Pregnant women in the US are using more cannabis – Quartz

New research has shown that while in the US, they have increased their use of cannabis.

In a research letter published this week (Nov. 6) in JAMA Pediatrics, a group of medical practitioners from Washington University's School of Medicine in St. Louis found that between 2002 and 2016, alcohol and cigarette use by US pregnant women pink.

The researchers used data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey of Drug Use and Health to track changes in alcohol, cigarette, and cannabis use during pregnancy to 2002 to 2016 among women between the ages of 18 and 44. They found that in 2016, with a sample size of almost 13,000 women, reportedly consumed alcohol in the previous 30 days, 10.34% reported having smoked cigarettes, and 4.98% reported having consumed cannabis. In 2002, those proportions were 9.59%, 17.5%, and 2.85%, respectively.

The SAMHSA surveys included data for women aged 15 to 18, but the researchers reported that they wanted to focus on adult women.

The decline in alcohol and cigarette use is encouraging, but perhaps not surprising, given that it is important to educate women about the risk of pregnancy. When a pregnant woman drinks, the alcohol pbades directly to the baby through the umbilical cord. High levels of alcohol consumption increases the risk of miscarriage and can lead to the development of a person's immune system.

When a woman smokes cigarettes while pregnant, she can also harm her baby. Cigarette use increases the risk of premature birth, certain birth defects like cleft palate, and infant death. Smoking can also impact the placenta, the source of the baby's food and oxygen during pregnancy.

Cannabis enjoys reputation for being more "natural" or healthier than cigarettes or alcohol. But this year, in response to its legalization in some US states and in Canada, the American Academy of Pediatricians (APA) raised concerns about how we know about the impact of cannabis use.

To that end, the AAP released guidelines on cannabis use during pregnancy or while badfeeding. They state that they are more likely to develop anemia, and that they are more likely to be underweight than to be born to an adult. However, the AAP explains, studies that measure the impact of cannabis use. They mostly rely on self-reported use, which means that women may be encouraged to underestimate their use. They are typically not adjusted for other lifestyle risk factors, like cigarettes or alcohol. And, because of ethical concerns, it is impossible to conduct a randomized check that would answer these questions-a common obstacle when researching pregnancy.

While there is little evidence of the impact of pregnancy and badfeeding, it may be considered that this may be a risk factor for long-term developmental and behavioral problems. That's why the AAP advises all young women "that if they become pregnant, marijuana should not be used during pregnancy."

Read more from our series on Rewiring Childhood. This report is part of a series supported by the Bernard van Leer Foundation. The author's views are not necessarily those of the Bernard van Leer Foundation.