CBD oil’s ability to help with a long list of medical conditions and ailments such as nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, pain, and poor sleep makes it a very appealing relief aid to use during pregnancy.
But with research showing that marijuana — the psychoactive version of cannabis — should be avoided during pregnancy, it begs the question is CBD that comes from hemp dangerous as well?
Today, we are tackling that big question, and if you plan to use CBD oil during your pregnancy, you’ll definitely want to read this article.
What is CBD Oil And What Is It Used For
CBD oil is an extract taken from cannabis plants — usually hemp as it doesn’t cause a high like its cousin marijuana.
People commonly use CBD to help with inflammation, seizures, pain, and even for general wellbeing as it can help promote healthy regulation and balance throughout the body.
For most people, CBD appears to very safe and only produces mild side effects like nausea and lethargy at worst. There is also concern that CBD can interact with certain medications and raise their potency by delaying their breakdown in the body.
Is CBD Oil Safe When Pregnant
Here is the answer you’re looking for, though it might not be what you wanted. The truth is no one is really sure if CBD is safe during pregnancy as there are not a lot of studies that look at it.
The limited research that is available seems to indicate that taking CBD is OK during pregnancy and should not have any negative effects on the fetus.
However, the compounds in CBD oils may come in contact with the fetus, and we can’t say if something occurs when this happens.
We do know that marijuana use during pregnancy can cause lower birth weight and may lead to future behavioral issues, but even with it, we aren’t totally sure.
There is a study that shows THC — the active chemical in marijuana that creates the high — can hinder brain development, but the study only looked at a synthetic version of THC.
We’ve also seen cannabinoids in cannabis easily cross through the placenta, but this has only been seen in preclinical trials which takes place outside the body.
Currently, the best advice anyone can give you is to talk to your doctor before using CBD while pregnant. Even if you’ve used CBD in the past and have never had any issues whatsoever, it’s still recommended that you talk to your doctor because new risks related to pregnancy may occur.
Risks of Using CBD While Pregnant
There are two big risks that you need to be aware of when using CBD while pregnant.
The first has to do with CBD’s interaction with drugs metabolized in the liver. CBD is known to inhibit enzymes in the liver that breakdown many common prescription drugs. By delaying their breakdown, their potency can raise in the body. Any person that is on a dosage-sensitive medication should absolutely talk to their doctor before using CBD.
The second big issue is CBD crossing the placenta and making its way into the fetus, and again we have no clue what happens. We don’t even know if CBD itself can cross the placenta.
However, most CBD products are full spectrum and contain hundreds of compounds including traces of THC and we learned in the above section they cross over in preclinical trials.
There is one more risk, but this concerns women trying to conceive. A study on mice found that CBD can help ovulation, but it can also hinder a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall.
Currently, there is just a lot of unknowns, so be careful when using any CBD product. As well, even though more women are doing it, research is showing that you want to stay away from marijuana when pregnant.
CBD and Breastfeeding
Studies have shown when studying marijuana, that chemicals in it can get into breast milk where the mother could pass it on to the child.
Interesting enough, breast milk naturally contains chemicals that are similar to the ones found in cannabis.
These chemicals target the same receptors that chemicals in cannabis do, and give them the name endocannabinoids where CBD and THC are known as phytocannabinoids.
The endocannabinoids in breast milk trigger CB1 receptors and will increase a baby’s appetite, and we believe this is to promote suckling. THC binds to these same receptors and this causes the munchies.
CBD oil itself will naturally raise endocannabinoid levels in the body, and it will be interesting to see if one day CBD is used to help mothers who are struggling to breastfeed.
Wrapping Up CBD Oil Effect On Pregnancy
While there are a lot of unknowns when it comes to CBD and pregnancy, and a big lack of studies, all that should change in the next few years.
In 2018, the United States Federal government legalized hemp plants that only contain traces of THC, and this will finally open the doors to studying hemp CBD products without fear of repercussion.
Until that time, please use caution if using any CBD product if you’re trying to get pregnant, currently are, or are breastfeeding. Though CBD has positive sides like CBD oil for Cancer is really good, we need to use it with precautions.