One of the common questions in terms of using cannabis-based products is the safety of using CBD while pregnancy is underway.
From various researches, studies, and clinical trials, CBD has been found to be an effective treatment for various kinds of diseases. Plus, there have been a lot of testimonials of the positive benefits and effects of taking CBD.
So, CBD can be very beneficial for having overall good health, but is it safe for expectant mommies? Find out more about the possible effects as well as the benefits of CBD to pregnant women and to their babies.
Possible Effects of CBD in Pregnancy
Compared to CBD there are far more studies on THC, another cannabis plant compound that produces that euphoric or “high” effect when consumed.
While it has been used for some years, CBD has only gained the kind of popularity it has now only recently. But there have been some recent studies that might give a positive impact on pregnant women who wish to use and experience the benefits that using CBD can bring them.
CBD has been known as an excellent muscle relaxant, which can be very helpful for women during contractions. But data surrounding this is still very limited and needs a lot more backing to fully understand if using CBD oil during pregnancy is safe for both the mother and the baby.
Possible Effects of CBD on the Fetus
Currently, there is still a lack of conclusive studies and data to help determine the exact effects of using CBD oil on the fetus. However, it is already known that a fetus as it grows, even if it is only composed of two cells at the time being, already has an endocannabinoid system.
This system is present in every human as well as some groups of animals and is composed of endocannabinoids, which are neurotransmitters that are responsible for binding cannabinoid receptors.
A study that was conducted on mouse embryos concluded that CBD could increase the anandamide levels, another natural cannabinoid found in humans, which can cause the development of the embryos to stop.
While this might be an alarming conclusion, it is important to note that the study was only done on mice and the same result might not be in humans, but there is still no sure way to tell what the case may be.
Is It Safe to Take CBD Oil During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy can be a very important and equally delicate situation for both the mother and the baby. It comes with various unpleasant symptoms such as soreness all over the body, nausea, and loss of appetite. There are also various psychological symptoms that a pregnant woman experiences such as depression and anxiety, both during the pregnancy and after giving birth.
These pregnancy symptoms are known to be among the many conditions that can be alleviated with the use of CBD.
Unfortunately, there is a case of the baby the mother is carrying, and this can change how effective or how safe using cannabis can be. Pregnant women should avoid anything psychoactive during the entire pregnancy period. And while CBD might not have any psychoactive effects, it still mainly depends on the quality of the CBD product being consumed.
CBD oil, for example, is derived from the cannabis plant, which contains not only CBD but other cannabinoids such as THC that have potent psychoactive effects. If the process of extracting CBD oil from the cannabis plant is as high-quality as the process, leaving no trace of THC on the finished CBD oil product, then it could be safely used during pregnancy.
If you are keen on using CBD during pregnancy, it is always recommended to check and get advice from your physician before trying anything to make sure you and your baby are safe.
Benefits of Using CBD for Expectant Mothers
CBD oil has become more mainstream in recent years, and the number of people using it for its various benefits in treating different illnesses has been increasing. Now, it seems like pregnant women also want to experience the great advantage of consuming CBD for its benefits.
- CBD for Anxiety
One of the reasons why people are using CBD oil is because it can be a perfect natural stress relief, which also helps alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, giving the user an overall uplifting mood. This effect might be something that a pregnant woman can benefit from.
- CBD for Pain Relief
One of the known advantages of CBD is its potent painkilling properties. It is believed that this substance can relieve the symptoms of chronic pain better than other traditional pharmaceutical painkiller pills.
Its therapeutic potential for relieving pain and inflammation may be quite helpful for women who are pregnant and experiencing muscle aches and soreness due to their condition.
What Is the Best Way to Use CBD During Pregnancy?
If your physician has cleared you of using CBD during pregnancy, then you must find the best way to consume it that is safe for you and the baby.
Smoking weed might not be the best option for you if you want to relieve the pain and stress of pregnancy. Weed, while it contains a great deal of CBD, also contains traces of THC, which can make your “high.” Vaporizing anything, much less weed, can also have toxic chemicals that might be harmful to the delicate system of a pregnant woman.
You can just always consume CBD powder to avoid the disadvantages of smoking weed. But, if you are not making these CBD edibles by yourself, it can be risky if you don’t know if they are 100 percent quality cannabis or a safe organic product.
You can also consume CBD oil if capsules are not your best options. But again, you have to make sure that its 100 percent CBD oil with no traces of THC.
There are also various products that have CBD content such as salves and lotion. These are great options if you want to use CBD externally such as medicating with a CBD-rich salve to alleviate the soreness in your muscles.
While there are studies that show using CBD while pregnancy is underway can have lots of benefits for the mother and could be safe with the exclusion of THC, further studies have to be made to make a definite conclusion on its safety for babies.