Marijuana use during pregnancy may increase the risk of both premature births and low birth weight babies, according to a new study. The lead author explains that THC, the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis, can cross the placenta from mother to fetus and bind to receptors in the fetal brain. This study adds to existing knowledge by showing that prenatal exposure to cannabis heightens the risk of several adverse birth outcomes.
Researchers analyzed 57 prior investigations involving nearly 13 million infants, including about 103,000 who were exposed to marijuana during pregnancy. Their analysis revealed that mothers who used marijuana were more than one and a half times more likely to give birth prematurely and more than twice as likely to have a low birth weight baby.
However, the researchers noted one reassuring finding: infants exposed to marijuana in utero were not at greater risk for birth defects or death within one year, including from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Despite this, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding avoid marijuana use.
