"Medical" Marijuana during Labor

[ltk]

Okay, I just have to share....first of all, I have long been of the belief that a little marijuana is okay during pregnancy. And so I have had a bit here and there, no problems with either pregnancy/child.

I am now thinking of using it for pain management during labor. Apparently this is common in Jamaica (surprise), and I have read that midwives have used it for thousands of years.

Anyone out there want to share their experiences, IF they have? OR their thoughts if they are thinking about it now?

I am pretty sure I am gonna go for it. :

[kymber86]

i dont see any problm with it, i personally wouldnt just because i want to experience the whole of it, and not numb myself in any way. but IF i wanted any pain relief, it would be a little marijuana

[barefootpoetry]

I have been pondering this myself. My only concern is that my tolerance would be too low at the time since I definitely don't smoke like I used to, and I'd wind up stoned instead of relaxed - not what I want for my first homebirth! I am open to it, though, so we'll see what happens.

[all in green]

Originally Posted by ltk

Okay, I just have to share....first of all, I have long been of the belief that a little marijuana is okay during pregnancy. And so I have had a bit here and there, no problems with either pregnancy/child.

I am now thinking of using it for pain management during labor. Apparently this is common in Jamaica (surprise), and I have read that midwives have used it for thousands of years.

Anyone out there want to share their experiences, IF they have? OR their thoughts if they are thinking about it now?

I am pretty sure I am gonna go for it. :

You might want to consider what could happen if you had to transfer to the hospital for some reason in the midst of labor or immediately after the birth. If you or the baby were found to have marijuana in your system it could lead to serious reprucussions. Just something to think about.

[CherryBomb]

Originally Posted by all in green

You might want to consider what could happen if you had to transfer to the hospital for some reason in the midst of labor or immediately after the birth. If you or the baby were found to have marijuana in your system it could lead to serious reprucussions. Just something to think about.

This is what I was going to say. If, heaven forbid, you need to transfer, they can do a drug test without informing you or getting your consent (and usually will for HB transfer).

[Down2Earth]

^I agree! They could take away your baby because of the drugs in your system (and maybe even in your baby's system.) I don't think it would be worth it.

[chandasz]

How can they do a drug test (without cause) without your consent? I'm not sure this is the law. Anyone know for sure?

The only issue I'd have with using pot for pain management is that I think it would affect how out of it I'd feel. I'd either focus in on the pain and get paranoid or not be able to focus and work with my body because i was stoned.

I really don't think drugs are necessary during labor for pain management. There are so many better options.

Being fully present in the moment is an amazing way to bring your baby into the world.

I'm also unsure of whether or not pot would have effects on the body's natural endorphin system and all the other hormonal reactions that take place (typical hospital drugs - opiates - do suppress these hormonal reactions and cause a whole host of issues)

[GiGiQ]

Originally Posted by all in green

You might want to consider what could happen if you had to transfer to the hospital for some reason in the midst of labor or immediately after the birth. If you or the baby were found to have marijuana in your system it could lead to serious reprucussions. Just something to think about.

Yeah, that's why I quit marijuana completely during pregnancy. I think eating it would be better than smoking it, anyway, but I was afraid of complications leading to hospital and tox screen and all the problems that would ensue. It's too bad we have to worry about things like that, since all the good science I've found supports the fact that marijuana isn't harmful during the pregnancy and there are times I'd like it to settle my stomach.

Originally Posted by chandasz

How can they do a drug test (without cause) without your consent? I'm not sure this is the law. Anyone know for sure?

The laws may be different by state, but according to my nurse friend here in Texas, you sign a general consent form when you are admitted that allows most testing. You would have to give separate consent for HIV, but not for drugs. They won't actually do it without "probable cause," but determining that is up to the doctors, so it's hard to say when they might decide they have cause. If you'd been smoking in the last couple of hours for pain management, it seems possible they would smell or otherwise recognize the signs and might test.

[ltk]

All the feedback is really great. I am actually going to the hospital to delivery, but will be at home early on. I asked my midwife about it and she said unless there is a history of drug abuse, they aren't looking for that information.

And about being present, I totally agree. I think it's very much an individual decision, based on a few things.....personally, I know how I react w/ it and feel that it would keep me relaxed as I climb towards transition and by THAT time all my hormones, pain, etc would over ride.

I do know someone who had it during hers and it was enjoyable. I guess I feel like when I have taken it for period cramps, it works wonders. I feel like I would still be there, by the time the baby came out.....

And yes, I did it without meds last time.....the question is, do I want to do it again? at that same level of pain? not really!

[spiderdust]

:

[chirp]

does anyone think "history of drug abuse" would include being honest with the midwife about smoking mj?

i've cut down considerably BUT, when i did my first interview with the midwife i told her that i smoked. she asked me if i stopped and i said yes (small white lie, but i really don't smoke all that much, not everyday, maybe 1-2x per week)

but did she put that in my chart, er something, and maybe the hospital will see it and want to test? or do they mean like a serious history of drug abuse, with rehab visits and stuff?

also be careful...if you are young, poor (welfare) and/or a minority they will test you. sorta like profiling for high risk. this is why i'm stopping now. but i'm still worried that i might test positive since it takes so LONG to get out of your system (I was a habitual, everyday multiple times per day smoker before i got pregnant)

[vermontgirl]

If you are delivering in the hospital I would definitely NOT do it. Nothing is worth the chance of them taking your sweet baby away. It is really sad that a little marijuana is illegal and they could take your baby away but they are constantly drugging moms up with epidurals and other harmful things. Marijuana would have much less effect on the baby. I personally think that it would be a fine way to manage the pain-if you want to do it with drugs but since it is illegal I would not. As I said above, it is not worth the risk.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

I worked in a hospital on the post partum for many years and they did not take away a baby just because mom tested + for pot. there are to many other worse drugs and events that happen for them to be concerned about. however they do routinely do drug screens on mom's with no history of prenatal care. They tell them before they do the screen, and that's when most mom's confess. No worries to you at all. if your used to smoking every once in awhile i think it would help you relax. good luck

[pixiepunk]

regarding the testing for it at the hospital - if she has smoked it at all within a month of giving birth, chances are it will show up on a test. THC stays in the system a long time, it wouldn't make any difference if she'd smoked it that day or not. so that, in and of itself would not be a reason to avoid it in labor... if you're not avoiding it in general during pregnancy.

i, too, would worry about it making me paranoid. also, i would definitely make sure it's from a batch you've smoked already and know the potency of. sometimes you can take a teeny weeny little puff and be on your butt from something very strong, while other things you can have 5 or 6 puffs and not have that same intensity of effect.

i personally wouldn't use it for pain management. the amount i think it would take to really help with pain would be too much for me to be able to stay focused and present. but it seems like using it in early labor, similarly to how you might with a small glass of wine would be OK - to allow you to relax and maybe get some sleep so you're ready for the more difficult stuff to come.

[desertpenguin]

interesting thread! i seriously worry about legal repercussions regarding mj use (espescially since we don't vax)...i wouldn't use it in labor because i would worry it would make me too spacey or paranoid, and in the past a couple of times it made me feel like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. it would be really something if you could get an unbiased study on the effects of mj use for pain relief in labor and if/how it affects the hormonal processes.

[akilamonique]

Originally Posted by chandasz

How can they do a drug test (without cause) without your consent? I'm not sure this is the law. Anyone know for sure?

The only issue I'd have with using pot for pain management is that I think it would affect how out of it I'd feel. I'd either focus in on the pain and get paranoid or not be able to focus and work with my body because i was stoned.

I really don't think drugs are necessary during labor for pain management. There are so many better options.

Being fully present in the moment is an amazing way to bring your baby into the world.

I'm also unsure of whether or not pot would have effects on the body's natural endorphin system and all the other hormonal reactions that take place (typical hospital drugs - opiates - do suppress these hormonal reactions and cause a whole host of issues)

I think a drug test and an Aids test is done automatically when you go in the hospital.

[ltk]

this is a totally interesting thread..... I think the hospital regs depend on the state you are in. I think that it mj showing up in lab work is not enough to take a baby away. I actually asked my midwife (hospital midwife) about it and she said it's not a worry. I do think that there is some racial profiling to take into account and depending on who you are, it can affect the outcome.

It is too bad that it hasn't been studied to the point that most everything else has. I just know that I have enjoyed a puff here and there with both of my pregnancies and never suffered from it (neither are they). I know this is controversial stuff to some people...but hey, that's what this type of board is for!

I am going to get a license for it anyway, b/c I would never want my small amount of use to interfere with raising my children (if I were to ever get caught). Depends on the state though....I live on the LEFT coast!

[Vancouver Mommy]

pot makes me lazy. birth is hard work! my midwife did suggest a glass of wine though.

[i*wish]

Three things:

I worked at a hospital in L.A. and marijuana on a tox screen was almost a nonissue...there were much bigger 'fish to try' in the population being served so a little pot mattered not to social services.

I think one of the birth stories in Spiritual Midwifery the mom used mj for some mellowing....

"Medical" marijuana is being studied for use with morning sickness...

[CherryBomb]

Someone just posted this in the news forum-

http://www.truebirth.com/2008/02/29/...hile-pregnant/