As CBD becomes increasingly mainstream, questions about how far its use can go continue to surface. And one of those questions surrounds the use, efficacy, and safety of CBD in pregnancy.
CBD, which is one of over 100 cannabinoids that have been found in cannabis, can be infused into edibles, tinctures, balms, creams, and other products to be used to target a host of ailments. But what about the issues that are commonplace in pregnancy? Is CBD effective at treating pregnancy-related issues such as nausea, pain, and anxiety?
It’s long been argued that smoking marijuana is harmful for pregnant women. But what about CBD? Is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid—which has already shown to possess a number of healing properties [1]—safe for use during pregnancy, or is it still something that expecting women should steer clear of until long after they’ve delivered and stopped nursing?
Unfortunately, the industry surrounding CBD and cannabis at large has no set standards as of yet. While there are currently talks about regulating CBD, it’s currently not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It also hasn’t yet been regulated in terms of appropriate dose or mode of delivery. And even though CBD hasn’t been shown to be addictive, its safety—or lack thereof—during pregnancy hasn’t yet been solidified.
Despite all the studies that have already been conducted regarding the safety and effectiveness of CBD at treating symptoms such as pain [2], anxiety [3], and seizures [4] for instance, human clinical trials are still warranted. And when it comes to pregnancy and the long-term effects of CBD on an unborn baby, the jury is still out.
That said, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that CBD is effective at treating issues that pregnant women often suffer from. For instance, many pregnant women report that they use CBD in order to alleviate nausea that’s commonly associated with pregnancy.
Further, it’s important that anyone who chooses to use CBD obtain their products from a reputable manufacturer with clear and detailed labeling, as well as data from third-party labs.
Anyone willing to try CBD while pregnant should do so with caution, and may want to speak with a health care provider first. With limited research available regarding the impact of CBD on a fetus, a physician may be able to help determine whether or not CBD should be used during pregnancy.
References
- Pamplona, F.A., et al, “Potential Clinical Benefits of CBD-Rich Cannabis Extracts Over Purified CBD in Treatment-Resistant Epilepsy: Observational Data Meta-analysis“, Frontiers in Neurology, September 2018, Vol. 9, pp.759.
- Bruni, N., et al, “Cannabinoid Delivery Systems for Pain and Inflammation Treatment“, Molecules, October 2018, Vol. 23(10), pp.2478.
- Blessing, E.M., et al, “Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders“, Neurotherapeutics, October 2015, Vol. 12(4), pp.825–836.
- Hausman-Kedem, M., et al, “Efficacy of CBD-enriched medical cannabis for treatment of refractory epilepsy in children and adolescents – An observational, longitudinal study“, Brain & Development, August 2018, Vol. 40(7), pp.544-551.
