Marijuana and breastfeeding - Page 3

[Genesis]

Originally Posted by happy2bamama

I can't stop thinking about this thread - it poses so many interesting questions. Right now, my thought is, why can't you give up pot smoking for however long you're nursing so that you for sure aren't jeopardizing your DC's health? Isn't that part of accepting the "mother" job, not getting to do everything that you always did because now you have a baby to consider? I'm not trying to be sh*tty, just honest.

I agree.

You have no idea what the long term effects could be, and it could affect different children in different ways. Way too risky in my honest opinion. Not to mention in most places it's illegal, and you could go to jail away from your nursing child. But I'll leave it at that, and leave this thread because it's bothering me.

[thismama]

Originally Posted by MilkTrance

I'm leery of taking ANY drug while nursing, except alcohol in VERY small doses. I went on antibiotics for my mastitis a couple of weeks ago, and I swear it has messed up my son's stomach somehow. He's a lot fussier now.

Sorry to be O/T

The thing is, all these random things get grouped as 'drugs.' MJ and antibiotics have, like... NOTHING in common. MJ and cocaine too, only commonality there is that they both are illegal and the government calls them 'drugs.'

[happy2bamama]

Originally Posted by thismama

The thing is, all these random things get grouped as 'drugs.' MJ and antibiotics have, like... NOTHING in common. MJ and cocaine too, only commonality there is that they both are illegal and the government calls them 'drugs.'

And don't forget the fact that MJ and cocaine BOTH alter your mind and body. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but that's a pretty big similarity.

[thismama]

Originally Posted by happy2bamama

And don't forget the fact that MJ and cocaine BOTH alter your mind and body. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but that's a pretty big similarity.

Not really. Working out alters your mind and body, a lot more dramatically and permanently than MJ. Getting a lot vs. a little sleep.

Cocaine and MJ are about as far apart as two things with the same label can be. It's very misleading.

[happy2bamama]

Originally Posted by thismama

Not really. Working out alters your mind and body, a lot more dramatically and permanently than MJ. Getting a lot vs. a little sleep.

Cocaine and MJ are about as far apart as two things with the same label can be. It's very misleading.

I agree that working out also alters your mind and body, BUT... working out does not require that you ingest/smoke a substance (however natural it may be) that could POSSIBLY affect a baby that you're nursing.

[thismama]

Originally Posted by happy2bamama

I agree that working out also alters your mind and body, BUT... working out does not require that you ingest/smoke a substance (however natural it may be) that could POSSIBLY affect a baby that you're nursing.

Very true. But there is no proof of negative effects on babies, unless you're a chronic, and even then negative effects are pretty mild, not common, and reversable, IMO. I actually have never seen a babe who seemed negatively affected by MJ, and I've known some mamas who partake.

If you want to worry about effects on nursing babes, worry about pollution, car exhaust when you walk down the street. Worry about pharmaceuticals, about crappy food with poor nutrition, about poverty and mamas forced to stop breastfeeding early to return to work coz they have no mat leave.

Don't worry about the ganja. The ganja is not a big deal. Seems a silly thing to focus so much fear and judgment upon. I think it is the effects of government propaganda that cause so much controversy, nothing more than that.

We will believe anything they tell us, apparently.

[Kailey's mom]

Originally Posted by Jacksmum8

Just putting in my two cents. I grew up in BC where pot is like alcohol, you can find it everywhere and it's widely accepted. I don't know many people who would say it's safe while pregnant or nursing. I have two friends who used while pregnant, one had a baby with severe reflux and the other has developmental delays. I don't know if any of those things can be directly related to MJ but why take a chance? I think if you are nursing it's better to play it safe. Babies only nurse for a short time. I think (and again it's my opinion) if you want to smoke anything best to just wean baby if you really feel like you can't give it up while nursing.

my dd has severe reflux. I didn't smoke while I was pregnant. I know many mom's whos children have reflux (all non smokers) I don't believe there is any connection.

[dubfam]

ITA with thismama

[thismama]

Reflux would seem to make no sense, since marijuana aids in appetite and digestion in adults.

[loriforeman]

i believe what i've seen...and i've seen some slow babies with messed-up mamas.

i've been deep into the drug scene, and i was there for quite a few years. i've known a BUNCH of mothers who used one substance or another...and only one that i MIGHT consider decent. nope, not even her.

you just don't take a chance. when i decided to have a family, i COMPLETELY cleaned up my act, and there it's stayed. of course, two of my children have special needs...which are probably my fault from all the dope i smoked before ever conceiving them.

i've been around too many pot-heads...i KNOW it has an effect.

[Kailey's mom]

Originally Posted by dubfam

Would you give the same advice to women who are taking pharmaceuticals for depression, anxiety etc...if they "Really feel like they can't give it up while nursing"?

Someone gave me advice (bp meds for eclampsia) I believed it: DD would have been ALOT healthier if I only would have known better.

[thismama]

Okay, loriforeman, and I respect your decision of course, we all do what we think is best. But if you've known slow babies with messed up mamas deep into the drug scene... the mamas are doing MJ and nothing else?

Because I have never known anyone deep into the drug scene who was only smoking reefer.

[Kailey's mom]

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.

ask a very knowlegable lactation consultant. I found one when I was trying to relactate and in discussion with her I learned that alot of the medications, herbs, etc.. that people say you can not breastfeed if you take them, don't even cross the breastmilk barrier as she put it. I could pm you her # if you'd like, I'm in FL. She's been a LS for 30+ years

[Kailey's mom]

Originally Posted by thismama

Okay, loriforeman, and I respect your decision of course, we all do what we think is best. But if you've known slow babies with messed up mamas deep into the drug scene... the mamas are doing MJ and nothing else?

Because I have never known anyone deep into the drug scene who was only smoking reefer.

If the momma's are deep into the drug scene, I don't believe that they are ONLY smoking MJ.

[loriforeman]

Originally Posted by thismama

Okay, loriforeman, and I respect your decision of course, we all do what we think is best. But if you've known slow babies with messed up mamas deep into the drug scene... the mamas are doing MJ and nothing else?

Because I have never known anyone deep into the drug scene who was only smoking reefer.

i have. quite a few, actually...there are many who have families that truly believe that marijuana is okay, but will flinch at other drugs.

i've never seen reflux as a side-effect, though (a side-note). i HAVE seen a lot of children that were supposed to be ADHD, and quite a few learning disabilities. hell, i raised my step-daughter who came from a home where marijuana was used daily...and she was VERY emotionally stunted. she started staying summers with us when she was nine, and full-time when she had just turned twelve...while she had a roof over her head and clothes on her back, and was well-fed, she had severe learning disabilities and didn't like to be touched. took quite a while to break through that shell...she's now 22 and VERY anti-drug.

my cousin's children were born (all girls) with their vaginal canals sealed...and required surgery to open them up on two of them.

while i'm not a part of any "scene" anymore...i do still have family that is, and i hear through the grape-vine what's going on with them and their children (as they aren't allowed anywhere near me or mine), and i feel saddened for them. my cousin had her children placed in foster care for a while...she's received them back, but who knows what's next.




around here, most people smoke it. that means it's in the air...and their little ones are having their myelin sheaths coated...and who knows what else. my daughter's father was busted last year...his ex-wife rolled over her kid and suffocated him after smoking out and co-sleeping.

there's just too many variables to make it something that i would do...i'm not one to take that kind of chance. not going to have myself arrested in front of my children...not going to have DCFS in my life for such a reason...not willing to take ANY chance that they could have detrimental effects from such.

(gah, this is a pain...my mouse went out and i'm surfing by keyboard only. grrr.)

[loriforeman]

Originally Posted by Kailey's mom

If the momma's are deep into the drug scene, I don't believe that they are ONLY smoking MJ.

actually, i said that *i* was deep into the drug scene...that doesn't equate to everyone i know being so, as well.

[thismama]

Wow. I find your descriptions almost hard to believe. But then it sounds like you know a *lot* of hardcore chronics.

I don't know any chronics who have children. In fact, these days I don't know any chronics at all.

I would say that smoking mj *within reason* is fine. Smoking like it is air is taking things too far.

[Kailey's mom]

Loriforeman, That is so heartbreaking about your cousin's children:


edited to add : I just reread one of your posts. Please don't think it's your fault that two of your children have SN's. Please don't do that to yourself.

[Kailey's mom]

Originally Posted by thismama

Wow. I find your descriptions almost hard to believe. But then it sounds like you know a *lot* of hardcore chronics.

I don't know any chronics who have children. In fact, these days I don't know any chronics at all.

I would say that smoking mj *within reason* is fine. Smoking like it is air is taking things too far.

ITA

[loriforeman]

Originally Posted by Kailey's mom

Loriforeman, That is so heartbreaking about your cousin's children:

i'm hoping it's a wake-up call. i don't know her youngest ones very well...i stopped seeing her three years or so ago, but i adore her eldest.

of course, my aunt (her mother) was busted for dealing last year...marijuana and oxy, i believe...



i started smoking marijuana two weeks after i turned twelve. was off and running with other things...and deep into a life that should have killed me for many years. i cleaned up my act by distancing myself as far as i could from all of that...including moving. small towns with nothing to do...heh.