Mothers who vaped during pregnancy forum 2022

Marijuana doesn’t have nearly the same stigma it did even just a few years ago. Several states have legalized the substance, and more are likely to follow suit.

As a result, usage is rising in the general population, including among pregnant women. A lot of women wonder if smoking weed – or consuming marijuana in another form – is OK during pregnancy.

While estimates are tricky, four to 10 percent of women currently report using marijuana while pregnant. This is a definite increase from the past – and the actual percentage is probably higher because of a self-reporting bias. Think about your answers when we ask you how much you smoke, drink, exercise, or weigh!

But just because using marijuana is more socially or even legally acceptable does not mean it’s safe for your unborn child.

Effects on fetal development

Although a lot more research needs to be done on the effects of marijuana on babies in utero, the initial findings are not reassuring.

THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, acts on a receptor in the brain that is present as early as 14 weeks of gestation – the end of the first trimester. It does cross the placenta and reach the developing fetus. Fetuses are exposed to about 10 percent of the THC that mom takes in, whether by ingesting edibles, smoking, or vaping. It is also stored in maternal fat for weeks, increasing exposure to the developing fetus for a long time after the actual consumption.

Studies have linked marijuana use during pregnancy to possible neurological impairments. Children exposed during pregnancy generally have shown higher rates of difficulty in speech and cognition, lower math scores, lower spelling scores, and higher rates of focus and attention problems.

THC has also been connected to lower birth weights (an important health indicator for newborn babies) and lower muscle tone and tremors in newborns.

While it’s important to note these initial studies and their results are not conclusive, recent research has been discouraging enough that the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises against using marijuana while pregnant. Because THC can be found in breast milk, the American Academy of Pediatrics also discourages use of marijuana while breastfeeding.

Turning to marijuana as medicine

Many women who use marijuana during pregnancy report being recreational users prior to becoming pregnant and turning to the drug to help deal with some of the unpleasant side effects of pregnancy.

A recent study showed that marijuana use is much more frequent in the first trimester than later in pregnancy. One explanation may be that women are using marijuana to reduce nausea and vomiting that occurs early in pregnancy.

For nausea and vomiting, there are many prescription medications and non-medical treatments that are safe to take during pregnancy. To alleviate physical discomfort and pain there are many other options to consider such as massage, physical therapy, and pregnancy bands – all of which have been proven to help.

Marijuana may also be used to control pregnancy-related pains, and to manage anxiety and stress. These are all very real pregnancy symptoms, but marijuana is not the best way to treat them.

Pregnant women are at higher risks for depression than people in the general population, but marijuana is not a treatment for this illness. Better alternatives include counseling, behavioral therapy, and safe prescription medications.

Talk to your doctor before you become pregnant if you use marijuana, even occasionally. They will help you get off it and find safe alternatives to reduce anxiety or alleviate normal discomforts of pregnancy. It will also help you find longer-term solutions that will be effective for you and safe for your baby.

In my opinion, using marijuana during pregnancy simply isn’t worth the risk.

For more information about pregnancy, labor, and delivery, sign up to receive Your Pregnancy Matters email alerts when we publish new stories. You can also make an appointment to see one of our specialists by calling 214-645-8300.

Smoking cigarettes during pregnancy or after birth can significantly increase the chance of SIDS for your baby. Scientific evidence shows that around 30% of sudden infant deaths could be avoided if mothers didn’t smoke when they were pregnant.

Taken together with the risks of smoking around a baby at home, this means that smoking could be linked to 60% of sudden infant deaths.

How to keep your baby smoke-free

• Both you and your partner should try not to smoke during pregnancy and after the birth
• You should also keep your baby out of smoky areas. Don’t let people smoke near your baby and keep your home, car, and other places your baby spends time, smoke free
• If you or your partner smoke, you should not share a bed with your baby as this greatly increases the chance of SIDS even if you do not smoke in the bedroom

If you smoke 1-9 cigarettes a day during pregnancy you are more than four times as likely to have a baby die as a sudden infant death than a woman who didn’t smoke at all during pregnancy.

Even if you did smoke when you were pregnant, you should still try not to expose your baby to smoke after birth as this can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

Where to get help with quitting smoking

Quitting smoking is not easy and will require a lot of discipline, but it is an effort worth making.

For help and advice to stop smoking, try the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 0224 332 or visit the NHS website. 

Read the latest guidance regarding e-cigarettes on our website.

Smoking and SIDS: FAQs

How can I give up smoking?

Giving up smoking can be very tough, but it is worth it for both you and your baby. You have the best chance of succeeding by getting help from professionals.

Speak to your midwife or health visitor, or go directly to your local stop smoking service. They will have seen many smoking, pregnant women, and are there to help. For advice and support call SmokeFree on 0800 022 4332 or visit nhs.uk/smokefree.

What are e-cigarettes and are they safe for my baby?

There is currently no research on e cigarettes and SIDS but using e cigarettes seems to be much safer than smoking.

Giving up completely is the best option, but if you do choose to use an e cigarette continue to keep your baby away from e cigarettes and their vapour. Read our advice on e-cigarettes or talk to your local stop smoking service for the best advice.

What is Nicotine Replacement Therapy, and is it safe in pregnancy?

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) involves the use of gum, patches or tablets to deliver a small amount of nicotine into your bloodstream. They are said to help you to deal with cravings by giving your body nicotine without some of the harmful by-products of smoking (e.g. carbon monoxide and tar).

Most pregnant women can use NRT safely, though it’s important to talk it through with your doctors first.

No one in my home smokes, and we rarely go anywhere smoky but I still worry if my child ever goes into a smoky environment. Can this increase the risk of SIDS?

The risk of SIDS from very occasional exposure to a smoky environment is likely to be very low, but there isn’t enough scientific evidence for us to know the precise risk. Try to keep your baby smoke-free at all times to keep them safe.

Is it safe to breastfeed if I smoke?

Breastfeeding has many benefits and regardless of whether you are a smoker or not it is the best way to feed your baby.

Using e-cigarettes around your baby

There is currently no research relating to e cigarettes and SIDS, but using an e cigarette appears to be much safer than continuing to smoke; both in pregnancy and once your baby is born. As there is no direct research on using e cigarettes and SIDS, we suggest you do not share a bed with your baby if you use e cigarettes. The safest option is to give up smoking entirely, but if you choose to use e cigarettes instead then this is likely to be much safer.

The most important thing is to stay smokefree and protect your baby from the harm of secondhand smoke. If using an e cigarette allows you to remain smokefree then this is likely to be much safer than smoking.

The Lullaby Trust has teamed up with other charities and organisations in The Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group to produce resources around smoking in pregnancy. These resources can be accessed here.

Guides and infographics to inform health professionals and support conversations with pregnant women who smoke and are inquiring about e-cigarettes can be downloaded here.

What happens to the baby if you vape while pregnant?

Can vaping cause birth defects in the future?

What is worse vaping or smoking when pregnant?

Does vaping cross the placenta?