"Medical" Marijuana during Labor - Page 4

[lovin2bmama4]

" Thinking of Pain MGM "

I know for a fact that they are now doing drug testing on pregnant moms at hospitals. They also do drug testing on new borns. Also anytime you have blood work at doctors office that gets sent to hospital. I believe this is a violation against our rights. Im a mother of 3 and one on the way. (2 living 1 resting with god)
Went to hospital for sugar test at that time they tested me for MJ without my concent. Three days later I had child protective services knocking on my door. Mind you there was a very small trace of MJ in my system. The CPS worker proceeded to tell me they would take my baby at birth if I or my baby tested positive for MJ. The CPS worker also questioned my Two teenage children. CPS threatened to take my children and my baby if I tested positive again.
I would advice anyone who is using MJ or any other drug not to do so till the baby is born..... I live in a state where you can have an abortion up to 6 mths and they dont even consider the unborn child a living being till birth.. But at the same time violate your right by doing unlawful drug testing without prior concent.. I would also like to add my reason for even using MJ was severe morning sickness. Wasnt Getting High! I am totally clean now and will never touch again.... I love my children and would never do anything to hurt them!:

[lovin2bmama4]

louisianna. Very sad.. Poor girl.

[sparkysgirl]

Originally Posted by i*wish

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

Thats what I used it for, that was the only way I could eat anything the first 3 months.

[Jojo F.]

This is interesting. I mean, the use of synthetic pain killers, which does OBVIOUSLY effect the baby are widely used and no one gives it a second thought- well, except for us- but the mention of MJ is just, gasp, horrific!! It's an illegal plant!!

I really think it's sad that a mother could get into trouble for smoking MJ. Since being pregnant I used it once for a bad headache that would just not go away, one puff and I was good. No strain on my liver or kidneys from a synthetic drug.

[mamameg]

My midwife was fine with moderate mj during pregnancy, but she did not recommend it for labor pain management. In her experience (25+ yrs as homebirth midwife in Northern CA) she has seen it stall out labor and slow things down. Not exactly the effect we are going for, yk?

She did, however, recommend it for after birth pain relief.

[vegemamato]

so, uhh, I know this mama who took a hit in labor. she was 6-7 cm when she stalled -the first time- so she came to MDC ... she was searching for yoga moves, herbal tinctures and images of the ocean when she noticed the bong..

after a brief meditation, she decided to try some water and sit on the birth ball for a bit (munch a cracker or two). when she stood up though, owwwweeeeee! A wave hit, knocking her downward..

And labor progressed. she was relaxed enough to just go with the flow of her body, sip some fluids in the pool and sing along to her birth music (loudly and with conviction).

So, yeah, she did it, had an awesome UC and would probably do it again

just sayin'...

[Lucysmama]

Originally Posted by DoulaSarah

I personally wouldn't ever put MJ into my unborn babies system. It is your choice to smoke or not, but your baby has no say in the matter.

I totally agree.

[apelilae]

Originally Posted by mamameg

My midwife was fine with moderate mj during pregnancy, but she did not recommend it for labor pain management. In her experience (25+ yrs as homebirth midwife in Northern CA) she has seen it stall out labor and slow things down. Not exactly the effect we are going for, yk?

She did, however, recommend it for after birth pain relief.

I agree with this thought too. It would make sense. My Gma was around a hemp farm and midwives in her early years. She remembers it being used during the early stage to help them calm and sleep and used when the birth was going too fast then for after pains, but not for traditional pain relief as it could slow things. The pain is there for a good reason.

As much as we may love sweet MJ, it does pose certain legal risks, but few health risks. Personally, out of everything in life, birth is the one thing I'd want to be fully present in. I do know of some who did choose this option with good outcomes and no legal issues. It's really what you feel comfortable with (obviously)

[SimplyRochelle]

http://www.druglibrary.org/SCHAFFER/...can-babies.htm

A nice article about prenatal mj exposure. It was done with women who were heavy users in Jamaica. Compare that to women who smoke cigarrettes. Now THAT should be illegal.

[vagabondbaby]

be very careful!

I used marijuana during my pregnancy and, although there were no effects on the baby, I did get drug tested (without knowing it) and within hours of having my baby I was involved with social services. The state took me to juvenile court and accused me of child abuse. They did not take her away, but we became "dependent" of the state for the next 8 months. This entailed drug and alcohol counseling, AA, urine and hair strand testing and much more. I am still crying.

[WaitingForKiddos]

I'm wondering if one could refuse blood testing in a hospital setting based upon their 'religious' philosophy or because 'it's going to be done at the child ped. when we're discharged.'

I don't have a problem with the idea of weed during pregnancy or labor. I'm not sure what good it would do during labor but, IMO, it's safer than anything one would be injected with during a medicalized birth.

[hippiemommaof4]

Well I used to smoke it a lot when I was younger but I can honestly say I would never do it while pregnant...its not worth the consequences to me of having possibly 5 of my children taken away. I know that some people dont agree but I think its a poor choice to make esp if you are going to be going to the hospital because you just never know what could happen. If you knew for a fact that you were going to stay home and birth and everything would be ok then there would probably be a much lower risk. If you could handle the possiblity of them taking your child if anything happened or the what ifs and the unknown then you are an adult and should make that choice wisely. I understand that you want to do it to help but its not worth what it could cost you and those are just IMVHO!

[ashley1972]

Totally not worth the risk involved - both legally and more importantly the exposure to the baby.

[Mrsboyko]

I must be odd

I have tried MJ for back pain a few times and every time, it has caused the pain to intensify 5 fold. I have tried it for headaches, and it made them worse. Am i the only one it affects like that? i certainly wouldn't want labor pain intensified in any way, so I will not be using it.

[WaitingForKiddos]

I dunno'. It helps my headaches quite a bit. However, there have been times where it made me REALLY anxious and depressed.

[Erdbeer]

I've wondered the same thing about using mj during labor. For me, it has helped with some things like period cramps and headaches, but I sometimes have knee pain and when I use mj, I notice I seem to feel the pain more in my knee after using it.

I'm curious to hear what the OP's experience was during labor. I think I would consider using it during a HB, but not for pain relief, because the effects are so mild on me that I just don't think it would help dull the pain. But it certainly does have a very relaxing effect and eliminates nausea and for me, it totally gets me focused.

One thing I would be concerned about is the fact that it tends to dry me out, if you know what I mean. When I use it, my mouth, eyes, etc get dry, and I would be a bit concerned about my birth juices drying up!

[~Yola]

Originally Posted by pixiepunk

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.

:

My MW recomended I have a toke or two to help me relax and let labour progress. I'd been having prodromal labour for three days non-stop, and was starting to get stressed about Dh and my Mum missing so much work while they waited on Baby.

I'm lucky enough to have easy access to organic outdoor in a variety of potencies, so I picked some that had a nice body-stone but not a mind altering effect.

Susan Weed recomends its use to ease tension or emotional stress that is stalling labour as it can help relax your minds contolling tendencies and bring your attention to the needs of your body, as well as strengthen contractions (it's an ocytocic herb). She does caution that smoking offeres the most control over dosage, tea (and I would imagine eating it) can lead to overdose as the effects are slow, cumulative in effect (it can take hours to be able to gauge the full effect) and too large a dose can cause you to become lethargic, hallucinate or enter a trance-like state, all of wich would be counter productive to being present while you Birth and greet your Baby!

That said, I don't do hospitals, and I live in BC, Canada....slightly different climate when it comes to MJ use I never felt the need to worry about drug tests being done on me or my Baby, and even if one was done, I don't think anyone would be shocked unless they didn't find it! lol

[GoBecGo]

Originally Posted by alexsam

Like others here, if mj is OK or not morally or even medically is not so much the question. The issue is that it is unequivically and unquestionably illiegal in the United States. To me, it would not be worth the risk- the risk of having CPS become involved in my life, of becoming subject to legal measures, having to worry about tests, etc.

Sure. Birth hurts. But what would hurt a million times more would be turning the beautiful birth experience into some sort of event that caused trauma to me and my family by becoming a pot fiasco. Instead of remembering a beautiful event, remebering the tests and the nurses and the social workers and worrying about all that... Not worth it.

Originally Posted by Barcino

Sounds like a really bad idea to me. First I would be concerned about risks to the baby. *I* would never do MJ but much less much much less pregnant. And being high does not equal a good birth experience in my opinion. I want to have my all my senses with me when I birth.

Originally Posted by Lucysmama

I totally agree.

Originally Posted by hippiemommaof4

Well I used to smoke it a lot when I was younger but I can honestly say I would never do it while pregnant...its not worth the consequences to me of having possibly 5 of my children taken away. I know that some people dont agree but I think its a poor choice to make esp if you are going to be going to the hospital because you just never know what could happen. If you knew for a fact that you were going to stay home and birth and everything would be ok then there would probably be a much lower risk. If you could handle the possiblity of them taking your child if anything happened or the what ifs and the unknown then you are an adult and should make that choice wisely. I understand that you want to do it to help but its not worth what it could cost you and those are just IMVHO!

Originally Posted by ashley1972

Totally not worth the risk involved - both legally and more importantly the exposure to the baby.

Yeah, all of the above. I have a big problem with MJ anyway, but this is a definite NO for me.

[leerypolyp]

Oh, Lordy.

WON'T SOMEBODY PLEEEEEEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!?!?!?
:nana:

In this case I do find the legal argument to be more compelling than when it is applied to occasional use -- because you very well MAY be going into an environment where you can't control who tests you for what, etc.

The whole "babies don't choose" argument carries no weight with me. Babies don't choose anything, yo. We are parents and we make choices for our babies and families, weighing risks and benefits. The medical risk of occasional mj use to the baby is demonstrably nonexistant, so the only things I would take into account are chances of legal issue according to your situation, and how you think it might act on you in labor.

I have noticed in the past that it does intensify headaches and such for me. However, if you have read Spiritual Midwifery, know that whenever anybody says "stoned," they aren't being metaphorical.

[GoBecGo]

However, if you have read Spiritual Midwifery, know that whenever anybody says "stoned," they aren't being metaphorical.

Have you birthed at the Farm? Do they give women illegal drugs during labour?