Information for Pregnant or Breastfeeding Mothers
Using cannabis can have harmful effects on your own health, as well as your relationships, and your child’s health and development.
Cannabis use may affect the ability to become pregnant because heavy cannabis use can change menstrual cycles for women, and lower sperm count and cause poor sperm quality in men.
Learn more - Thinking about using cannabis before or during pregnancy?
There is NO known safe amount of cannabis use while pregnant or breastfeeding. The safest option for you and your baby is to not use cannabis when pregnant or breastfeeding.
For more information: Best Start - Risks of Cannabis on Fertility, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Parenting
More research is needed to better understand the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy and when breastfeeding on babies, children and youth. However, studies have shown that cannabis use during pregnancy poses risks to babies and children and may have long-term effects on teens and young adults. Some of these risks include:
Babies:
- lower birth weight,
- increased risk of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission ,
- increased startles and tremors (e.g., shaking), and
- changes in sleep patterns.
Children:
- poorer attention (e.g., easily distracted),
- poorer memory,
- behaviour issues,
- difficulties in school, and
- mental health concerns (e.g., symptoms of depression).
Teens and Young Adults:
- increased risk of behavioural problems,
- poorer school performance, and
- more likely to start trying and using cannabis or other substances (e.g., tobacco, alcohol) at an earlier age.
The safest option for you and your baby is to NOT use cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding.
For more information: Best Start - Risks of Cannabis on Fertility, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Parenting
The chemical “THC” in cannabis can stay in your body for weeks. This chemical can be passed on to your baby through breast milk. The safest option for you and your baby is to not use cannabis when breastfeeding.
Learn more - Thinking about using cannabis before or during pregnancy?
Like tobacco smoke, secondhand cannabis smoke is harmful, especially for babies and children. Smoke or vape away from your children and not inside your home or car.
Learn more - Thinking about using cannabis while parenting?
The THC in Cannabis can make you feel sleepy, affect your focus, ability to remember and react quickly. This may affect your ability to respond to your child’s needs (e.g., hunger cue) and safety. Remember, the effects of cannabis can last for a few hours.
Cannabis use can cause confusion, affect mood and the ability to make decisions. This may affect a mother’s ability to breastfeed. Also, the chemical THC in cannabis can stay in the body for weeks, and can be passed on to the baby through breast milk. The THC can get stored into the baby’s fat, including the developing brain.
The safest option for you and your baby is to not use cannabis when breastfeeding.
Learn more - Thinking about using cannabis while parenting?