms associated with cannabis use during pregnancy." He added that since the marijuana use has become more acceptable, it should be a global priority to understand its effects on fetal health.

Safe or not?
If you're suffering from morning sickness during pregnancy, it is always best to consult your doctor regarding the various treatments that you can take. Marijuana during pregnancy may provide you with short-lived effects, such as curbing morning sickness, but the long term effects of its use will not be good for you and your baby.

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