Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Heightens Risk Of Autism In Babies
While recent studies have shown that “weed is not good for your heart,” another study shows that marijuana use during pregnancy heightens the risk of autism in babies. Although some may consider it common sense to avoid using marijuana while pregnant, some women continue to use it for medical reasons, while others recreationally, simply because of ‘laxed laws and it becoming more socially acceptable.
Furthermore, after conducting the new study, Dr. Darine El-Chaâr — a maternal fetal medicine specialist and clinical investigator at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Canada — says, “Women who used cannabis during pregnancy were 1.5 times more likely to have a child with autism. These are not reassuring findings. We highly discourage use of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”
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Previously, studies have found that use of marijuana during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight, impulsivity, hyperactivity, attention issues and other cognitive and behavioral issue in children. Another study showed that pregnant women who use cannabis, have a 2.3 times greater risk of stillbirth. El-Chaâr adds, “Based on that, I’m not too surprised by these findings. Fetal brain development occurs throughout all gestational ages.” Meanwhile, some parents and doctors have found that medical cannabis may relieve symptoms in children, after birth, with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Studies are still being conducted.
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