The effects marijuana has on pregnancy
Marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs in the United States. Marijuana is smoked in order to give the user a relaxed effect. However, some individuals choose to mix it in with food in order to obtain a mild and longer lasting high. Marijuana is said to have many health benefits, as it has helped individuals who experience side effects from cancer and glaucoma. However, there are risks to using marijuana. When an individual smokes marijuana, they may experience appetite changes, mood changes, and an increase in heart rate. Psychologically speaking, marijuana is known to create anxiety and paranoia in its users. The brain's ability to operate clearly is diminished, and individuals may experience bouts of depression. Individuals who use marijuana long term may develop a dependence to the drug, thus increasing the amount used, and frequency, in order to achieve their sought after high. This puts an individual at risk for developing a marijuana addiction. Women who are addicted to marijuana and have become pregnant need to know the risks they pose to themselves, and their unborn child. An expectant mother’s bloodstream does not connect to the developing fetus’ bloodstream directly. Both bloodstreams flow from opposite directions of the placental barriers (grouping of tiny blood vessels that are inside of the placenta). If a woman smokes marijuana while pregnant, effects of the drug will pass through the fetal bloodstream to inside of the placenta. While this is happening, carbon dioxide and various other hazards may pass through the fetus’s bloodstream, into the placental barrier, and back into the mother’s bloodstream. When a pregnant woman smokes marijuana, THC passes through the placental barrier, impacting the fetus. Potential complications For women who smoke marijuana during pregnancy, there are some complications that one
should be aware of. First off, marijuana smoking raises the amount of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the bloodstream. This reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, putting the expectant mother and the unborn child at an increased risk for a miscarriage during the first 20 weeks of the pregnancy. Marijuana can also trigger changes inside the placenta that could contribute to symptoms of preeclampsia. Expectant mothers who use marijuana while pregnant are also at high risk of premature labor, and birthing an infant before the pregnancy has reached 37 weeks. Infants who are born prematurely are at an elevated risk for hearing and visual difficulties, learning problems, cerebral palsy, and apnea. There is also a risk of low birth weight, which can put a newborn at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. When compared to other harmful substances, like heroin and alcohol, many individuals feel that using marijuana while pregnant is fairly harmless. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Any unauthorized substance used by an expectant mother could pose complications to both herself and her unborn child. If you, or someone you know, is suffering from marijuana addiction and is expecting a baby, please seek help. There are drug addiction treatment centers across the country that can help women who are pregnant and addicted to marijuana. For more information visit: http://www.drugaddictsupport.com