CBD oil is commonly used medicinally by people suffering from all kinds of issues.
These include nausea, muscle pain, stress, insomnia, many of the issues experienced during pregnancy. Of course, during pregnancy smoking should be off the table but is it ok to use CBD products such as oils and creams?
There are quite a few different schools of thought so we will look at the potential pros and cons as well as what the scientists are saying.
The official stance from most experts is that it is unwise to use CBD products during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
How Could CBD Help During Pregnancy?
Morning Sickness – CBD is often used to reduce nausea, something that is unique to it. Morning sickness can be vicious and debilitating as well as just extremely unpleasant.
Dealing with constant nausea and vomiting as well as sensitivity to tastes and smells is a nightmare that can be reduced by CBD.
Skin Care – Just another way that the body freaks out during pregnancy is in the form of skin conditions.
Since the tiny creature needs every single nutrient going, the skin can quickly start to suffer.
CBD creams are excellent for moisturizing and reducing issues such as acne and psoriasis.
Back Pain – During pregnancy, the body is doing a lot of the impossible, including completely changing shape to accommodate the new life form.
Along with this, we have to imagine strapping a large weight to the stomach and trying to balance all day.
Painkillers can be harsh for pregnant women where CBD is a soft and natural way to reduce pain.
Insomnia – This is a widespread use for CBD, and few suffer insomnia like pregnant women.
Hormones are raging around, uncomfortable changes to the body, nausea, and stress.
By reducing these other symptoms women may be able to get a good night’s sleep which is good for the baby.
Swelling – Pretty much everything starts swelling up as the pregnancy develops.
The body starts to retain water which becomes edema, excess fluid painfully swelling the hands and feet.
CBD has anti-inflammatory properties which can reduce the swelling and the discomfort in the hands and feet making it much easier to move around.
How Could CBD Hurt During a Pregnancy? | CBD Pregnancy Effects
This is something that hasn’t yet been entirely proven or studied. Few medical trials are looking into the effects of CBD on pregnant women.
This is why the official line is currently to assume it is unsafe rather than risk it.
The primary concern is that everything ingested by the mother goes through the fetus.
It is entirely possible that CBD could interfere with brain development or the size of the baby.
Though this information is linked to smoking or eating actual cannabis and there has not been any research into whether CBD will have the same effects.
The other risk is that due to the relatively new nature of the CBD market it is hard to regulate which products are pure.
It could be risky for a pregnant woman to use an unregulated substance that claims to be pure CBD but isn’t.
CBD can also interact negatively with other drugs and in some people can cause liver damage and fatigue.
Can CBD Be Taken Safely During Pregnancy?
As we already stated the research into CBD and pregnancy is limited.
However, there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence to support its use. Many pregnant women have given extremely positive feedback about the use of CBD to reduce their symptoms.
For any pregnant women who want to try and use it, there are a few rules to follow.
Try to ensure that the CBD oil or cream comes from a trusted and regulated source to avoid any unwanted ingredients. Do significant research and find brands supported by other women that have used it during pregnancy.
External use is safer than ingesting, for example using a cream would be preferable to ingesting the oil. This means that CBD creams for skin issues and pain are a relatively safe alternative and are less likely to harm the baby.
Of course, it is always a good idea to talk to a doctor or expert. In many countries CBD products are legal and sold in shops, so discussing CBD use with a doctor is a good way to ensure that everything is safe.
What About Breastfeeding and CBD?
After the baby is born the mother will still be experiencing a lot of discomfort as the body recovers. So is it safe to use CBD products post-birth but during breastfeeding?
Once again there have not been any studies into this specifically but experts recommend erring on the side of caution and avoiding CBD during breastfeeding.
From previous tests done on cannabis and breastfeeding it is clear that the runoff from weed comes through in breast milk.
This means it could affect the growth of the baby. However, this is still a test for smoking or eating cannabis, not using CBD.
Of course, CBD can also affect the brain and cause sleepy or confused behavior which may not be safe while caring for a new infant.
Conclusion to CBD and Pregnancy
This is one of those issues that are totally up to the individual.
There are definite positives to using CBD to improve quality of life during pregnancy.
Being pregnant is portrayed as being a magical experience, which it likely is.
However, it is also a time of extreme pain, discomfort, nausea, anxiety, depression, and exhaustion so it’s understandable that women need a little relief.
There are other alternative medicines available and if you talk to a doctor they may be able to suggest another treatment.
As far as the anecdotal evidence goes the feedback for CBD during pregnancy is positive.
A lot of women found it an invaluable addition to their pregnancy that allowed them to maintain normality as much as possible.
For anyone concerned about the use of CBD, either avoid it or speak to a doctor.
Otherwise, follow the rules for using CBD safely and maybe still talk to your doctor to ensure it won’t interact with any other medications.
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