How does marijuana affect a baby that has not yet been born?

Answer 1

Q. What About Pregnancy - Will Smoking Marijuana Hurt the Baby?
From National Institute on Drug Abuse

A. Doctors advise pregnant women not to use any drugs because they might harm the growing fetus. One animal study has linked marijuana use to loss of the fetus very early in pregnancy.
Some scientific studies have found that babies born to women who used marijuana during their pregnancy display altered responses to visual stimulation, increased tremors, and a high pitched cry, which may indicate problems with nervous system development. During pre- and early school years, marijuana-exposed children have been reported to have more behavioral problems and difficulties with sustained attention and memory than nonexposed children.

Researchers are not certain whether any effects of marijuana during pregnancy persist as the child grows up; however, because some parts of the brain continue to develop into adolescence, it is also possible that certain kinds of problems will become more evident as the child matures.
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/f/mjp_faq15.htm?terms=marijuana+pregnancy

After delivery, some babies who were regularly exposed to marijuana in the womb appear to undergo withdrawal-like symptoms including excessive crying and trembling.

Couples who are planning pregnancy also should keep in mind that marijuana can reduce fertility in both men and women, making it more difficult to conceive.

What is the long-term outlook for babies exposed to marijuana before birth?
There have been a limited number of studies following marijuana-exposed babies through childhood. Some did not find any increased risk of learning or behavioral problems. However, others found that children who are exposed to marijuana before birth are more likely to have subtle problems that affect their ability to pay attention and to solve visual problems. Exposed children do not appear to have a decrease in IQ.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1169.asp

Answer 2

Low weight at birth...Thing is... all of my cousins kids were born under the influence of marijuana and they are the smartest kids. None of them were born under 8 lbs so to answer the question maybe it depends on the individual. Not that marijuana and unborn babies should be mixed to begin with.

Answer 3

brain damaged, born early, born with down syndrome or a birth defect and the real big thing is that if caught smoking marijuana while pregnant you can be locked up till your child is born and when the child is born DCF will remove the child from you and you will have to prove your a fit parent and capable of taking care of a child.

My mother is a GYN and my aunt is a DCF member so I know a lot about this kind of stuff.

Answer 4

Read this study.

www.rism.org/isg/dlp/ganja/analyses/dreher1.html

(it won't let me print the whole link! Add analyses/dreher1.html after ganja/)

It takes place in Jamaica, where pot is legal, and the moms don't do other drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol.

Studies done in the states are inconclusive, and also very flawed becuase the illegality of pot makes it extremely difficult to find women to admit to smoking and take part in a study. Also, in the studies that they have found participants for, the women all drank, smoked cigarettes, and did other drugs, too, so it's impossible to tell what effect the pot had.

Answer 5

these people are retards...i can tell you from experience that it doesnt do anything...smoked high grade everyday until 2 weeks before my baby was born...and i smoked cigarettes too...he is healthy has no problems functioning...a friend of mine who was all 'i quit smoking everything' then when she had her baby a month before mine it came out havin seisures and still has to see a neuorologist...not only that but it helped my morning sickness which made it extremely difficult to keep any kind of food down

Answer 6

The baby will be born severley addicted to marijuana. This is not healthy at all! Chances for death or abnormality are very high.

Answer 7

how about you don't smoke...just being around a person that smokes and affect your baby...you can have a pre mature baby, brain damage, autism, not to mention having a marijuana dependent baby... for the baby's sake please don't smoke...you can hurt the baby...

Answer 8

miscarriage,stillbirth,mental problems,heart problems,premature baby,baby having withdrawal symptoms, as well as miscarriage risk if stop drugs during pregnancy. Tis is blunt information but what pregnancy books and doctors tell you

Answer 9

it could effect the child's brain causing mild retardation to severe retardation or have other effects on the child like the their limbs and other parts of the body could not develop fully

Answer 10

a girl i went to school with was a major pot head and when she had her first kid it came out with downs syndrome. i hope you're not doing the same