Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy begins at the moment of conception, when a male’s sperm fertilizes a female’s ovulated egg. At that moment a new person with distinct DNA is created and begins to govern its own growth and development process. Nourishment is the only thing it will need to grow, from the point of conception to the end of it’s natural life.
Within 9 days of fertilization, the embryo travels down the Fallopian tubes to the uterus, where it implants in the uterine lining. (See Reproductive Anatomy for a diagram). At implantation, the placenta is formed and begins to produce hCG, the hormone measured by pregnancy tests. Some women can tell that they are pregnant before taking a pregnancy test by awareness of changes in their bodies, particularly a missed menstrual period.
If you think you may be pregnant, contact Care Pregnancy Clinic to schedule a free appointment for Pregnancy Diagnostic Services.
Self Care During Pregnancy
Pregnancy begins at the moment of conception, when a male’s sperm fertilizes a female’s ovulated egg. At that moment a new person with distinct DNA is created and begins to govern its own growth and development process. Nourishment is the only thing it will need to grow, from the point of conception to the end of it’s natural life.
Within 9 days of fertilization, the embryo travels down the Fallopian tubes to the uterus, where it implants in the uterine lining. (See Reproductive Anatomy for a diagram). At implantation, the placenta is formed and begins to produce hCG, the hormone measured by pregnancy tests. Some women can tell that they are pregnant before taking a pregnancy test by awareness of changes in their bodies, particularly a missed menstrual period.
If you think you may be pregnant, contact Care Pregnancy Clinic to schedule a free appointment for Pregnancy Diagnostic Services.
Is Marijuana Safe for Pregnant Women?
Pregnancy begins at the moment of conception, when a male’s sperm fertilizes a female’s ovulated egg. At that moment a new person with distinct DNA is created and begins to govern its own growth and development process. Nourishment is the only thing it will need to grow, from the point of conception to the end of it’s natural life.
Is Marijuana Safe for Pregnant Women?
Pregnancy begins at the moment of conception, when a male’s sperm fertilizes a female’s ovulated egg. At that moment a new person with distinct DNA is created and begins to govern its own growth and development process. Nourishment is the only thing it will need to grow, from the point of conception to the end of it’s natural life.
With marijuana now legal for medicinal purposes in 23 states and recreational intent in 4, the US will likely continue to see a rise in the rate of marijuana use among its young adults. A study published by The Journal of Adolescent Health reported that substance use among teens is actually declining—with the exception of marijuana, which now exceeds even cigarette use among adolescents.2 In a separate study conducted by Michigan University, a full 1/3 of female college students used marijuana over the course of the 2013 academic school year.3
It’s well-documented that marijuana has adverse effects on the adult human nervous system, breathing and heart rate.4 The question then arises: Is marijuana safe for a pregnant woman’s developing baby?
Studies such as the one performed by the Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital’s to determine the effects of prenatal exposure to marijuana on the brain, show that “prenatally cannabis-exposed children display cognitive deficits, suggesting that maternal consumption has interfered with the proper maturation of the brain.”5 The National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that “resulting challenges for the child may include problems with attention, memory, and problem-solving.”6 Long-term studies show that prenatal marijuana exposure goes on to effect child behavior problems in pre-teens, including increased hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattention symptoms, delinquency and externalization of problems.7
To learn more about your pregnancy options and factors impacting fetal development, contact us to schedule a free appointment.
Medically Reviewed By:
Cynthia Lowman, RN
Registered Nurse, Baton Rouge
1 Ko, Jean Y., Farr, Sherry L., Tong, Van T., Creanga, Andreea A., Callaghan, William M., (2015). Prevalence and patterns of marijuana use among pregnant and nonpregnant women of reproductive age. Am J Obstet Gynecol; 213(2): 201.
2 Lanza, S.T., Vasilenko, S.A., Dziak, J.J., Butera, N.M., (2015). Trends Among U.S. High School Seniors in Recent Marijauna Use and Associations With Other Substances: 1976-2013. J Adolesc Health; 57(2): 198-204.
3 Johnston, L., O’Malley, P., Bachman, J., Schulenberg, J., Miech, R. (2013). The University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. MONITORING THE FUTURE NATIONAL SURVEY RESULTS ON DRUG USE, 1975–2013 Volume 2 College Students and Adults Ages 19–55. Retrieved June 2021 from http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/mtf-vol2_2013.pdfMonitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2013: Volume 2, College students and adults ages 19–55
4 National Institute on Drug Abuse: Advancing Addiction Science (2019). Marijuana Drug Facts. Retrieved June 2021 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
5 Wu, C., Jew, P., Lu, H., (2012). Lasting impacts of prenatal cannabis exposure and the role of endogenous cannabinoids in the developing brain. Future Neurol; 6(4); 459-480.
6 National Institute on Drug Abuse: Advancing Addiction Science (2019). Marijuana Drug Facts. Retrieved June 2021 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
7 Goldschmidt, L., Day, N.L., Richardson, G.A., (2000). Effects of prenatal marijuana exposure on child behavior problems at age 10 . Neurotoxicol Teratol; 22(3): 325-336.
