New guidelines address cannabis use during pregnancy

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued evidence-based guidelines urging women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to avoid using cannabis, according to a news article from CNN.

As a result of the legalization and normalization of cannabis products, experts cited in the article stressed that cannabis use among pregnant women may have doubled between 2002 and 2017. Although previous studies have indicated that cannabis use during pregnancy may not be associated with an increased risk of birth defects, exposure to the compound tetrahydrocannabinol — is capable of passing through the placenta and into breast milk — has been linked to elevated risks of low birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit admission, attention deficit disorders, memory issues, intellectual disabilities and perinatal mortality.

The ACOG recommendations, published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, sought to create more standardized guidance clinicians can use to communicate with their patients about the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Clinicians were encouraged to use nondiscriminatory and supportive interview or self-reporting methods to determine a patient’s use of cannabis products prior to, during and after pregnancy over biological testing. Further, clinicians should ensure that their cannabis use conversations are devoid of punitive implications. By following the recommendations, clinicians can meet the personalized needs of each pregnant patient and help reduce or eliminate cannabis use among those who may not have known the risks.

Read more: CNN

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