New research finds that people who use cannabis early in pregnancy are at increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes

New research finds that people who use cannabis early in pregnancy are at increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes
Credit:一个merican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology(2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.006

一个s more states legalize marijuana for recreational use, researchers are looking into the potential health effects of cannabis use during pregnancy.

In a new study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM), The Pregnancy Meeting—and published in the一个merican Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology—researchers will unveil findings that suggest that using cannabis in the first six to 14 weeks ofis associated with poor pregnancy outcomes that are closely related to the function of the placenta.

The placenta plays an important role during pregnancy, including providing an infant with oxygen and nutrients, removing harmful waste and, and producing hormones that help a baby grow. Medicine, drugs, alcohol and nicotine can transfer from a pregnant person's bloodstream to their baby through the placenta.

Researchers analyzedcollected during the Nulliparous Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) study, a large, diverse multicenter cohort of pregnant people. Of the 10,038 nuMoM2b participants, researchers included data from 9,257 pregnant people in their first trimester of pregnancy.

一个fter doing a drug screen for marijuana, researchers discovered that 540 (5.8 percent) tested positive for marijuana, meaning those individuals most likely used cannabis in the first six to 14 weeks of their pregnancy. The study found that using cannabis early in pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes related to the placenta, such as poor fetal growth, stillbirth, and an increased risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy.

"We wanted to look specifically atearly in pregnancy because that's when the placenta is forming, and a lot of information we currently have indicates that cannabis use does affect the placenta," says the study's lead author Torri D. Metz, MD, MS, a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City.

"With recreationaluse becoming legal in more states, we need better data because patients are interested in understanding the risk of cannabis use in pregnancy so they can make an informed decision."

The next step, say researchers, is to look at ongoing cannabis use during pregnancy and whether "the window of exposure" matters.

更多的信息:Torri D. Metz et al, Early pregnancy cannabis exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes,一个merican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology(2023).DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.006

Citation: New research finds that people who use cannabis early in pregnancy are at increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes (2023, February 9) retrieved 10 February 2023 from //www.pyrotek-europe.com/news/2023-02-people-cannabis-early-pregnancy-poor.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

New MRI method provides detailed view of placenta during pregnancy

12shares

Feedback to editors