Is CBD Oil Safe For Pregnant Women?
CBD or Cannabidiol has been in the news for some time for reasons both good and bad. Good – it can heal quite a few medical conditions like anxiety, nausea, inflammation, stress, etc.
And bad – the recent boom has led many people to manufacture their CBD products that are not made scientifically or third-party tested.
Ivan at Greenthevoteok says “CBD is still not legal in many countries around the world”.
So, while there is still a long way to go, the hemp industry has been making considerable progress with more people switching to this alternative form of medicine to treat various medical disorders.
While pregnancy is not an illness, it brings with it a lot of uncomfortable moments for the mom to be. Many expecting mothers experience insomnia, cramps, morning sickness, anxiety, etc. throughout the course of pregnancy.
And some clinical research shows that CBD oil can help to alleviate these symptoms and bring relief. But then again, the question arises, is it safe for women to use CBD oil during pregnancy?
After all, most CBD oils have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In this article we have listed both the pros and cons of using CBD during pregnancy, listed results from some real research on CBD, and also mentioned some natural alternatives to CBD so that you can make an informed decision before using CBD during pregnancy.
Possible Risks of Using CBD Oil for Pregnant Women
Honestly speaking, there is no specific research to prove that CBD oil is safe or unsafe for pregnant women.
The reason behind that is no one would like to conduct an experiment on an expecting mother and hence no such clinical studies have been conducted to find out the result. However, the following are a few instances when CBD oil can be harmful to a pregnant woman.
We are all aware of how pregnancy can cause allergic reactions to a lot of different things – from food to perfumes – in women.
And since there has been no clinical study on pregnant women and CBD oil, we cannot say for sure if CBD oil will or won’t cause an allergic reaction in women. So, it is better to be safe than sorry later.
We mentioned earlier that the booming hemp industry has led to a lot of new companies being established every other day who manufacture a variety of CBD products.
This means that most of these products are not third party tested and are not manufactured in a safe and secure environment. Quality issues also exist. So, there is a risk of your CBD oil containing THC, even in traces. That being said, there are reputable companies, like Blessed CBD, who make high-quality CBD oils that contain zero THC.
And while CBD is considered safe for consumption, THC is not. And in pregnant women, THC can have severe effects on the baby. THC may cause defects in the brain of the baby, the cognitive development of the baby, low birth weight, and even worse, stillbirth.
Apart from the big CBD brands, most small and new CBD companies do not test their products for pesticides, toxic metals, contaminants, and other things that can affect the quality of the hemp. These contaminants can be harmful, especially for a pregnant woman.
Many CBD users have reported side effects like diarrhea, dryness of mouth, nausea, loss of appetite, low blood pressure, etc. after using CBD products. These side-effects can be really disturbing for an expectant mother and cause further stress.
While these are a few risks associated with using CBD products during pregnancy, you can always consult your gynecologist if you wish to use CBD oil or any other CBD product during your pregnancy.
Effects of CBD on Fetus
As mentioned before, there has been no real research so far to determine the effects of CBD on a fetus. However, in a study that was conducted on mouse embryos, researchers found that the compound THC inhibited the development of the mouse embryos that contained less than eight cells.
Anandamide, another natural cannabinoid found in the human body, stopped the embryos from developing as well. It has been noted that CBD can increase the levels of anandamide. So it is best to avoid its use during pregnancy. All said and done, it is important to remember that the study was conducted on mouse embryos, and the results may or may not apply to human babies.Possible Benefits of Using CBD During Pregnancy
A little research on this subject led us to reports where we found that many expecting mothers have used and benefited from using CBD oil during their pregnancy.
Many said that CBD oil helped them recover from morning sickness, some reported that CBD oil magically made their nausea disappear, while some mom-to-be’s said that CBD products helped them with the pain, swelling feet, etc. A few benefits of using CBD during the course of pregnancy are:
CBD can be a really good alternative to the medicine Prochlorperazine – something doctors prescribe to pregnant women for hyperemesis gravidarum, which is excessive morning sickness. Prochlorperazine has a lot of side effects like insomnia, anxiety, etc., whereas CBD is said to have no side effects since it is a natural alternative.
CBD can also help a pregnant woman deal with other problems like anxiety, stress, cramps, nausea, mood swings, etc.
What Does the Research Say?
There is no real research on pregnant women and CBD. So, it is difficult to state the effects of CBD on pregnant women and their unborn children.
However, news reports of pregnant women benefitting from a few CBD products are aplenty. Besides, the World Health Organization has declared CBD free from side-effects and lacking the potential to cause substance abuse.
However, if CBD contains any trace of THC, it can be really dangerous, especially for pregnant women. Studies show that fetuses exposed to THC had lower birth weight and other complications post-birth.Natural Alternatives to CBD During Pregnancy
While many medicines can be taken to deal with the unpleasant conditions pregnant women face during pregnancy, many women are now looking for natural alternatives to avoid the side-effects. Here are a few natural alternatives that you can switch to during pregnancy.
For Nausea: Food is your medicine! Never keep your stomach empty and snack on smaller meals throughout the day. Crackers, ginger candies, herbal teas, soups, bananas are good options.
For Cramps and Inflammation: Yoga and walk can help you ease the pain and cramps.
For Anxiety: Talk your heart out. Yes, it can really help you. Share your feelings with your partner, a friend, or your doctor, and you are sure to feel better. Many expecting mothers also opt for light therapy to deal with anxiety and stress.
Insomnia: Warm milk, soothing massages, and bubble baths have benefitted many expectant mothers and can help you too.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a beautiful phase in a woman’s life and there is no reason why a few medical conditions should make you feel any different.
If you or anyone you know is going through a difficult time in the course of pregnancy, the best option is to talk to the gynecologist. A doctor is the best person to suggest what your body needs during pregnancy and you should not eat/drink/or apply anything without your doctor’s permission. Have a safe and happy pregnancy!
