CBD Oil and Pregnancy: Will CBD Harm Your Baby?

The more we learn about the health benefits of marijuana, many are asking: is it safe to use CBD during pregnancy?

A lot of symptoms might accompany a woman during pregnancy. Morning sickness, chronic pain, migraines, anxiety, and depression are just a few of the many difficulties that pregnant women face.

Marijuana is known to be a remedy for many of these issues–but consuming psychoactive substances during pregnancy could be harmful to the baby. While THC might not be a viable option, CBD could be a safer natural alternative to relieve your symptoms.

Still worried about CBD oil and pregnancy? Can CBD negatively affect your baby’s development? Let’s get into it.

Dangers of THC During Pregnancy

The endocannabinoid system is a network of proteins and receptors. This system maintains equilibrium in your body–regulating everything from pain management to your mood.

These receptors can respond to cannabinoids–both the ones naturally found in the human body and those found in marijuana.

This means that using marijuana or any of its components can influence the endocannabinoid system. Depending on the level of both THC and CBD, it can have a different effect on the body and mind.

However, this can pose a risk during pregnancy. The endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in the development of the fetus. It builds brain pathways and creates neurons in the baby’s brain. By adding THC, this process could be disrupted.

The use of THC during pregnancy can result in nervous system related birth defects and cognitive disabilities. It can also impact birth rate and increase the chance of miscarriage.

How CBD is Different

Until recently, there was much more research done on THC–and the effects of CBD were relatively unknown.

Although THC can affect ovulation and damage the development of the fetus, studies have shown that CBD will not cause the same harm. In an experiment with pregnant mice, researchers concluded that embryos developed normally even with the use of CBD.

While more consistent human trials may help confirm this theory, it’s very unlikely that CBD will have a negative impact on either the mother or the baby during pregnancy.

In 2016, over 7% of pregnant women admitted to using either CBD or THC during pregnancy–a rate that increased from 4.2% in 2009. If you choose to use CBD–or even traditional marijuana–you aren’t alone.

In many ways, the use of CBD could outweigh the risks and side effects that come with more traditional medication. While CBD is known to have occasional side effects like drowsiness or a change in appetite, these symptoms may be less severe than the medication that you were prescribed.

What Does CBD Do?

Unlike THC, CBD isn’t psychoactive. This means you won’t get a “high” as you would with regular marijuana–you can use CBD in your day-to-day life without worrying about any cognitive effects. CBD is more medicinal than recreational.

This makes CBD a great natural alternative to conventional drugs, especially for women who are pregnant.

As a muscle relaxant and a mood booster, CBD can help pregnant women with a variety of issues–including nausea and daily aches and pains. When it comes to the actual birth, it can help ease the discomfort of contractions and make for a smoother, less painful process.

Here are a number of symptoms that CBD can help you with:

• Daily pain
• Difficulty sleeping
• Stress
• Morning sickness

Safest CBD Consumption Method

Due to the dangers of THC, smoking or vaporizing marijuana isn’t an effective way to get the benefits of CBD. Even if it’s a CBD-dominant strain, there will still be traces of THC, which could be damaging to the development of the fetus.

This also goes for products like edibles. You never know what kind of levels of THC or other potentially dangerous chemicals could be contained in the product. Many products that claim to be CBD dominant may contain nearly 50% THC.

If you want to consume CBD-rich edibles, just be sure to make them yourself. Only make edibles if you know what you’re doing and you’re using a controlled dosage. And don’t forget to make sure you’re using organic CBD.

The safest way to consume CBD during pregnancy is by finding it in its most organic form. Look for oils, lotions, or capsules that are made from 100% hemp extracts. Not only are these products safer, but they’re legal and widely available across the U.S.

No matter which method you choose, be sure that the supplier is reputable and that you know every ingredient that the product contains.

CBD Oil and Pregnancy: Is it Safe?

When it comes to pregnancy, the last thing you want to do is to take risks on your unborn child. But pregnancy and childbirth come with a number of uncomfortable symptoms–and traditional medications can have side effects that you don’t want.

When it comes to CBD oil and pregnancy, you have nothing to worry about. CBD is an alternative solution that can relieve some of your worst symptoms–including pain and morning sickness.

And best of all? It’s perfectly safe to use as long as you use 100% organic CBD oil.

Want to learn more about how you can use CBD oil to take your health to the next level? Check out our blog for more tips, tricks, and facts about CBD.