Marijuana and breastfeeding

[lynnn27]

does smoking pot while breastfeeding mess up your child? please don't go into the fact that it's illegal, i know that getting caught smoking it could mess my child up, but thats not what i'm asking. so please don't go on a rant about that.

[TovahNeryse]

The effects of marijuana haven't been completely figured out, but it can definately effect your baby as much as any other drug, why do you think it's not rocommended (besides the legal factor)?

Do you really want to take the chance? How would you feel if your happy healthy baby developes a health or developemental problem because you smoked an illegal drug? Don't take any chances.

Here are a few resources to look at:

http://www.babycenter.com/400_is-it-...nfo%4020e69f05

http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/marijuana.html

http://www.breastfeedingbasics.org/c...marijuana.html

[unitysmomma]

I would call our local LLL leader or check Kellymom.com I believe that pot stays in your system longer than any other & heard that you need to abstain from bf for 30 days after smoking?

Originally Posted by lynnn27

does smoking pot while breastfeeding mess up your child? please don't go into the fact that it's illegal, i know that getting caught smoking it could mess my child up, but thats not what i'm asking. so please don't go on a rant about that.

[Gumby]

It's my general understanding that there really aren't any good studies off of which to base a decision.

I recall hearing of a report based on Jamaican women, since it's a part of the culture there. And I do believe there weren't any negative effect noted.

Many times, the problem with studies regarding marijuana, specifically thc, in bm is that there are other drugs in the mix. Really though, it wouldn't be ethical, or legal, to conduct a study of this sort.

There's a past thread with good info that I'd link here, but for some reason my internet is being really slow. I'll edit and add later.

[WaitingForKiddos]

I'd like to think I'm living proof that smoking pot while nursing has no ill effects. My mom smoked through my nursing years (4.5 yrs). I have a normal-high IQ. : I have no physical abnormalities. I was an average kid and did not have any odd behavioral 'problems' that seem to be cited by the anti-pot crowd.

Apparently there have been issues with CPS/DCFS being called when they are made aware of any pot use by a family member or the mom. Given the fact that the CPS police will get you if they want to get you for anything they want to get you for I would think little of basing my decisions on what they may or may not have a problem with.

Hope to help!!

[goodheartedmama]

I can't give you scientific proof that it's bad for a baby, but I'm sure that proof is out there. Even if it wasn't, though, we all know that it IS illegal. Why would you do something that could quite possibly get your child taken from you? I don't find it great parenting that someone would do something that could land CPS on your front door and your child in a foster home

[sheilajolene]

It's so controversial... http://www.health-e-learning.com/art...ocialDrugs.htm

[MamaBear1976]

Originally Posted by goodheartedmama

I can't give you scientific proof that it's bad for a baby, but I'm sure that proof is out there. Even if it wasn't, though, we all know that it IS illegal. Why would you do something that could quite possibly get your child taken from you? I don't find it great parenting that someone would do something that could land CPS on your front door and your child in a foster home

You know what's funny about this? I've actually LOOKED for research to back up the claims that marijuana kills brain cells and causes harm, and you know what I've found?

NOTHING.

Instead I found that most of the "research" and propaganda telling people marijuana is so harmful is backed up by guess who? Big Pharma, who wants to keep marijuana illegal because if you can grow your own antidepressant instead of paying them for Prozac and Paxil and Effexor and Celexa and whatever other drug du jour they cook up for public consumption, they don't like that.

Look, I'm not depressed, so I don't take any kind of antidepressants (including marijuana, which even though it is officially labeled as a "depressant," lots of very reasonable people use it as an antidepressant, to good (anecdotal) effect), but I see a big conflict-of-interest here.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

Absolutely! The whole reason pot is illegal in the first place is because the government linked it to industrial hemp in the '20s at the bequest of Dupont, big oil, big cotton, and big paper (Hearst). (see: Reefer Madness) Industrial hemp would eliminate the need for any of those industries.

Sorry to get off topic, but this is something that really makes me mad! It's almost as maddening as the people who say that having a beer is making your baby drunk. There isn't a direct line from my mouth to my boobs! What do you think we did before water was safe to drink? We drank wine, beer, and mead. And humans still turned out okay!

[TovahNeryse]

Well since everyone else went off on a tangent, I'm going to bring in another side of it.

Even if there is no harm in smoking it and BF, what kind of example are you sending your children? I grew up in a family (pretty much the whole family too) that abuses drugs and/or alcohol. It's not something I'm proud of, but I was terrified as a child that somehow I would be taken away from my parents and it also made me so mad that my parents thought their addictions were more important than me. I grew up SWEARING that my children would never have to worry about that with me. I'm sorry, but I really look down on anyone that would take the chance of harming their child simply for a "high".
BTW, just because their aren't any studies doesn't mean it should be OK.

[MamaBear1976]

Originally Posted by TovahNeryse

BTW, just because their aren't any studies doesn't mean it should be OK.

That's not what I'm saying. What I've found is that there have been studies, and that the results didn't make Big Pharma happy because they were either "inconclusive" or they showed that marijuana had benefits that Big Pharma didn't want to acknowledge.

But that doesn't stop them from spouting lies on TV and other media about marijuana killing brain cells (which they have NO proof or evidence for). I have a BIG problem with that deception.

[MamaBear1976]

Originally Posted by TovahNeryse

Even if there is no harm in smoking it and BF, what kind of example are you sending your children? I grew up in a family (pretty much the whole family too) that abuses drugs and/or alcohol. It's not something I'm proud of, but I was terrified as a child that somehow I would be taken away from my parents and it also made me so mad that my parents thought their addictions were more important than me. I grew up SWEARING that my children would never have to worry about that with me. I'm sorry, but I really look down on anyone that would take the chance of harming their child simply for a "high".

I'm sorry you grew up in a situation where you felt your parents were choosing drugs over you. That's not healthy, I agree.

However, if they had a glass of wine with every meal, instead of the drugs they did, do you think you would still feel the same way about them?

[siennasmom]

Originally Posted by hklinefelter22

Sorry to get off topic, but this is something that really makes me mad! It's almost as maddening as the people who say that having a beer is making your baby drunk. There isn't a direct line from my mouth to my boobs! What do you think we did before water was safe to drink? We drank wine, beer, and mead. And humans still turned out okay!

Not all of them.

[gwynthfair]

According to Jack Newman Formula is a far greater risk to her child's health.

If you're concerned because you smoked pot and then nursed...don't be. It's no big deal. If you're doing other drugs or are incapacitated to the point of not being able to take care of your kids (which require A LOT of marijuana) then some self-reflection might be in order. For more information on what is and what is not okay while nursing, check out this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Breas...9175854&sr=8-1

A few other of you may want to consider reading it too before offering advice so authoritatively.

[dubfam]

Originally Posted by nathansmama

To the OP...there really isn't enough research out there to prove its safety.

Or to suggest that it isn't safe.

There just really isn't enough research either way to justify the harsh judgment in some of these replies!

[MamaBear1976]

Somebody needs to say this, though: I wouldn't be concerned about the marijuana itself. I would be concerned about anything somebody might have adulterated it with. If you don't know where the pot came from, if it was imported or something, anything could have happened to it, anyone could put something harmful on it, so keep that in mind. It might be too risky in that case.

ETA: Of course, if it were to become legal, then consumers would have protection against that danger. As it is, the illegality of it is what makes it so dangerous, not the plant itself. I hope I wrote that clearly enough.

[nummies]

Or to suggest that it isn't safe.

I agree.

[applecider]

Originally Posted by dubfam

It is an Herb...Not CRACK!!

:

It's also not heroin, meth or speed. When someone says "street drugs" and includes marijuana, it seems kind of funny, because IMO mj and these drugs are not even related.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

Most people I know don't even consider pot a drug. Even less so than cigarettes, which are one of the most addictive drugs there is. Cigarettes have more severe withdrawl symptoms than heroin. That's why so many people find it hard to quit.

[TovahNeryse]

Coming from a family described in my previous post....

9 times out of 10 pot IS laced with something else! Unless you are growing it yourself then you CANNOT be sure that it is 100% safe? Like I said before....
Why take the chance?