My sister smokes alot of marijuana, Do you know if it will hurt her unborn child?

Question

I am very worried and have told her time and time again not to. But she insists that it wont hurt the baby. She told me if i could find proof it did, that she would stop.

Answer 1

When you are pregnant it is important that you watch what you put into your body. Consumption of illegal drugs is not safe for the unborn baby or for the mother. Studies have shown that consumption of illegal drugs during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, low birth-weight, premature labor, placental abruption, fetal death and even maternal death. The following information can help you understand these drugs and their effects.

Marijuana:
Common slang names: pot, weed, grass and reefer
What happens when a pregnant woman smokes marijuana: Marijuana crosses the placenta to your baby. Marijuana, like cigarette smoke, contains toxins that keep your baby from getting the proper supply of oxygen that he or she needs to grow.
How can marijuana affect the unborn baby: Studies of marijuana in pregnancy are inconclusive because many women who smoke marijuana also use tobacco and alcohol. Smoking marijuana increases the levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the blood, which reduces the oxygen supply to the baby. Smoking marijuana during pregnancy can increase the chance of miscarriage, low birth-weight, premature births, developmental delays, and behavioral and learning problems.
What if I smoked marijuana before I knew I was pregnant: According to Dr. Richard S. Abram, author of Will it Hurt the Baby, "occasional use of marijuana during the first trimester is unlikely to cause birth defects." Once you are aware you are pregnant, you should stop smoking. Doing this will decrease the chance of harming your baby.

Answer 2

If she did smoke, and stopped as soon as she knew she was pregnant, chances are there would be little to no harm done. If she continues to smoke throughout her pregnancy, even if it's just once a month, there could be problems with the child, and a very difficult birth.

Marijuana use during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight in the baby and withdrawal-like symptoms including excessive crying, tremors, hyperemesis (severe and chronic vomiting). Some studies, though not all, show that women who use marijuana even as infrequently as once a month throughout pregnancy are more likely to gain inadequate weight, to have dangerously rapid labor, prolonged or arrested labor, or a cesarean section. They are also more likely to have a baby that needs resuscitation after delivery.

Tell her that if she cares at all about this baby, she will stop. If she doesn't there could be long term effects! And 9 months of not smoking won't kill her!

Also, if she tests positive for it when she goes into labor, they will take the baby into custody as soon as it is born! I don't thinks he wants that to happen...

Answer 3

Marijuana is illegal, if she gets caught with the THC in her system she can not only go to jail but the baby can go to a foster home. My cousin smokes a lot of pot. Nothing else, she follows the Doctors rules and regulations 100 %, her first baby spent for ever in the children's hospital in the NICQ, and the other 5 where all Still Born, all had a thick muscle that grew around the placenta. September 10th I was sitting next to her feeling the baby kick, September 11th I was planning a funeral. Statistically speaking yes marijuana does cross the placenta, and yes it does cause low birth weight.

Answer 4

Using marijuana during pregnancy creates risks for the unborn child. THC crosses the placenta, especially in early pregnancy. It may have a toxic effect on the fetus. The drug may interfere with the supply of nourishment to the baby through the placenta. Smoking marijuana, like smoking cigarettes, raises levels of carbon dioxide and carbon minoxide in the blood. This reduces the oxygen supply to the fetus. Marijuana may cause spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and low birth weight (a sign of poor infant health).

You can always report her....I believe it is considered child abuse in some places

Answer 5

alot of ppl smoke marijauanna and say see my kids are fine but what they are not thinkin in the long term effects in the babies life !!alot of things dont happen and then when the child is 20 and alittle slow they wonder why or compare to other slow kids and say see he's fine ..
well it probably has alot to do with how much too and if smoked during the first 2 monts when brain and all the important stuff are formng ya know //
so hard to say marijaunna being from earth and all and well hey to much of anything could hurt anyone !! let alone a defenseless fetus so i wouldnt recommend smokin it at all period !!
why risk somthin as precious man !

Answer 6

Smoking tobacco CERTAINLY harms your baby, so if she's rolling joints with marijuana and tobacco, then yes, it will hurt the child - babies born to mothers who smoke tend to be weak and underweight.

Taking any drugs (even aspirin) is generally considered a bad idea if you're pregnant as the drug will generally get into the baby's bloodstream. Basically, if your sister gets stoned, the baby gets stoned and getting stoned is certainly bad for your health.

If you're really worried (and you probably should be), you should insist that your sister talk to a doctor - he/she will give her all the proof she needs that smoking dope while pregnant is a very bad idea.

Answer 7

Just look up info on smoking and the harm it does to unborn babies. It is not only the drugs that will hurt the child but the act of smoking itself that will do the most damage.

Answer 8

My doctor actaully told me that smoking maijuana has far less risks to it then smoking ciggarettes. I'll try to find that information on the internet. Not saying that she should smoke maijuana during her pregnancy BUT that's what my doctor told me.

For the record: I did not smoke anything during my pregnancy and I don't condone it. I am just telling you what my doctor told me.

I actually just found this: Pot and pregnancy don’t mix. Marijuana use can reduce fertility in both men and women, making it difficult to conceive. If you are pregnant, you need to know that marijuana crosses the placenta and can affect your baby. Marijuana use during pregnancy has been linked to low birthweight in the baby and withdrawal-like symptoms including excessive crying, and tremors (shaking). Some studies suggest that children exposed to marijuana while in the womb are at increased risk of attention disorders and learning problems later in life.

So--it is not healthy.

Answer 9

You know what girl i smocked the stuff my whole pregnancy and my son seems to be just fine and he is almost a year old. some of these people are just being predigest jerks. and have probably never even dune it them self's. the Dr don't suggest it but i did and my son is fine so far. i would not suggest getting right ripped all day every day and they will give you a real hard time if you tell the Dr you been doing drugs well being pregnant. i did not smoke the stuff well i was breast feeding. so it is totally your choice and what you decide is your choice to. don't let the other people make you feel stupid for asking they should not be so judge mental. Lots of luck on your little one.

Answer 10

Yes it can hurt the child. There are all types of birth defects that can occur when a unborn child is exposed to drugs and/or alcohol. Go to a web site that deals with birth defects, get a print out and then show them to her and see if that will stop her from using.