CBD Oil and Pregnancy: Are They A Safe Combination?

The biggest cause of concern with CBD oil and pregnancy is its potential side effects and risks for the unborn child. Although pregnancy can be amazing, it often comes with unpleasant side effects, including morning sickness, depression, stress, back pain, headaches, cramping, insomnia, and anxiety. The exciting part is that many CBD oil studies have discovered that the compound can be useful when it comes to supporting most of these symptoms. This is the reason many expecting women are becoming curious about trying CBD. This leads to questions like: Is it safe for pregnant women? How should expectant mothers use CBD oil safely? What do experts and science say? Well, this comprehensive guide goes in depth and discusses everything you should know about CBD oil and pregnancy. 

Pregnancy

At the very least, pregnancy is a duration of significant changes in a woman’s body. All these changes focus on developing a healthy baby and causing no harm to the mother. 

The changes start within days of conception once the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus wall. The initial stages are usually subtle, and many women won’t recognize them. Nevertheless, some women report that they knew of their expectancy within hours of conception. 

Usually, pregnancy usually lasts about 38 weeks (266 days) from the conception date or 40 weeks from the very start of the last menstrual period. In general, you can divide pregnancy into three periods with three months each. Typically, these periods are called first, second and third trimesters. With each trimester, there are a unique set of experiences.

The Body During Pregnancy

We know each pregnancy experience is distinct. The same woman might also undergo different body changes for each pregnancy. The symptoms might be mild or even severe. Below are a few interesting things that occur or can occur to your body during pregnancy.

– Your bones soften

– A new organ grows inside you

– Your veins become more visible

– Blood volume increases

– Your hair thickens

– You could experience skin changes

– Swelling may occur anywhere

Effects of Substances on the Baby

Research proves that illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco or prescription drug abuse by expectant mothers can have adverse health consequences on infants. Since numerous substances pass easily via the placenta, substances that an expectant mother uses also get to the fetus. This is the reason anyone might be concerned about CBD oil and pregnancy.

And according to recent research, taking illegal drugs, using prescription pain relievers, or smoking tobacco may cause double or triple the risk of stillbirth. Based on estimates, approximately 5% of expectant mothers consume one or more addictive substances.

What Are Cannabinoids?

Have you ever heard of the term “cannabinoids” before? Maybe you have heard it being used alongside CBD but you’re still uncertain of what they are? What is their actual role in your body?

Cannabinoids are basically a class of lipophilic molecules that interact with your ECS. In essence, the endocannabinoid system helps your body to manage functional balance through its fundamental components. They are “messenger” molecules that our bodies make. The receptors these molecules attach to, as well as the enzymes that break them down are also part of the ECS.

Pain, stress, sleep, appetite, reproduction, reward and motivation, energy metabolism, and cardiovascular function. These are just a few of the body’s functions that these cannabinoids impact by stimulating the ECS. The possible health benefits of cannabinoids are numerous. They include inflammation reduction, nausea control, and much more.

What Is Cannabidiol (CBD)?

CBD is just one of more than 113 recognized chemical compounds called cannabinoids. It typically comes from a plant species called the Cannabis sativa plants. The two most popular types are hemp and cannabis plants. 

CBD for medicinal purposes, particularly CBD oil, usually comes from hemp plants. This is primarily because they have extremely low THC levels. THC is the main psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. Hemp contains high CBD levels, which makes it easier to isolate the cannabinoid. 

CBD is also the safest choice and sometimes the only choice from a legal point of view. This is because CBD oil from the hemp plant usually contains 0.3% THC or below. Hence it meets the federal legal requirements in the U.S.

Where Does CBD Come From?

For a long time now, people have used CBD as a safe natural remedy due to its anti-oxidative, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory qualities. The crucial thing about it is that CBD does not cause intoxicating side effects.

And yet, it mostly exists in hemp in the plant’s flowers. This is also the part of marijuana that is rich with THC. Most concerns when it comes to CBD arise from the confusion between hemp, cannabis, and marijuana. Hemp and marijuana are both cannabis species. However, marijuana is usually intended to have high THC levels. Don’t forget that THC is the illegal substance responsible for the marijuana “high”.

Will CBD Get You High?

Manufacturers add CBD to a wide range of products, such as oils, tinctures, and lotions. CBD oil is one of the most common CBD products. You can either take it beneath the tongue (sublingually) or infuse it into food, drinks, or vape pens.

Certain products are even advertised as a natural method to relax or ease anxiety. However, it is still NOT the same as the high marijuana causes. 

Taking more CBD than recommended (or high CBD concentrations) might lead to an uplifting effect. This is not the same thing as getting high. Consuming high CBD doses might also cause some negative side effects, such as dizziness and nausea. Still, CBD will not impair you like the THC in marijuana will.

CBD Oil and Pregnancy

There’s a lack of conclusive information when it comes to CBD oil’s effects on a fetus. To prevent the obvious possible risks on human babies, the studies on this matter have been on animals. 

According to a particular study, the womb’s CBD exposure has neurobehavioral consequences. Like all humans, a developing fetus is equipped with an ECS. Endocannabinoids in the body attach to cannabinoid receptors and may play a vital role in early neuron growth and overall cell survival. By manipulating the system early in its development stages, it had a prolonged effect on the animal subjects’ brains.

THC Effects on Pregnancy

There are numerous possible adverse health effects from consuming THC during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. All consumers should understand that marijuana consumption during pregnancy might impact fetal brain development. This is because THC might enter the fetal brain through the mother’s bloodstream. It is also worth noting that marijuana might enhance the risk of a newborn with relatively low birth weight. Studies also suggest an enhanced risk for premature birth and possible stillbirth. 

When breastfeeding, you must understand that breast milk might consist of THC for even six days after consumption. This might affect your newborn’s brain growth and even lead to poor cognitive function, hyperactivity, and other long-term conditions. 

Marijuana smoke also contains harmful components also in tobacco smoke. Therefore, both tobacco and marijuana products shouldn’t be smoked near a baby or children.

Considering CBD Oil and Pregnancy

Given the unknown factors, it might be hard understanding why expectant mothers may be interested in using CBD oil. Undoubtedly, people have strong opinions when it comes to things women should do (or not) during their pregnancy. For certain people, using anything they actually don’t have to is a resounding no. 

Nevertheless, there are several advantages supported by medical studies that have persuaded some women to continue consuming CBD oil during their pregnancy. Regardless if you’re doing the same, or are simply curious about taking CBD oil, this section lists some of the possible reasons expectant mothers might be interested in CBD:

– It’s may offer natural pain relief

– It can reduce nausea

– May help with quitting smoking

– Can improve sleep quality

– May reduce anxiety and depression levels

Given the array of negative side effects women experience during pregnancy, it’s no wonder they may seek relief in CBD.

Last Word

Although it’s something beautiful, being pregnant comes with many hard decisions and compromises. So far, the evidence shows that CBD does no harm to a fetus pre or postpartum. The main thing to keep in mind is that you use CBD products that have little or no THC in them. Even though Tanasi’s full spectrum tinctures have 0.3% THC in them, this should not be enough to cause harm to your unborn child. The relief you get during the difficult days of pregnancy may outweigh the unknowns. However, it is of the utmost importance that you discuss the subject of CBD oil and pregnancy with your doctor before considering it! They will be able to best guide you on how to go about safely implementing any substance whether you’re pregnant or not.