Although it has the reputation of being “a soft drug”, marijuana is not without danger, especially when consumed during pregnancy.
- Cannabis is by far the most widely used illicit substance in France.
- In 2017, 44.8% of adults aged 18 to 64 said they had used cannabis in their lifetime, compared to 42% in 2014.
According to a new study published in JAMAsmoking marijuana during pregnancy carries significant risks for both mother and baby.
2 to 5% of pregnant women use cannabis
“According to various researches, it is estimated that 2 to 5% of pregnant women use cannabis”, explains the researchers in the preamble. “And in deprived urban areas, this figure rises to more than 15%”, they add. “Although some studies have already demonstrated a harmful association between cannabis use during pregnancy and the health of newborns, some results are inconsistent. they develop.
To gain precision, the scientists synthesized the results of 16 studies, involving a total of 59,138 women. Among those who had smoked cannabis during their pregnancy, the complications were more important, many of them having for example given birth prematurely to a baby too small (less than 2.5 kilos). Some also had to finish giving birth to their child in intensive care, because of a more difficult delivery than the average.
Premature deliveries and intensive care
“In this meta-analysis, maternal exposure to marijuana during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and admission to neonatal intensive care, as well as a decrease in mean birth weight. birth”, conclude the experts. “Women who use marijuana during pregnancy have more problematic journeys.” they summarize.
