Half-cooked eggs during pregnancy? Better you avoid it. A slice of camembert? No, cut it out. Huge party with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs? Absolutely no way! The list of pregnancy do’s and don’ts is long. But it’s precisely because women are recommended to keep their hands off so many things that the many doubts continue to spread. Opinions differ on what is and what’s not recommended, especially when it comes to medications and dietary supplements.
The situation is similar regarding CBD during pregnancy: Some evidence suggests that it could help with certain pregnancy symptoms, but more research is needed.
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AT A GLANCE: CBD DURING PREGNANCY |
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HOW CBD CAN WORK DURING PREGNANCY CBD AND THE PSYCHE DURING PREGNANCY |
WHAT CAN CBD DO?
Preclinical studies on animals and short-term studies on humans suggest that CBD has a lot of potential. CBD has been reported to have a calming effect on anxiety and stress, as well as benefits for skin. Since CBD research has so far taken place almost exclusively in a lab, you should consult your doctor and take a look at dosage and effects beforehand.
HOW CBD CAN WORK DURING PREGNANCY
For some women, pregnancy gives them the whole shebang of challenging conditions: nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, fatigue and trouble sleeping. We've already mentioned that CBD can have a positive effect on sleep, but what about nausea? Several studies on the effects of CBD in chemotherapy patients suggest that it ‘may be effective clinically for treating both nausea and vomiting’. While it’s possible that this effect might be similar for pregnant women, it’s important to note that this study was limited to nausea and vomiting produced by chemotherapy or other therapeutic treatments. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of CBD might also have a positive effect on the pain that results from contraction.
CBD AND THE PSYCHE DURING PREGNANCY
Many expectant mothers experience anxiety, stress and depression during pregnancy. Studies show that up to 16% suffer from a symptomatic form of depression, including 5% with major depression. There is preliminary evidence that CBD might have an effect on stress and depression, which is why some assume that CBD could also have a positive influence on similar psychological symptoms that can occur during pregnancy too.
THE BIG ABE
This all sounds wonderful at first. Nevertheless, we must stress once again that this reasoning is merely speculation. The science of CBD is not yet advanced enough to prove that taking CBD during pregnancy will not harm the health of the embryo nor the resulting child.
Researchers suspect that might cause problems with embryo growth. In addition, another study showed that synthetically produced CBD might have a negative effect on labor.
Since any substance ingested by the pregnant mother also enters the embryo's bloodstream, the benefits and risks of using CBD while pregnant should always be taken into account. Due to the lack of long-term studies on the subject, our conclusion is that it’s better to avoid CBD oil during pregnancy or seek advice from a gynecologist. If you choose to you should always make sure that it’s from a high quality manufacturer.
IN A NUTSHELL: BE CAREFUL WITH — OR BETTER YET, AVOID — CBD DURING PREGNANCY
- Studies suggest that CBD might help with nausea and pain. It’s not clear if it can help these symptoms during pregnancy as well.
- CBD’s calming properties might help with mental conditions such as anxiety, stress and depression. It’s also not clear if CBD can help these symptoms during pregnancy.
- There’s a general lack of scientific evidence for CBD, especially with regard to pregnancy and the health of both the embryo and resulting child, so we advise against using CBD oil during pregnancy.
FAQs
How do I take CBD oil?
If you decide to take CBD oil during pregnancy after consulting your gynecologist, the dosage is crucial. Our guide to dosing CBD can help you find your ideal dose.
Important: Due to the lack of scientific studies on the topic, CBD oil is not recommended during pregnancy and you should always seek advice from a doctor.
Which CBD oil is best to use?
Due to a lack of research on how CBD affects embryos, taking CBD during pregnancy is not advisable. If you still decide to we recommend that you pay attention to quality and stay away from synthetic CBD oils . Our products are made from 100% natural ingredients.
When can I start taking CBD?
Unfortunately, not much research has been done on CBD during pregnancy nor breastfeeding, so it is unclear whether taking CBD in either situation has any effects on the health of the baby. We therefore advise against taking CBD while pregnant and/or breastfeeding. After that, even the World Health Organization says that CBD is 'generally well-tolerated with a good safety profile.'
