Marijuana while breastfeeding? - Page 3

[Hayes]

For me, it isn't an issue of safety, but one of legality. I wouldn't want to lose custody of my baby due to a little fun.

[frenchie]

Originally Posted by moonfroggy

i didn't sign it at my prenatal visit and they tested me anyways! i came up negative for everything i don't do any drugs not even cafine except occasionally in a piece of chocolate, but i didn't sign it anyways because i don't want them testing me. i suspect no one even looked at the paper

Interesting....you know they can get in trouble for that? You even have to sign a consent form to be tested for HIV!! At my OB's office, they have you fill out a questionaire. They ask about drug use, and if you are honest, they discuss it with you. When I was pregnant with my son, I had been smoking MJ up until the day before I found out I was PG. I was honest with him, and he just asked me to quit while pregnant. Never requested that I take a drug test. When they hand you a lab slip, you can see what is being tested.

[JesseMomme]

Originally Posted by twopinknoblue

Those of you that say you have used MJ while pregnant.....did you receive prenatal care? Just curious, because my midwife took urine samples at every visit, and I'm sure that if I were using an illegal substance then I would have been reported.

I've smoked plenty of MJ in my life, but I would never smoke while preg. or BF. I wouldn't smoke it anymore anyway, but that's beside the point.

The fact of the matter is, whether you agree or not, possession and use of marijuana is illegal in the United States, and IMHO, partaking in illegal behavior as the parent of a child is completely irresponsible.........just think of the ramifications. Your children could see you be arrested, be taken from you and when returned your entire relationship with them would be scrutinized by CPS for the rest of your lives........it's not worth it.

Before I had found out I was first preg with #1 and had smoked some I actually went and told my Dr this, and they smiled and said not to worry about it. Like any new mom I was concerned about "side effects" to my baby and quit - wish I hadn't because I ended up in bed for 3 months straight I was so sick - lost two jobs because of it too.

Every time my urine sample was tested, it was done in front of me for just protien /sugar strips. The sample would have to be taken to the back lab and have a drug/tox screen run on it, and if that was done w/o one's knowledge well that is just scary.

With babes #3 and #4 I didn't get traditional prenatal care, I just took care of myself, but doing that to avoid my urine getting drug tested was furthest from my mind. I wasn't using mj anyways #1. It's expensive and I dont' have a green thumb #2. morning sickness was bad but not nearly as bad as with my first, so I just dealt with it with ginger and mints.

If said police ever actually were allowed into my house (why would they want a warrent for me, we're not doing things that attract the police here in the first place) they wouldn't find anything. If they did, it would be wayyyyy less than the ounce (that's pretty expensive lol), and I'd get a ticket/fine, not hauled away in handcuffs. If was operating a meth lab - then I might get hauled away in handcuffs. But I don't plan on doing that any time soon.

I'm paranoid of CPS but I have dealt with CPS (had nothing to do with mj btw) twice, so, I have experience behind me to handle them. I try to find a balance between not living in fear of CPS and knowing my rights, to knowing that there's possibly off the hook caseworkers who could be overzealous.

One mama mentioned not wanting to be "intoxicated" while caring for her young children. I certainly wouldn't do anything I wasn't comfortable with, if you don't like how it makes you feel and don't want to be caring for your kids feeling like that that's fine. I think it affects people differently anyways. It also depends on strain/how it was grown too. If you smoke crap, you'll feel like crap. I'm totally fine with my kids if I have a buzz. It's just like normal for me and I'm totally capable of handling things with my children.

To me being intoxicated is having a few to many - that I couldn't do. I had one glass of wine w/ dinner last night because it was my birthday and it was more than enough for me - plus my Dh was home.

[North_Of_60]

Originally Posted by Chronic Chrissy

any prescription drug taken without a prescription is illegal. If you have some old ointment for a rash that you choose to use 6 months after your last outbreak and your doctor only precribed it for 2 months, if you don't consult your doctor that is use of a controled substance.

Um, no. Not all prescription medications are "controlled substances". My cortisone cream is not a controlled substance. My hydrocodone, however, is.

And a doctor cannot put a time limit on how long it takes you to consume/use up your prescription. If it has your name on it, you can take it whenever you want. Even ten years later if you please (though it will then be expired, ick).

[Ks Mama]

My answer would be the same as for alcohol.

I see no reason to poison my body, nor potentially my baby's body, who has no say in the matter.

So no, I never have, and never would.

[Chronic Chrissy]

I think that too many moms here veiw using marijuana as a recreational drug like alcohol, while really it is a medicinal herb that has uses for many ailments. You don't poison your body when you take RRLT, or camamilla(can't spell). Theyl trigger reactions physically and emotionally within your body yet we deem these safe. There are studies showing marijuana use has negitive effects, but there are better studies showing it having no long term negitive effects. Alcohol is a poison, marijuana is a natural treatment.

[athansor]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I'm not convinced there's any physical reason that marijuana would be unsafe for pg or nursing moms. However, I wouldn't take any herb or drug while pg or nursing without good reason.

The main reason I would never smoke marijuana while pg or nursing is because its' currently illegal. I wouldn't take the legal risks- what would happen to my children if I were arrested? What if CPS swooped in because the baby tested positive for trace amounts of THC? Not worth the risk IMO.

That's my feeling exactly.

[JesseMomme]

Originally Posted by Chronic Chrissy

I think that too many moms here veiw using marijuana as a recreational drug like alcohol, while really it is a medicinal herb that has uses for many ailments. You don't poison your body when you take RRLT, or camamilla(can't spell). Theyl trigger reactions physically and emotionally within your body yet we deem these safe. There are studies showing marijuana use has negitive effects, but there are better studies showing it having no long term negitive effects. Alcohol is a poison, marijuana is a natural treatment.

: Smoke inhalation itself isn't healthy, but there are many ways around that anyways.

[thismama]

For me it's not about child's age but frequency of use, and whether they are demonstrating any negative responses to it. I called Motherisk when my daughter was a babe and told there can be problems with frequent use, and symptoms would be a very sleepy lethargic babe who is not meeting developmental milestones.

If that is not happening, IMO partaking is perfectly safe. Scandalous in this culture , but safe.

[mama_daba]

Originally Posted by frenchie

Interesting....you know they can get in trouble for that? You even have to sign a consent form to be tested for HIV!! At my OB's office, they have you fill out a questionaire. They ask about drug use, and if you are honest, they discuss it with you. When I was pregnant with my son, I had been smoking MJ up until the day before I found out I was PG. I was honest with him, and he just asked me to quit while pregnant. Never requested that I take a drug test. When they hand you a lab slip, you can see what is being tested.

i think it was just an error where they didn't look at the paperwork. i did look at the sheet for the blood work and urine testing but didn't look closely at it. they had the thing to sign for hiv with a check box to say if i wanted it or not.
the whole thing left me feeling very violated. but i don't have to go back there again unless there is some sort of complication. i am having a home birth with midwifes. the midwifes leave me feeling empowered and educated after every appointment.

[BusyMommy]

:
Always an interesting discussion.

Ugh, very creepy about "secret" testing. My mw had me test the urine sample myself. Not only respectful but responsible.

[maminatural]

For me, it isn't an issue of safety, but one of legality. I wouldn't want to lose custody of my baby due to a little fun.

I'm sure lots of people do it just for fun... and while I don't necessarily criticize that either... I think by stating that so simply it's not taking in consideration the many, many people who recognize MJ's medicinal qualities.

Truth is... it's not for everybody but taken in the appropriate dosage, it can be a lifesaver. It has been known to ease anxiety, stress, manic episodes, just mention a few and it's a much more natural approach to using all those prescription medicines that often have severe side effects.

It should be legalized.

[frenchie]

Originally Posted by moonfroggy

i think it was just an error where they didn't look at the paperwork. i did look at the sheet for the blood work and urine testing but didn't look closely at it. they had the thing to sign for hiv with a check box to say if i wanted it or not.
the whole thing left me feeling very violated. but i don't have to go back there again unless there is some sort of complication. i am having a home birth with midwifes. the midwifes leave me feeling empowered and educated after every appointment.

I'd feel violated too. Good thing you have your midwives

[awinkler]

You know, I guess I'd want to know how it affected my milk and make a decision based on that. On a related note, I have psoriasis, and sometimes use a prescription topical steriod on my skin. If I use it on one spot (maybe the size of a pencil eraser), I don't worry about it. If I use it on a larger area, it's typically when I go to work and can pump & dump the milk for 6 hours.

[lilysmama1124]

Although I really really really want to I choose not to for the following reasons:
1) It is illegal I could get arrested and dd could test pos.
2) My DH says I can't
3) Because it is illegal there is no way to know for sure where it came from, how it was grown, how it was harvested, or how it has been handled(for all I know it was grown with nasty pesticides, sprayed with something to preserve it, and store it a meth lab)

So if it were legal and I could buy organic preferably local pot I would definately be doing it!

[Gumby]

i feel like bumping this

[Panthira]

I haven't smoked while pregnant or nursing. I don't think anything is wrong with it, if the baby is a older and there's a medical reason for it.

I haven't smoked in years, but lately I've been considering it only for a medical reason. I would rather that than some of the medications the doctors want to prescribe! Interesting about the vaporizer thing. I probably won't smoke while I'm nursing though, just because of the legality issue. Once I'm done nursing I might give it a go and see if it helps my pain any...

[SleepyMamaBear]

Originally Posted by lilysmama1124

Although I really really really want to I choose not to for the following reasons:
1) It is illegal I could get arrested and dd could test pos.
2) My DH says I can't
3) Because it is illegal there is no way to know for sure where it came from, how it was grown, how it was harvested, or how it has been handled(for all I know it was grown with nasty pesticides, sprayed with something to preserve it, and store it a meth lab)

So if it were legal and I could buy organic preferably local pot I would definately be doing it!

are we in oregon just really prviledged to not have that as the situation, and you live in the middle of crackville? or is that just overly paranoid and unrealistic?
pot and meth rarely intersect.
and there are LOTS of ways to make sure where it came from, who grew it, what was used on it. etc.
and do you let your husband regulate everything that goes in your body?

i for one feel very blessed to know exactly where my medicine comes from, who grows it, what they put on it and in the soil and how many times a day they talk to it and if my DH told me i couldnt take the only medicine that always provides pain relief(and i get some BAD pain) that has no negative side effects i would tell him exactly where he could stick it. seriously. MY body my choice.
unless you are smoking near your child and she is getting second hand smoke then she shouldnt test positive. its already metabolized and an entire different chemical blueprint by the time the miniscule ammounts get into your breastmilk. babe doesnt get high and thc doesnt transfer into their body.
Chrissy, care to elaborate?

[crwilson]

I voted no but I theoretically have no problem with it. I wouldn't worry about physical risks, but like other mamas, I would worry about legal ones. It's just not worth the risk to me at this point in my life.

[mamadelbosque]

I havent... but probably would, if given the 'right' circumstances/oppertunity. YK??

ETA: And... I'd definetly, absolutely 100% smoke weed if I had a migraine and had it around. Absolutely. Can't possibly be any worse for DS than the vicodin I took last time out of desperation...