A This week’s study is the latest to suggest its use. This is not to say that cannabis is harmless during pregnancy. Scientists have found a link between a mother’s occasional use of cannabis during pregnancy and poor outcomes for newborns. such as low birth weight. These effects were more significant in mothers who used cannabis late in their pregnancy But it can still be seen in people who have used cannabis before..

The job It was conducted by researchers at the Central Michigan University College of Medicine. A An increasing number of studies They showed a link between cannabis use during pregnancy and poor outcomes for newborns. In this study, however, Scientists They were also able to observe the duration and duration of exposure to cannabis.

The team monitors the health of pregnant women and their newborns who receive local care Hospital, focusing on those who said they had recently used cannabis or tested positive during pregnancy. They were then compared to mothers who did not test positive for cannabis during their pregnancy. In all, about 270 mother-child pairs were included in the study.

As with other studies, the team found that overall, cannabis use during pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight in newborns. But they also found that fewer mothers continued to use cannabis during their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Children on average, with other negative consequences. The group’s findings were published in the newspaper on Tuesday Frontiers in Pediatrics.

“We show that even when marijuana use occurs only in the first trimester of pregnancy, birth weight is reduced by more than 150 grams on average,” said Beth Bailey, professor and director of public health research at Central Michigan University. Frontier Science News. “If this use continues in the second trimester, the newborn’s head circumference is also significantly reduced.”

The authors noted that the size of the newborn plays an important role in the development of the child. In particular, low birth weight is associated with a lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a. More exposure For diseases like covid-19.

As with any study, this study has limitations. The findings are based on a relatively small sample size of pregnant women at one site, for one. And while the researchers were able to accurately track people’s use of cannabis, they didn’t have data on how often people actually took it regularly. Scientists are still trying to figure out the exact reasons why cannabis can be harmful during pregnancy and whether these effects can vary depending on the intake.

All that said, cannabis seems to pose a real risk to the developing fetus. And with recreational cannabis use becoming legal in the US and elsewhere, it’s a danger that parents-to-be should be warned about. For years, organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have Recommended Doctors advise pregnant parents not to use cannabis during pregnancy. And the authors say their study reinforces the validity of that advice.

“It is important to encourage patients to stop using marijuana once they become pregnant to reduce fetal growth and long-term health and developmental outcomes,” they wrote. “These findings can be used to influence business practices in cannabis dispensaries, where marijuana use during pregnancy is not always discouraged.”

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