To Your Health
February, 2022 (Vol. 16, Issue 02) |
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Bad for Baby
By Editorial Staff
Expectant mothers everywhere, think a little marijuana during your pregnancy won't harm your baby, especially since marijuana has been decriminalized in a number of states over the past few years? Think again.
Here's why you should consider it as dangerous as alcohol to the health of your soon-to-be-born child.
In utero marijuana exposure significantly increases adverse neonatal outcomes; that means your baby is at higher risk of experiencing not one, but any of the following seven health issues, according to research:
- Lower birth weight
- Small for gestational age
- Preterm delivery (prior to 37 weeks)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission
- Lower Apgar score at one minute
- Birth weight less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds)
- Reduced head circumference
In other words, marijuana is bad for baby! This review study, published in JAMA Network Open, included 16 previously conducted investigations involving nearly 60,000 babies, so the risks noted above are worth taking seriously. Whether you're pregnant or considering becoming pregnant, review the do's and don'ts of a healthy pregnancy with your health care team - and make sure you discuss these study findings. After all, isn't a healthy baby your #1 goal?
