Review of six American studies found that doctors did not communicate the health risks of cannabis use.
A third of pregnant women do not believe that cannabis can harm their baby, despite studies that show a higher risk of anemia, low birth weight and even stillbirth.
The findings come from a review published by University of BC researchers in the February edition of Preventative Medicine.
Researchers looked at six American studies and found that some women thought because doctors don't immediately tell them about the risks of using cannabis during pregnancy, there is no danger from using it.
The assessment was made because more and more jurisdictions have legalized cannabis use, including Canada and several states such as Oregon, Colorado and Washington, with Mexico also legalizing in the coming months.
“Our research suggests that over the past decade more women appear to be using cannabis during pregnancy than ever before, although evidence of its safety is limited and conflicting,” said lead author Hamideh Bayrampour, assistant professor in the UBC division of family practice. and associate researcher at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.
"It is increasingly important for public health officials to understand perceptions of cannabis use and to raise awareness of the health concerns surrounding its use, especially for pregnant women."
In one study, 70 percent of women who used cannabis thought there was no danger of using cannabis during pregnancy.
When women were asked which substances would hurt the baby the most, 70 percent chose alcohol and 16 percent chose tobacco, while only two percent chose the weed.
A study of 306 pregnant women found that a third of them continued to use cannabis after finding out they were pregnant, often to treat nausea.
Cannabis use decreased during pregnancy, 7,4 percent of women used it in the first trimester, but only 1,8 percent used it in the last trimester.
“One of our findings showed that some people don't think of cannabis as a medicine,” said Bayrampour.
“With this in mind, it is especially important for health care providers to ask specific questions about cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding in order to initiate a productive conversation about its potential health effects and to assist women in their decision to reduce and reduce use to stop."
Source ao https://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/news/one-third-of-pregnant-women-think-cannabis-wont-harm-their-baby-ubc/
