{"id":36529,"date":"2024-09-26T08:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=36529"},"modified":"2025-03-11T17:26:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T21:26:06","slug":"cannabis-across-life-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/cannabis-across-life-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis Across Life: Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ancient Mayans believed so strongly in life cycles that their sacred calendar, <\/span>the <\/span>Tzolk\u2019in<\/span><\/a>, is made of smaller cycles totaling 260 days. Why? Because it marks the completion of our first cycle in the womb, following nine moons of gestation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>endocannabinoid system<\/span><\/a> is in place and working well before and during pregnancy. Its components help regulate fertility and development through a complex web of cycling endocannabinoids, sex steroids, gonadotropins, and cannabinoid receptors on reproductive organs \u2013 and the developing fetus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregnancy and Gestation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

During gestation, the fetus forms the roots of every cell to set us up for long-term success. For survival, these early processes must go well. This means they need to be nutritionally-supported, adequately hydrated, and unaltered by outside toxins and mutagens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because cannabinoids can cross the placenta, and fetuses have cannabinoid receptors, there\u2019s an open window for them to be introduced directly to the fetus. This means cannabinoids may pose short and long-term health effects for fetuses.<\/span><\/p>\n

We know that alcohol, tobacco, smoking, and certain drug use during pregnancy cause fetal harm, but what about cannabis? Or CBD? What reasons do people have for using cannabis during pregnancy, and do the potential benefits outweigh the harms?<\/span><\/p>\n

Morning Sickness, Mental Health, and More<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Historically, cannabis has been used for morning sickness and pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting for thousands of years. Modern surveys estimate that as many as <\/span>22% or more<\/span><\/a> of pregnant people still use cannabis, mostly in the critical first trimester, when morning sickness peaks. The rationales vary, but it\u2019s important to understand why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More and more pregnant people are also turning to CBD, presumably because of perceived less harm and non-inhalational route availability. A 2024 international study found that about <\/span>one in five<\/span><\/a> (20%) pregnant individuals in the US and Canada report CBD-only use for:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n