Growing and birthing a baby is one of the most profound experiences in a woman’s life, but the transition into motherhood isn’t always easy, and women many experience difficult symptoms throughout their pregnancy.
As we know, CBD can help manage pain, nausea, anxiety and disrupted sleep.
This prompts interest in whether CBD could help pregnant women manage some of the disruptive symptoms and health conditions that can occur during pregnancy.
But is CBD safe for pregnancy? Read on as we explore the research.
CBD Oil And Pregnancy
Like many other potential effects of CBD, there are no conclusive CBD pregnancy studies, only very limited trials, studies on animals, and anecdotal evidence.
However, the small amount of research that is currently available is not promising with regard to CBD use and pregnancy.
These show some indications that while CBD oil may help relieve some of the negative symptoms of pregnancy for mothers, its use may also have a negative impact on the child’s development.
As a result, most healthcare professionals do not recommend using CBD oil while pregnant until more is understood about its effects on pregnant women and their children.
We’ve written an entire article that discusses access options for CBD in Australia, recommended doctors and products you can find. It’s a great place to start if you’re considering discussing CBD with a doctor.
Why Do Women Consider CBD Oil In Pregnancy?
So why are women considering using CBD oil during pregnancy?
CBD oil has a number of effects that can help people manage various symptoms that commonly occur in pregnant women. These include:
Nausea
Cannabidiol can reduce nausea symptoms. Because of its anti-emetic properties, some people may view CBD oil as a possible treatment for morning sickness.
Joint Pain
Joint pain is a problem experienced by many women at some point during pregnancy. CBD oil is known for providing relief for certain types of joint pain.
CBD can help reduce joint pain caused by inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. However, there are many potential causes of joint pain in pregnant women that have nothing to do with inflammation or arthritis, such as loosening joint ligaments.
CBD oil may not have the same effects of relieving pain in these cases. [1]
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Pregnancy can be a stressful time that can involve a lot of anxiety and poor sleep. Chronic stress and lack of restful sleep can have negative health effects for both a mother and her child.
Research suggests that cannabidiol can help your body to regulate the hormones and immune system functions responsible for stress [2], therefore, CBD may assist with anxiety symptoms.
Is CBD Oil Safe During Pregnancy?
CBD oil can be used to treat or manage each of the above symptoms under the right conditions. Each of those symptoms can also be experienced by pregnant women.
However, this does not mean that CBD use and pregnancy are a good combination. Even if it can treat these symptoms in pregnant women, it may also have negative effects on them or their children.
In fact, there are a few reasons to believe this might be the case.
There is not a great deal of research into the interactions between CBD oil, pregnancy, and developing babies. However, there have been a few studies that found possible negative consequences for taking CBD oil while pregnant.
We’ve also written an article that explores whether CBD is safe while breastfeeding, a worthwhile read if you’re post-partum and considering adding CBD oil into your regimen.
Possible risks of taking CBD oil during pregnancy
- Some studies on animals have shown that high doses of cannabidiol given to a mother can interfere with the development of the foetus. It is not known whether the same effect is true for humans. [3]
- Some types of CBD oil also contain varying amounts of THC. THC is harmful to unborn babies and children.
- Low-quality CBD oil purchased from unregulated markets can contain harmful contaminants like fungi, bacteria, and heavy metals. Additionally, they may contain more THC and other intoxicating cannabinoids than the product label suggests.
- CBD oil can have negative interactions with some drugs that may be prescribed to pregnant women.
Hemp Seed Oil And Pregnancy
CBD oil may not be safe for pregnancy. But what about hemp seed oil?
Hemp seed oil does not contain significant amounts of CBD. It also does not contain THC or other psychoactive cannabinoids such as delta-8 or CBG.
As a result, it is not thought to have the same potential risks. On the contrary, hemp seed oil contains many key vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, which are important for good health during pregnancy. [4]
Hemp seed oil has no negative side effects for most people. However, it may lower your blood pressure.
Final Thoughts on CBD During Pregnancy
Although CBD oil can be a safe treatment for many symptoms and conditions, with few negative side effects, pregnancy may be an exception to this rule.
Although there is little research into the topic, there are early signs that CBD oil could have negative consequences for mothers and their babies.
CBD oil should not be confused with hemp seed oil, however. Hemp seed oil can provide valuable nutrients during pregnancy, as well as treat some of its negative symptoms.
If you are expecting, it’s best to discuss CBD oil consumption with your doctor or a trained cannabis clinician to understand any risks it may pose to you or your unborn baby.
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