Jeff Abel

Medical, Pregnancy

Can I Smoke Pot When I’m Pregnant?

Can I Smoke Pot When I'm Pregnant

Maybe your morning sickness is really bad and you think smoking marijuana will help ease your nausea. Or maybe you are really anxious about becoming a mom or about going through labor and you want to smoke pot to settle your nerves. And now that marijuana is legal both for medicinal and recreational uses in California, you could smoke pot without breaking any laws. But is it a good idea?

Before you consume cannabis in any form during your pregnancy, you should consider these 4 things.

  1. Doctors advise pregnant women not to smoke pot. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant should discontinue all marijuana use. [1]
  1. Smoking pot could affect your baby’s brain development. Research in rats suggests that the THC in cannabis crosses the placenta and can cause profound effects on brain development. Babies exposed to marijuana in the womb may have a higher-pitched cry, respond differently to visual stimulation and tremble more than babies not exposed to marijuana. [2]
  1. Exposure to pot during pregnancy could make it harder for your child to succeed in school. Research shows that children who were exposed to pot in the womb demonstrate long-term effects. When they are in school, they have a harder time paying attention, solving problems and remembering things.[3]
  1. You could put your baby at risk for other complications, including low birth-weight, premature birth or even stillbirth (when a baby dies in the womb). Smoking pot increases your exposure to carbon monoxide gas. This affects how much oxygen your baby gets, which affects how much your baby grows. [4]

 

If you have smoked pot at all during your pregnancy, be honest with your doctor about how often you have used marijuana. If you want to talk about ways to quit, we are here to provide you with information and resources. All of our services are confidential and offered at no cost to you. Feel free to leave a message in the comments below or call us at 530.272.6800.

[1] http://www.acog.org/Resources-And-Publications/Committee-Opinions/Committee-on-Obstetric-Practice/Marijuana-Use-During-Pregnancy-and-Lactation

[2] Trezza V, Campolongo P, Cassano T, et al. Effects of perinatal exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the emotional reactivity of the offspring: a longitudinal behavioral study in Wistar rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008;198(4):529-537. doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1162-3.

[3] Goldschmidt L, Day NL, Richardson GA. Effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on child behavior problems at age 10. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2000;22(3):325-336.

[4] http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/marijuana.aspx

Neva Monigatti-Lake

Neva Monigatti-Lake

Medical Director

The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Medical Director.

Pregnancy, Relationships

8 Tips for Telling Your Parents You’re Pregnant

 

Telling Your Parents Your PregnantMaybe this isn’t at all what you’ve planned. Maybe it isn’t at all what you want. Maybe you feel angry or sad or guilty or scared to death – maybe you feel all those things. And now you’re thinking, “How do I tell my parents that I’m pregnant?”

First, we want you to know you aren’t alone. We have met many other teenagers or young adults who were surprised by an unexpected pregnancy. This may seem like an impossible situation, but you will get through this.

One of your greatest fears may be telling your parents. You might be afraid they will be angry or disappointed. Or you might have no idea what to expect at all. We don’t have all those answers for you, and everyone’s situation and relationship with her parents is different. But there are a few things you can do to help the conversation go as smoothly as possible. Here are 8 tips for telling your parents you’re pregnant.

8 Tips For Telling Your Parents You’re Pregnant

  1. The sooner you tell them, the better. It may be tempting to put off the conversation. But the longer you wait to tell them, the harder it will be both for you and for them.
  1. It may be helpful to tell a close friend first. This gives you a little practice for telling your parents. At the very least, you can practice by writing it down in a journal or by saying the words in front of a mirror.
  1. Just say it. Don’t beat around the bush. Don’t scare them by starting out with, “I have bad news.” The more you talk in circles, the more anxious your parents will become. Say it simply and straightforwardly, “I have something difficult to tell you. I know this isn’t what we’d planned, but I’m pregnant.”
  1. Prepare to answer questions. They might ask who the father is, if you used protection, how long you’ve been sexually active or when you got pregnant. Think ahead about what questions they might ask and be ready to answer them.
  1. Anticipate their reaction. Most likely, you can’t be sure how your parents will react to this news. But how have they responded to difficult situations or bad news in the past? Chances are, that might indicate how they will respond to the news that you’re pregnant. If they have ever responded in a violent or abusive way to bad news in the past, you probably don’t want to tell them this news alone. Have another trusted adult present when you tell them.
  1. Give them time. Sometimes the first reaction to shocking news can be hurtful. Try not to take that first reaction personally. Give your parents time to process. Allow them time to feel anger or grief or sadness.
  1. Share your feelings. Tell your parents how you’re feeling. Tell them how frightened you were to tell them this news or how scared you are about the future. Your parents need you to tell them how you’re feeling and what you need from them. You will need help from your parents, so now is a good time to be straightforward and up-front about what you need from them — time to process, love, support, understanding, advice.
  1. Be patient. Words like adoption or abortion might come up. Your parents may have strong opinions right away about what is the best way to respond to this situation. You don’t have to make any decision right away. Take your time and let everyone calm down and get used to the idea before you make any big decisions.

Most parents love their children and want what’s best for them. Most likely, that’s how your parents feel about you. You might be surprised at how well they handle this news. Some parents don’t handle the news well, though. If you find yourself in that situation, don’t think you have to do this alone. We are here to help you.

If you are pregnant and still aren’t sure how you’re going to tell your parents, we’re here for you too. Please contact us, and one of our staff members will help you.

Eva Fisher

Eva Fisher

Nursing Director

The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Nursing Director.

Pregnancy

8 Warning Signs You Might Be Pregnant

8 Warning Signs You Might Be Pregnant

While every woman’s body reacts a little differently, there are some common warning signs you might be pregnant. These signs aren’t a sure-fired signal that a baby is on the way, and there may be other causes for any of these symptoms. In fact, with some of them you may feel like you’re about to begin your period. But, when combined they can be a pretty good indicator that you might be in the early stages of pregnancy. Of course, a pregnancy test and/or an ultrasound is the only fool proof way to know for sure if you’re pregnant. So if you’re experiencing these 8 warning signs, you might want to schedule an appointment at LivingWell for a test just to make sure.

8 Warning Signs You Might Be Pregnant

  1. A Missed Period

This is probably the first sign that triggers the thought that you might be pregnant. If you have consistent periods and miss one, you may even take a test before you notice any of the other symptoms, or at least connect them to a potential pregnancy. And if you’re period is irregular or you aren’t keeping track, you may notice some of the other symptoms before you realize you’re late.

  1. Spotting and/or Cramping

Abdominal cramping, similar to menstrual cramps, and light spotting can be a sign that an embryo has implanted in the uterus. This will happen about a week after conception, and a week before you would normally have your period. These aren’t as common as some other signs, so not having them doesn’t mean that you aren’t pregnant. But if you do experience them, especially in conjunction with other signs, you might want to take a test.

  1. Sore Breasts

You know how your breasts feel before your period? This is kind of like that, only more. This soreness comes as your body changes and starts to prepare for its milk-making role.

  1. Peeing

If you seem to spend more time in the restroom than anywhere else, you might be pregnant. Of course other things can cause this as well, but frequent urination is another sign the body is experiencing the changes of pregnancy. As hormones change, and blood flow through the kidneys increases, so does the need to pee. Unfortunately, you’ll have to get used to this as it probably isn’t going away during your pregnancy.

  1. Bloating

Did you eat a little too much, or did your jeans shrink in the wash? Maybe it’s just your period, or maybe you’re pregnant. If it’s pregnancy, this one can also be tied to your body making changes to support a growing baby by slowing down your digestion so your body gets more nutrients from the food you eat.

  1. Smell

If you start smelling EVERY. LITTLE. THING, things you never noticed before, that’s a sign you might be pregnant. Unfortunately, this sign often leads to the next one.

  1. Nausea

All those smells, that queasy feeling. It’s called morning sickness, but it can happen anytime. The good news, it usually only lasts the first 3 months. For some it can last longer, and some lucky women never experience this one at all.

  1. Food Cravings

It’s not always pickles. But almost all expecting moms will have some craving. Sometimes it’s a favorite food, sometimes one you normally don’t even like. It’s also common for pregnant women to have aversions to foods they typically love. Most of the time, these aversions will keep you from eating food you probably shouldn’t be eating anyway.

Again, each woman is different, and not every woman will experience the same signs. Some will have them all, some only a few. But, if you start experiencing a few of these together, it may be time to pick up the phone and schedule a visit for a free test and consultation with our staff at LivingWell. We’ll confirm if you are pregnant and help you work through your options for your next steps.

Neva Monigatti-Lake

Neva Monigatti-Lake

Medical Director

The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Medical Director.