Can you use CBD while pregnant? What you must know before taking CBD during pregnancy

CBD has many proven therapeutic benefits, including helping to alleviate chronic pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and nausea. It may seem like the perfect remedy for pregnancy ailments, but can you use CBD while pregnant safely? Here’s what we found.

Some of the most common ways to take CBD include creams, soap and oil. You can get CBD Oil without a prescription in Australia because it is legal under federal law. CBD is a non-psychoactive substance found in hemp and marijuana. Additionally, CBD-infused products are growing in popularity for its life changing benefits. It has been used in supplements, foods, drinks, and beauty products.

For those who don’t already know, Cannabidiol (CBD) is a component of the cannabis plant. In contrast to Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another well-known component of the cannabis plant, many individuals favor CBD because it delivers the benefits of cannabis without the associated “high.”

Can You Take CBD while Pregnant for Nausea?

If you’re experiencing discomfort in pregnancy, you might wonder if CBD can help alleviate the common symptoms experienced during pregnancy. Some pregnant women may consider taking CBD to help with pregnancy morning sickness like nausea, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and back pain. During pregnancy, these are all great reasons for using CBD oil as it’s been proven to help with such ailments. In Parker et al’s research, he said that the primary non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), also suppresses nausea and vomiting within a limited dose range. This shows that CBD oil indeed can help with morning sickness in pregnancy, especially to reduce nausea and vomiting. But, you’ll come to learn in this article that it gets a bit tricky based on the safety risks of taking CBD while pregnant.

Is CBD Cream Safe during Pregnancy?

Some of the symptoms experienced during pregnancy that usually require cream in its treatment is back pain. During pregnancy, the ligaments in a woman’s body naturally become softer and stretch. This can put a strain on the joints of women’s lower back and pelvis, which causes back pain. Then, with this phenomenon, the question arises about CBD cream for back pain during pregnancy. It says in Jonathan et al, (2020) Hemp-derived CBD in a topical cream provided significant symptom and pain relief for the patients described in this case series. Our other article investigating the effects of CBD for inflammation and pain shows that CBD helps reduce swelling, redness and pain.

Is CBD Soap Safe for Pregnancy?

As mentioned before, CBD products are growing in popularity and one of them is CBD soap. CBD infused soap has a great effect, because it can hydrate skin while improving blood circulation and smoothing skin texture. But, as you’ll come to learn, the risks of taking CBD products during pregnancy outweighs the benefits.

Negative CBD Pregnancy Effects

As was mentioned earlier, CBD does not produce the same “high” that THC does. This might lead you to believe that CBD is safe during pregnancy, but it’s not that simple. There is simply not enough research and evidence to prove that taking CBD is safe during pregnancy. The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) in the US has stated that it intends to learn more about the effects of CBD during pregnancy and breastfeeding, such as whether or not the presence of CBD in human milk harms the breastfed infant or the production of milk by the mother.

However, it’s important to note that many expert health forums advise pregnant or breastfeeding women against using CBD or any cannabis product as the potential side effects of CBD could be harmful to both the mother and the infant.

Can CBD harm fetus?

Yes, there is a potential for CBD intake to have an effect on a developing fetus. A study suggested that cannabinoids may impact the development of the immune system in fetuses, making them less effective at fighting off infections and cancer. However, it’s important to note that this study did not specifically address CBD but rather cannabinoids in general.

The FDA is concentrating on the impacts of CBD use from various points, for example, the long-term consumption of CBD-containing products, such as food, cosmetics, or supplements, and second, the effects of using these products together. Many questions still need to be answered concerning the science, safety, and quality of CBD-containing products for pregnant women.

It is also possible for CBD products to be contaminated with substances, such as THC, that could be harmful to a developing or nursing infant. That is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. According to experts, THC should be avoided by all pregnant and breastfeeding women. It might affect how a baby’s brain grows in the womb as it may increase the likelihood of stillbirth or premature birth. Experts believe that CBD, as well as THC, can pass to an infant through breast milk.

Can CBD affect sperm?

There is no concrete evidence that proves CBD has a direct affect on human male sperm. However, a study performed on male rats suggests that the male rats exposed to CBD had affected sperm count and testicular function. Another study shows when researchers administered high doses of CBD to pregnant test animals, they observed issues in the male fetuses’ reproductive systems.

As you’ve probably already noticed, the majority of experts rely on animal studies. Although this does not necessarily imply that the same results would occur in humans, these findings can still be concerning.

Conclusion: Can you use CBD while pregnant safely?

CBD can really help alleviate symptoms from pregnancy, but there are risks to be aware of. Because currently, there is not enough comprehensive research to deem taking CBD Oil during pregnancy as safe. And as we come to learn, other cannabinoids if not pure CBD can have devastating effects towards a pregnant woman’s child. Our final verdict would be to avoid taking CBD if you are nursing or pregnant. It would be wise to ask your general practitioner or doctor if there is a safer treatment for you if you are experiencing pregnancy symptoms.

References:

Harris. (2022, November 7). Best Ways to Take CBD in Australia: CBD Tinctures, CBD Creams, CBD Tea, and More – CBD Oil Australia. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://cbdoilaustralia.info/best-ways-to-take-cbd-in-australia/

Guthrie. (2022, May 1). Is CBD Oil Legal in Australia 2022? – CBD Oil Australia. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://cbdoilaustralia.info/is-cbd-oil-legal-in-australia-2022/

Parker , Rock, & Limebeer. (2011). Regulation of Nausea and Vomiting by Cannabinoids. British Journal of Pharmacology, (Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine, Part I), 1411–1422. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01176.x

Eskander, J. P., Spall, J., Spall, A., Shah, R. V., & Kaye, A. D. (2020). Cannabidiol (CBD) as a treatment of acute and chronic back pain: A case series and literature review. Journal of opioid management, 16(3), 215–218. https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2020.0570

Green. (2022, October 5). CBD Oil Australia: CBD For Inflammation & Pain. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://cbdoilaustralia.info/cbd-for-inflammation-vs-anti-inflammatories/

Dalterio, S. L., & deRooij, D. G. (1986). Maternal cannabinoid exposure Effects on spermatogenesis in male offspring. International Journal of Andrology, 9(4), 250–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2605.1986.tb00888.x

Dong, C., Chen, J., Harrington, A., Vinod, K. Y., Hegde, M. L., & Hegde, V. L. (2018). Cannabinoid exposure during pregnancy and its impact on immune function. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 76(4), 729–743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-018-2955-0