Pregnant women smoking quite a lot of weed - just wondered where others stand on this as I judged my arse off but am interested to hear the other side?

[CurryMaid]

That's it really.

A couple of pregnant women I've met lately have been quite heavily into smoking weed throughout.

I have to admit I judged my arse off, although I don't know much about the dangers of doing this in pregnancy so maybe I was making an incorrect judgement?

Just wondered what other's gut reaction to seeing this would be?

JUDGE, JUDGE..... this makes me apoplectic with rage!
Tell you why,
i cut out coffee, alcohol, lost 15% of my body weight through eating more than 5 a day, multivits &folic acid blah blah blah for the months preceding and during ttc.

Then had 4 mcs one after the other.
SO i have now heavily reintroduced chocolate and decaf coffee back into the bosom of my fat ass.

There is no rhyme or reason to any of it.

You can be as extreme as me, or can relax a bit, or completely abuse your own body and that of an innocent other, and still cannot guarantee a single bloody thing.

sigh.

No, endless, you can't guarantee a thing. But you can significantly shift the odds.

From memory I don't think the evidence is extensive or clearcut on cannabis use (quite hard to do a proper controlled trial, I would think) but it has to be a bad idea.

Actually, I'm with Paolosgirl - I think it's unethical to collude with the drugs industry. Which makes me pretty out of step with most of my peers, but it boggles me how thinking, socially aware people ignore the impact of their actions on millions in Colombia, Mexico, Afghanistan....

I shifted the odds to, well, nowhere by bieng proactive in my awareness and health choices.
Still ended up with nowt on many occassions.

I know someone who smoked weed moderately during her pregnancy after a huge trauma happened. Her baby was small but bigger than her first when she didn't smoke weed or fags. My friend is only 6 stone something, so baby at 6.12 (39 wks) isn't that small IMO.

I only judged a tiny bit as she was having a terrible time and it was only moderately.

WRT colluding with the evils of the drugs trade, cannibis is the least likely to involve exploitation of the developing world as lots of people grow it in their attics and sell it to their mates.
Also, hester, if there's no clearcut evidence, why does it have to be a bad idea? It might not be.

SGB that is the general advice in pregnancy isn't it? That if there is no evidence to say it is ok, then best avoid. Especially something that is subject to debate rgarding health anyway.

Has anyone actually mentioned that as it is illegal then it simply IS wrong anyway? stares at bottom hoping some will fall off

well there is strong evidence that smoking tobacco causes low birth weight etc so as that is the most common way of smoking it in this country there's a reason not to without getting into the possible effects of THC etc on a foetus.

I think that although I used to like a bit of a smoke when I was younger I would be judging my arse off, through the floor and into Earth' central core if someone I knew told me they smoked weed during a preganancy. I tut at people who smoke cigarettes.

I think it's supposed to alleviate morning sickness.

TBH I wouldn't risk it - there have been no studies and it affects the brain - a foetus' brain is developing - no-brainer really!

my SIL did with her 2 i think and I judged her but on ly from the comfort of my brain - not outloud.

She then went on to not vacinate her kids for fear of MMR / Autism - couldnt bear to put chemicals in their precious bodies. She still smokes fags daily....

I also judged her noisily in my head again - more fun that way.

She is plum.

Certain elements of cannabis can relieve symptoms of neusea and vomiting associated with morning sickness/hyperemesis (along with other symptoms of different illnesses) While it is not preferable to smoke it, medicinal cannabis is not legal in this country for this use, so some people who find it does work will chose to medicate, and are advised to not use tobacco to smoke.

Cannabis is used in medicinal form for cancer sufferers who are suffering from chemo induced sickness, although I beleive this is a trial/for research purposes at this stage.

However, while people may judge, which is the right and expectation of the human race, bear in mind it is an illegal drug which does have many health benefits as well as disadvantages, and that it might be for those benefits that some-one choses actively to use that drug, rather than for recreational purposes. (I am not suggesting the benefits outway the risks or vice versa, but it may be from a point of symptom releif that it used)

I actually think that it should be allowed to sufferers of the various illnesses it has been proven to help but NOT to someone who is busy growing another human..........

ilovedolly - i was making no assumptions on the rightness or wrongness or medical viability myself, just merely stating why some people might chose to smoke it.

Absolutely - which is why there is an argument for legalising it if there is a medical need only. Otherwise, if you choose to buy it from a dealer you should be aware of exactly what the industry that you are supporting stands for.

I know pavlov I was just wading in, in my judgy arse way I do think that though, about cannabis for the suffering.

Ok. Whilst I am well aware of the benefits of cannibis for people suffering from certain illnesess, I do not think there is any good reason for doing during pregancy.

My DS was exposed to dope in utero (not by me, he is adopted). He has learning difficulties. He also has several other issues that make his life quite difficult. Who knows if it was the dope or if the dope was just one of several factors. I cant see it would have been benificial though.

Dope today is very different from the dope of 10 years ago +. Skunk is v.strong and often laced with all kinds of crap. I wouldnt have smoked dope then whilst pregnant and wouldnt now.

Its only 9 mths out of a life, not long to give up smoking is it?

if it affects the babe or not isnt known, though as others have said, tobacco can cause premature birth/low birthweight.
best not to isnt it?
smoking in pregnancy or at any time does not promote good health.
always feel a bit funny seeing pregnant women smoking.
your judgement is reasonable!

I also wonder if (like canabis can make people paranoid/irrritable etc) the baby would have weird feelings....sort of fear/anxious whatever.

No 9 months is not long, but I seem to recall PG hormones made me a little insane. Ok, quite a lot insane. (Well, you know I am exaggerating a bit. I didn't do anything illegal or dangerouse, but...it seemed like an awfully long time to me).

How refreshing to hear from someone like Ronaldhino (hope I spelt it right). We all know that alcohol and narcotics are not ideal for PG women, but many babies come out unscathed after their mothers smoke dpoe during their PGs. Not that I'm advocating here, but I know of many women who did (I grew up in a very lefty area) and none of the children concerned are anything less than wonderful.

So there.

Pregnancy is bad enough (well it was for me) so I'm with Ronaldhino, let's not judge. (After all we're not talking alcoholism or smack.)

(oops: interesting frenchie spelling of dangerous)

SGB - because there is good reason to suspect it will adversely affect the fetus in utero. Not least because it is normally taken with tobacco.

It's hard to have clearcut evidence, because it would be unethical to do a controlled trial (i.e. to deliberately expose fetuses to cannabis, so you could observe the effect). But it seems reckless to take that as some kind of green light...

I'm not saying it's the worst thing you can do while pregnant (incidentally my mum gave birth to me while out of her tree on weed). But I do know that quite a lot of women underestimate/minimise the risks involved, and I don't think we should.

I just sometimes wonder at all the things PG women are supposed to stop doing despite there being no actual proof that they are harmful - and how it's always things that PG women might enjoy, there's never any advice to the effect that they don't need to do so much housework...

moderation is key...i doubt a spliff on the weekend would hurt, but you shouldnt carry on as if not preg. its not being a party pooper, its giving your baby the best chance. OP was talking about heavy weed smoking. one doesnt function properly when smoking heavily.

Hi
Witting this under different name.
I would advocate the use of pure (Not mixed with tobacco) at the start of pregnancy for bad morning sickness.
During the second and most of the third trimester I would recommend abstinence.
In the countdown too labour in the last couple of weeks for the actual physical pain of advanced pregnancy there's not much that can beat it.
As for labour pain relief, I put my extremely good birthing experience down to a carrot of the green stuff especially prepared for the occasion by a mate. I was 11 days over due, my child was 7 pounds and 10 years later, shows absolutely no physical problems and is fit and healthy.
In fact I am commended on there politeness and intelegance.
During labour After imbibing my pure cannabis carrot in a relaxing bath, I waddled into the hospital at about 10 at night, had gas and air+pethidine. No tearing no complication, birth at 7am.
I regret being open with MWs at the time as I was treated like a bloody junky after on the ward and baby was put under observation for non existent withdrawl, I also asked to take placenta home and had to run the gauntlet of having staff on the ward repeatedly come up and asked me If I was the one bringing my placenta home, and being laughed at to my face because of this.
The area I was living at the time in a large Caribbean community and it was a fairly excepted herbal remedy for morning sickness etc.
One of the healthcare workers postnataly that came round told me about attending several births in the area, where it was used as the soul pain releaf and personally couldent see a problem with it being used as such. She had researched it and there is no solid evidence of harm if take,(Like all medicines )In sensible and moderately and responsible amounts.
The link with premature birth is a fact, but that's if you tank it constantly all the way during pregnancy.
The womb actually has cannabis receptors and there is a marked increase in naturally ocuring cannabinoids in the body just before the onset of labour. Thats why it queen Victoria swore by it for menstrual cramps.

www.ndc.hrb.ie/directory/news_detail.php?cat_id=&news_id=979&pointer=60

Most of the medical literature is inconclusive about harm in general in vitro due to its use.
I am due in several weeks time and I will not being going through it with out it.It has been used for century's for this purpose, and it is such a pity that such a amazing medication is denied to many people suffering from so many illnesses because some American senator with shares in Duponts chemicals corp in the 1930s wanted to wipe out the hemp industry.
I know I may be 'flamed' for this but i will mealy light labour carrot with it.
p.S Soz about dyslexea.(Not stoned)