Using Marijuana Before Pregnancy More Than Doubles The Risk Of Premature Birth, Says Study
Women who use marijuana before pregnancy more than double their risk of giving birth to a premature baby, says a study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide and published in the journal PLoS ONE.
According to previous research conducted by researchers at Tufts University, mothers who used marijuana as teenagers put their children at an increased risk for future drug use and abuse. As Research Assistant Professor John J. Byrnes, the lead author of the Tufts study, commented:
“[T]he results suggest that maternal drug use, even prior to pregnancy, can impact future offspring.”
The present study on maternal marijuana use from the University of Adelaide brings more bad news to women who used marijuana prior to conceiving.
According to the study, which looked at 3,234 healthy pregnant women without any previous children, factors such as a family history of low birth weight, diabetes before and during pregnancy, and hypertension all increase the risk for premature birth.
More surprisingly, however, is that regular marijuana use up to the time of conception is associated with a more than doubled increase risk of giving birth to a premature baby. As the researchers conclude:
“We have shown that marijuana is a strong environmental risk factor…in this population. We are unable to determine whether this association is due to a toxic effect of marijuana or is a marker of a suite of lifestyle factors that contribute to the risk. Pre-pregnancy marijuana use may be a more reliable marker since one can anticipate that women would be more likely to disclose it than persistent marijuana use during pregnancy.”
However, as the researchers point out, the reason for the increased risk of premature birth linked to marijuana use has yet to be determined. The marijuana may be directly to blame, or additional lifestyle factors associated with marijuana use may be the cause.
The results of this study are in contrast with a previous study that did not find a link between maternal marijuana use and premature birth.
Tags : marijuana, marijuana and pregnancy, marijuana effects, marijuana research, marijuana use, marijuana use linked to premature birth risk, premature baby, premature birth, preterm baby, preterm birth
Posted: July 22, 2012
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Jul 22, 2012
If pot smoking months or years before pregnancy caused problems with children, there would have been an enormous spike in birth defencts or other problems following the society-wide increase in pot-smoking during the late 60's. There was none, no correlation, no relation.
Jul 22, 2012
The Endocannabinoid System…Learn it.. Humans were wired for cannabis..
Jul 22, 2012
Learn about CB1 and CB2 receptors… Learn about how cannabis can cure and treat a bunch of diseases and disorders…Go on… Educate yourselves..DO NOT rely on garbage this site wants you to read…Go do your own research…
Jul 22, 2012
http://voices.yahoo.com/recent-scientific-discoveries-cannabis-human-11145364.html?cat=58
Jul 22, 2012
http://voices.yahoo.com/recent-scientific-discoveries-cannabis-human-11145364.html?cat=58
Jul 22, 2012
I don't think this should even be a question….just don't take the risk…there is no reason to be smoking pot in the first place; and it definatly shouldn't be argued that it's medical use justifies women smoking illegally before having kids. Just don't use it.
Jul 22, 2012
Using and eating a lot of things in excess is bad.. Look up the list of foods and vitamins that a pregnant woman should not over indulge on.. Research actually has suggested that humans should be eating cannabis in our diets.. Do your own research. A lot new and amazing information out there..Learn about The Endocannabinoid System… Humans were wired for cannabis..
Jul 23, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Of6PCVk9qA&feature=share
Jul 23, 2012
http://youtu.be/lvzX8aNwxgM
Jul 23, 2012
And there are many benefits to smoking MJ … It has helped many Vets with their PTSD… Go research it..
Jul 23, 2012
Even with science proving the facts reefer madness still lives on, if people actually knew and understood some of the dangerous chemicals used in our foods and crops not natural for our human body to process you would freak out stop attacking a plant for god sake and go after the the root of all evil , why not show pictures of what your legal man made poison alcohol does to a child in the womb , yet it's perfectly legal wow!
Jul 23, 2012
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/june272010/marijuana-infants-sc.php
http://www.druglibrary.org/SCHAFFER/hemp/medical/can-babies.htm
Jul 23, 2012
Exactly… I bet if they picked apart everything these mothers ate and drank, they would find that it was the LEGAL crap that caused this problem…
Jul 23, 2012
All the nasty LEGAL chemicals in the RX meds they have been on in their lifetime can also cause this kind of thing to happen…
Jul 23, 2012
All the nasty LEGAL chemicals in the RX meds they have been on in their lifetime can also cause this kind of thing to happen…
Jul 23, 2012
interesting……my mom smoked weed prior to conception, yet she had 3 children that were NOT premature?
Jul 23, 2012
hmmm…. increase in birth defects you say……. well we have a bunch more gays running around now then we did then…thats a birth defect. THATS not normal!!!!!
Jul 23, 2012
http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/07/marijuana_linked_to_better_brain_function_in_bipol_1.php
Jul 23, 2012
Deceptive headline. No evidence to support that use of pot before birth has any effect. The study it self says this. Reading comprehension is fundamental.
Jul 23, 2012
As the researchers said, these results are in contrast to previous studies. It also sounds as if the researchers think other lifestyle factors and not just marijuana use account for the increase.
Jul 23, 2012
"Using Marijuana Before Pregnancy More Than Doubles The Risk Of Premature Birth, Says Study" That is the title of this article.." " More surprisingly, however, is that regular marijuana use up to the time of conception is associated with a more than doubled increase risk of giving birth to a premature baby."
That is your quote to your article…"It also sounds as if the researchers think other lifestyle factors and not just marijuana use account for the increase…. This whole article is so mixed up that even you as the writer can't even get the story straight..The title to this article is wrong and very deceptive.. I hate this kind of journalism.. All it does is piss off the educated and logical thinking readers…
Jul 23, 2012
There are a lot of amazing benefits to using cannabis (marijuana).. Please do this world a favor and write articles with more for thought and with more eduction to back what you write. Go do an article on Cash Hyde… Go look this kid up.. Amazing story to be found with him…
Jul 23, 2012
Your writing stinks….
Jul 23, 2012
Learn about the The endocannabinoid system … CB1 and CB2 Receptors.. Humans were wired for cannabis…
Jul 23, 2012
Crystal Rucker, You should investigate what you say before you comment.. Military vets have been smoking marijuana to alleviate their PTSD… Research it… As of 2010, vets who live in MMJ states to be allowed to use MMJ..
Jul 23, 2012
Research doesn't make it legal…and it messed up my brother's life. Everyone is entitled their own opinion though.
Jul 23, 2012
How did it mess your brothers life? Did he get arrested? that alone is why the laws needs to be changed..This is about the rights of people who need this for their medical needs.. Research the laws and the injustice that has been done.. Alcohol is perfectly legal; I imagine more lives have been messed up with that substance.. It is ok for you to go get bombed out of your mind and may even die from alcohol poisoning..That is the truth right there.. logical thinking can set you free..
Jul 24, 2012
Education is the key to our survival… I do urge everyone to research the facts and the truths.. I do think marijuana should be legal for adult use as well as for medical use for anyone of any age..Yes, marijuana can be abused, but so can foods and any other substances we put in our bodies. A person can sit there and eat all day long and gain an enormous amount of weight. That right there can "mess up" someones life. Does that mean food has to be banned? No, that is illogical. I am a logical thinker. And I am tired of being spoon fed BS.. I call it like i see it.
Jul 24, 2012
Education is the key to our survival…I urge everyone to research the facts and the truths… I think marijuana should be legal for adults to smoke or eat it in the manner that will get them high. I believe marijuana should be legal for everyone of all ages to consume in the manner that does not get them high. I believe marijuana should be legal for medical use for anyone of any age. Yes; marijuana can be abused, but so can foods and any other substances we put in our bodies. A person can sit there and eat all day long and gain an enormous amount of weight. That right there can "mess up" someone's life. Does that mean food has to be banned? No, that is illogical. I am a logical thinker. And I am tired of being spooned fed BS… I call it like I see it.
Jul 24, 2012
Rubbish!
Jul 24, 2012
Then don't use deceptive headlines to get people to read your articles.