Vaping FAQs

is vaping marijuana ok during pregnancy

by Sabrina Zulauf I Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Note: Vaping weed or using e-cigarettes is especially dangerous because vaping has been linked to serious lung problems and deaths. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC warn that pregnant women shouldn't use any vaping products, including THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol

Tetrahydrocannabinol is one of at least 113 cannabinoids identified in cannabis. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. With chemical name-trans-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol, the term THC also refers to cannabinoid isomers.

-containing products and e-cigarettes. Effects of smoking weed while pregnant

Marijuana may be bad for your baby no matter how you use it—this includes smoking, vaping, dabbing, eating or drinking, and applying creams or lotions to the skin. The potential health effects of using cannabidiol (CBD) products during pregnancy are currently unknown.

Full Answer

Is it safe to vape while pregnant?

Though vaping exposes your developing fetus to fewer of the known toxins associated with smoking marijuana or tobacco, vaping during pregnancy can pose serious health risks. Both should be avoided during pregnancy. Can vaping cause birth defects?

Is it safe to use marijuana during pregnancy?

However, marijuana is the illicit drug most commonly used by pregnant women, with rates doubling since 2002. 1 Pregnant women report marijuana use predominantly to self-treat depression, anxiety, stress, pain, nausea, and vomiting; 2,3 it is most commonly used during the first trimester 1,4 and by women with severe nausea. 5,6

Is it safe to use e-cigarette liquids during pregnancy?

E-cigarette liquids also contain chemicals, flavors and other additives that might not be safe for your baby. It's well known that smoking cigarettes during pregnancy can harm women and their babies.

Does marijuana use during pregnancy increase the risk of anemia?

A 2015 study published by the British Medical Journal found that pregnant women – who are already at a higher risk of anemia – have an increased risk of anemia if they use marijuana before or during pregnancy. The same study found that cannabis use increased the risk of miscarriage.

What are the potential health effects of using marijuana during my pregnancy?

Can pregnant women smoke marijuana?

Can you give a baby weed while breastfeeding?

Is smoking marijuana bad for babies?

Can using marijuana during my pregnancy affect my baby’s development after birth?

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Can u vape while pregnant?

Although the aerosol of e-cigarettes generally has fewer harmful substances than cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes and other products containing nicotine are not safe to use during pregnancy. Nicotine is a health danger for pregnant women and developing babies and can damage a developing baby's brain and lungs.

Is vaping better than smoking when pregnant?

Carbon monoxide is particularly harmful to developing babies. The vapour from an e-cigarette does contain some of the potentially harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, but at much lower levels. If using an e-cigarette helps you to stop smoking, it is much safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke.

Can vaping hurt a fetus?

Using electronic cigarettes (vaping) during pregnancy isn't safe. Most electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain nicotine, which permanently damages a baby's developing brain and many other organs. E-cigarette liquids also contain chemicals, flavors and other additives that might not be safe for your baby.

At what stage of pregnancy does smoking affect the baby?

1. The most sensitive period for causing birth defects is the fifth to the 10th week after the last menstrual period (the third to eighth week of gestation).

Which is worse vaping or smoking?

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.

Can you have a healthy baby if you smoke during pregnancy?

Smoking doubles your risk of abnormal bleeding during pregnancy and delivery. This can put both you and your baby in danger. Smoking raises your baby's risk for birth defects, including cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. A cleft is an opening in your baby's lip or in the roof of her mouth (palate).

Can vaping while pregnant cause miscarriage?

Miscarriage can occur in any pregnancy. Studies have not been done to see if e-cigarettes increase the chance for miscarriage. Studies on traditional cigarettes that include nicotine have found an increase in the chance of miscarriage.

How long does nicotine stay in a fetus system?

The half-life of nicotine is approximately 2.5 hours in adults15 and 9–11 hours in newborns,16--one of the shortest half-lives of drugs used during pregnancy17.

Marijuana during pregnancy: What's the harm? - Mayo Clinic

Use of marijuana during pregnancy can also make you dizzy and alter your judgment, putting you at risk of falls or other injury. Smoking marijuana can damage your lungs and cause breathing problems too.

MARIJUANA USE AND PREGNANCY - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CANNABIS AND PUBLIC HEALTH . I. Can using marijuana during my pregnancy affect my baby’s development after birth? Although scientists are still learning about the effects of marijuana on developing brains, studies suggest that

Marijuana Use in Pregnancy: A Review - PMC - National Center for ...

Marijuana is the no. 1 dependent substance used in pregnancy, 1,2 with up to half of users continuing their use while pregnant. 3–5 This results in up to 34% of pregnancies impacted, which is significant. 6–9 The high prevalence of prenatal marijuana exposure is likely due to its perceived safety in pregnancy, the recent legalization trend, 3–5,10 and its appeal in potentially providing ...

Marijuana During Pregnancy - Know the Risks | SAMHSA

Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug during pregnancy in the U.S., and marijuana use is on the rise among all adult age groups, both sexes, and pregnant women.. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, even as some states have legalized it for recreational and medicinal use. In addition, a growing number of pregnant women view it as a safe, natural way to treat nausea and ...

Cannabis and Pregnancy: What Science Reveals About the Effects - CNBS

Dangers of Using Marijuana During Pregnancy. Because marijuana has been legalized in numerous places and is often used as an effective medical treatment for a variety of illnesses and ailments, this had led many people to believe that it’s a natural substance that’s safe to use under any circumstances, including pregnancy.

What are the potential health effects of using marijuana during my pregnancy?

Marijuana use during pregnancy can be harmful to your baby’s health. 1 The chemicals in marijuana (in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) pass through your system to your baby and may harm your baby’s development. 2

Can pregnant women smoke marijuana?

Although more research is needed to better understand how marijuana may affect you and your baby during pregnancy, it is recommended that pregnant persons do not use marijuana. 3,4

Can you give a baby weed while breastfeeding?

The health effects of a breastfeeding person’s use of marijuana on their infant or baby are not yet fully known . We do know that chemicals from marijuana can be passed to a baby through breast milk. 15 THC is stored in body fat and is slowly released over time, meaning a baby could still be exposed even after a person has stopped using marijuana. Thus, persons who are breastfeeding are encouraged to avoid all marijuana use. 14

Is smoking marijuana bad for babies?

Breathing marijuana smoke can also be bad for you and your baby. Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. 5 THC, the psychoactive or mind-altering compound in marijuana, may also be passed to infants through secondhand smoke. 6

Can using marijuana during my pregnancy affect my baby’s development after birth?

Although scientists are still learning about the effects of marijuana on developing brains, studies suggest that marijuana use by persons during pregnancy could be linked to problems with attention, memory, problem-solving skills, and behavior in their children later in life. 7-12

What are the effects of marijuana during pregnancy?

Use of marijuana during pregnancy might increase the risk of having a baby that is smaller at birth. It might also slightly increase the risk of stillbirth.

How much does marijuana affect a baby?

Research suggests that using marijuana at least weekly during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to a baby with a low birth weight — less than 5 1/2 pounds (2,500 grams). While research suggests a small increase in the risk of stillbirth as well, the results couldn't be adjusted to exclude the effects of tobacco use.

Can smoking marijuana make you dizzy?

Use of marijuana during pregnancy can also make you dizzy and alter your judgment, putting you at risk of falls or other injury. Smoking marijuana can damage your lungs and cause breathing problems too.

Can marijuana harm you during pregnancy?

New research also suggests that there might be a link between maternal marijuana use during pregnancy and mental health, social issues and sleep problems in children. Using marijuana during pregnancy can also harm your health.

Can pregnant women smoke e-cigarettes?

Pregnant women often don 't know if their e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Some also might use e-cigarettes during pregnancy because of the perception that the devices can help them quit or reduce cigarette smoking.

Can a baby smoke e-cigarettes?

While use of e-cigarettes might expose a growing baby to fewer toxins compared with those from regular cigarette use, nicotine exposure of any kind is harmful to a baby. If you're pregnant and you smoke or vape, quitting is the best way to give your baby a healthy start.

Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes while pregnant?

E-cigarette liquids also contain chemicals, flavors and other additives that might not be safe for your baby. It's well known that smoking cigarettes during pregnancy can harm women and their babies.

Is vaping safe during pregnancy?

Using electronic cigarettes (vaping) during pregnancy isn't safe. Most electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain nicotine, which permanently damages a baby's developing brain and many other organs. E-cigarette liquids also contain chemicals, flavors and other additives that might not be safe for your baby.

Is marijuana legal in Canada?

Throughout Canada, certain states across the U.S., and a variety of places throughout the world, legal medical and recreational marijuana is providing unobstructed access to a growing number of people. This is causing questions to arise about topics such as combining marijuana with other drugs and intoxicants, marijuana and existing health conditions, as well as marijuana and pregnancy.

Is marijuana better than prescription?

Some feel that marijuana works better than prescription or over-the-counter drugs suggested by their doctors. Because women are often hesitant to ask their doctors about the risks versus the benefits of smoking marijuana during pregnancy, they often turn to the internet for information and advice.

Does smoking marijuana affect a pregnant woman?

If marijuana can affect a pregnant mother, what about her baby? Does smoking marijuana affect pregnancy? Research shows that marijuana use during pregnancy may reduce the flow of blood and oxygen through the placenta. There are also concerns about the way THC and other cannabinoids may affect the baby itself. After a mother consumes cannabis, it crosses the placenta, causing the baby’s blood THC level to rise to anywhere from one-third to one-tenth of the level of THC in the mother’s blood.

Can you vape while pregnant?

Although vaping and consuming edible marijuana during pregnancy doesn’t involve inhaling toxins, it still introduces THC and other cannabinoids into the mother’s bloodstream.

Is marijuana safe for pregnant women?

Unfortunately, the evidence shows that using marijuana is far from harmless to pregnant women and developing fetuses. The risks are so concerning that in 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued guidelines warning women not to use marijuana in any form during pregnancy.

Can marijuana cause morning sickness?

While some women use marijuana to treat morning sickness and some of the other conditions that arise during pregnancy, evidence shows that cannabis may create or exacerbate other issues in a way that could create further discomfort or even dangerous health problems.

Is smoking weed while pregnant bad for you?

For years, it’s been well-established that smoking cigarettes during pregnancy is not only harmful to the mother; it’s also harmful to a developing fetus. Some studies suggest that smoking marijuana carries the same risks in terms of ingesting carcinogens and other toxins, which leads some pregnant women to opt for vaporizing marijuana or consuming edibles or tinctures in order to eliminate the inhalation of smoke.

What are the risks of vaping?

Vaping without nicotine poses its own risks and potential harmful effects to women who choose to do it. Some of the dangerous ingredients in vaping devices and e-cigarettes can include: 1 Traces of carcinogenic nitrosamines 2 Small amounts of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, which are carcinogenic to humans 3 Toxic metals such as cadmium, nickel and lead.

What are the most dangerous ingredients in vaping?

Some of the dangerous ingredients in vaping devices and e-cigarettes can include: Traces of carcinogenic nitrosamines. Small amounts of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, which are carcinogenic to humans. Toxic metals such as cadmium, nickel and lead.

Is vaping as bad as smoking?

What they don’t know is, that vaping can be just as harmful as cigarette smoking, due to the unknown chemicals that may be in the device that they are using. Also, there is no way to know how much of any given chemical is being used at one time.

Do vaping devices contain nicotine?

Most vaping devices do contain nicotine in their cartridges, but that does not mean that all do. It is possible to find devices that do not contain nicotine, however there are still many dangerous chemicals in them that could potentially harm you and your baby, while you are pregnant.

Is vaping with nicotine safe?

Generally speaking, vaping without nicotine is safer than vaping with nicotine, but there is still lack of research that has been done to determine all the effects of vaping.

Does vaping affect the immune system?

This indicates that it would cause harmful effects to an unborn baby. Another in-vitro study from 2018 suggests that the flavoring in e-juice may activate an inflammatory response with certain types of white blood cells which can affect someone’s immune system from functioning properly.

Can vaping help with pregnancy?

Many women will begin vaping or using vaping devices, e-cigarettes or other forms to replace their habit of cigarette smoking in hopes that it will be a better alternative, or help them “kick” their nicotine habit while they are pregnant, keeping their baby safe.

What are the potential health effects of using marijuana during my pregnancy?

Marijuana use during pregnancy can be harmful to your baby’s health. 1 The chemicals in marijuana (in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) pass through your system to your baby and may harm your baby’s development. 2

Can pregnant women smoke marijuana?

Although more research is needed to better understand how marijuana may affect you and your baby during pregnancy, it is recommended that pregnant persons do not use marijuana. 3,4

Can you give a baby weed while breastfeeding?

The health effects of a breastfeeding person’s use of marijuana on their infant or baby are not yet fully known . We do know that chemicals from marijuana can be passed to a baby through breast milk. 15 THC is stored in body fat and is slowly released over time, meaning a baby could still be exposed even after a person has stopped using marijuana. Thus, persons who are breastfeeding are encouraged to avoid all marijuana use. 14

Is smoking marijuana bad for babies?

Breathing marijuana smoke can also be bad for you and your baby. Secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same toxic and cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. 5 THC, the psychoactive or mind-altering compound in marijuana, may also be passed to infants through secondhand smoke. 6

Can using marijuana during my pregnancy affect my baby’s development after birth?

Although scientists are still learning about the effects of marijuana on developing brains, studies suggest that marijuana use by persons during pregnancy could be linked to problems with attention, memory, problem-solving skills, and behavior in their children later in life. 7-12

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Increasing Rates of Marijuana Use During Pregnancy

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To date, there are no marijuana-derived medications that are FDA-approved for treating conditions associated with pregnancy, including nausea. However, marijuana is the illicit drug most commonly used by pregnant women, with rates doubling since 2002.1 1. Pregnant women report marijuana use predominantly to …
See more on nida.nih.gov

The Endocannabinoid System

  • Marijuana contains hundreds of chemicals including Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids. THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana and the one that makes people high, is linked to most of the effects people commonly associate with marijuana. 1. THC works by interacting with a signaling system found throughout the brain and other areas of the b…
See more on nida.nih.gov

Health Effects

  • The health effects of marijuana exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding are not certain. In studies with people, it can be challenging to disentangle the multiple risk and protective factors that affect fetal and newborn outcomes. Exposure to other drugs (see “Role of Poly-Drug Use,” below) and factors such as nutrition, prenatal care, family support, and stress among others ca…
See more on nida.nih.gov

Role of Poly-Drug Use

  • Disentangling the developmental effects of prenatal marijuana exposure from exposure to other substances is difficult because many women who use marijuana during pregnancy are also using other substances (tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs).21,23,24Prenatal poly-substance exposure has been found by numerous studies to cause harmful effects in infants. 1. Use of tobacco and …
See more on nida.nih.gov

Perception of Safety

  • Pregnant women are more likely to cease using marijuana if they perceive it to be harmful, but multiple factors such as state legalization, social acceptability, and misconceptions about health risks are increasing the perception that marijuana is safe.21,33,34 1. Women report a need for resources and communication with healthcare providers about the risks of prenatal marijuana u…
See more on nida.nih.gov

Additional Information

  • If you or someone you care about is pregnant and using a drug such as marijuana or has a substance use disorder: 1. Ask your healthcare provider about the risks and treatment options. 2. Find treatment services in your area through SAMHSA's treatment locator and HRSA's Find a Health Center. 3. Visit NIDA's webpages for more information: Marijuana Research Report and S…
See more on nida.nih.gov

Sources

  1. Quality. Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2018.
  2. Brown QL, Sarvet AL, Shmulewitz D, Martins SS, Wall MM, Hasin DS. Trends in Marijuana Use Among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Reproductive-Aged Women, 2002-2014. JAMA. 2017;317(2):207-209.
  1. Quality. Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 2018.
  2. Brown QL, Sarvet AL, Shmulewitz D, Martins SS, Wall MM, Hasin DS. Trends in Marijuana Use Among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Reproductive-Aged Women, 2002-2014. JAMA. 2017;317(2):207-209.
  3. Mark K, Gryczynski J, Axenfeld E, Schwartz RP, Terplan M. Pregnant Women's Current and Intended Cannabis Use in Relation to Their Views Toward Legalization and Knowledge of Potential Harm. J Addict...
  4. Volkow ND, Han B, Compton WM, Blanco C. Marijuana Use During Stages of Pregnancy in the United States. Annals of internal medicine. 2017;166(10):763-764.

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