marijuana and pregnancy

[Ducy]

Can someone please tell me the possible side affects of smoking pot while pregnant? My friend is worried she may be pregnant by her dead beat ex and yet she still continues to get high. She's confused on whether to get an abortion or not and I have told her I believe it to be the best course of action since she still smokes and she is neither financially or emotionally stable. Yet she seems to believe everything will be fine. (If she is pregnant she would probably only be two weeks or so, idk if that would change anything for the effects of alcohol)

[dancingdoc2]

http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-...gnancy_2490.bc

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA262120

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...n2850072.shtml

Ducy, whether your friend believes the information in these articles or not, if she cherishes giving birth with enough normal complications, why wouldn't she want to do all in her power to protect the development of her baby? No drugs period. Why try and fool Mother Nature or play with her?

I am normally against abortion because there is always adoption; however, if she is dead set against doing all in her power to give this new life the best life, then I tend to agree-- abort.

[Brandye]

Ducy, it has been a while!

There are no well documented problems with marijuana and pregnancy. The medical sites that deal with this tend to be polarized with those screaming it is not as bad as tobacco, alcohol and other drugs and those who are against illegal drugs. The medical studies that have been done have been inconclusive. There is some indication that neurological development can be delayed. Further, some newborns of cannabis smoking mothers have been observed to be more cranky and cry more. Some studies have noted lethargy and withdrawal symptoms. No adequate long term studies have been completed. In the short term, THC can be identified in the blood of newborns and nursing babies. The feces of nursing babies also show varying levels of THC seemingly based on the frequency of the mother's smoking cannabis.

While THC clears the system in several days (half-life of 24 hours), other compounds resulting from the presence of THC in the system can last for several weeks. I cannot say, based on hard science, that there are negative results. I do believe that any drug consumed during pregnancy has a potential for harm. The response can be that during the 20th century many mothers smoked and drank right up to delivery and many healthy babies resulted. That is a cop out but a very common argument.

There are difficulties in doing the research because in most countries, illegal behaviour is being studied. Those who smoke cannabis during pregnancy often have other lifestyle issues that affect the results.

[demonbuttercup]

Yea I would think beyond the THC aspect of it... compare it to saying is it safe to smoke cigs while pregnant??. Both introduce smoke into the lungs.

[RedRover]

I Touch My Wife and She gets Pregnant. 5yrs of marriage and 4 Pergnancies 3 succesfull.
She has always stopped everything Smoking Drinking and she has never done hard drugs or anything except Marij. It's a choice you make not anyone else. So when in doubt bail out no drugs or alchol, Yeah I know plenty of people that had kids and smoked pot the whole time kids are fine BUT what if they werent?
Sincere regards
RedRover