Recent research has indicated a slight yet significant rise in dangerous obstetric complications for pregnant women who consume marijuana. The study analyzed data from approximately 317,000 pregnancies in California, revealing that women who used cannabis were more likely to experience gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, excessive weight gain beyond recommended levels, and a condition known as placental abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterine wall.
This information is critical, as there’s limited understanding of how prenatal cannabis use correlates with maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. The findings were published in the July 22 edition of JAMA Internal Medicine.
Numerous studies have previously suggested that marijuana use during pregnancy could increase the risk of adverse fetal outcomes such as low birth weight, premature birth, and the need for neonatal intensive care. Nevertheless, some women report using cannabis to alleviate sleep issues, depression, stress, morning sickness, and pain, often perceiving it as a safer alternative to prescribed medications, according to a team led by Kelly Young-Wolff from Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
To investigate the effects of marijuana consumption on expectant mothers, the Kaiser team reviewed medical records of over 250,000 pregnant women living in Northern California. The level of cannabis use during pregnancy—ranging from none to daily, weekly, or monthly use—was self-reported or determined through toxicology testing.
In total, 6.3% of the women in the study reported using cannabis at some point during their pregnancy, while only a small percentage claimed to use it daily (0.6%) or weekly (0.7%). The study found a small but significant association between prenatal cannabis use and a range of obstetric complications.
For instance, consuming marijuana increased the likelihood of developing gestational hypertension by 17% and the chances of experiencing preeclampsia by 8%. The relationship between cannabis use and gestational hypertension followed a dose-response pattern: the more frequently a woman used cannabis, the greater her risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Additionally, women who used cannabis faced a 19% higher likelihood of placental abruption, which can jeopardize the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus.
Marijuana use also correlated with increased chances of excessive weight gain during pregnancy, either too much or too little compared to recommended levels. Interestingly, there was an anomaly in the findings: women who used cannabis during pregnancy showed a slightly lower risk of developing gestational diabetes. The reasons behind this trend remain unclear, but the Kaiser team noted a “complex association” between prenatal cannabis use and maternal health.
Moving forward, it’s evident that there is a need for non-stigmatizing education and support to help pregnant individuals make informed decisions regarding cannabis consumption, emphasized the Young-Wolff team.
For more information on cannabis use during pregnancy, you can visit March of Dimes. The source of this study is JAMA Internal Medicine, published on July 22, 2024.
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