Cannabis is made up of many chemicals including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is a psychoactive chemical. Psychoactive chemicals impact the way a person’s brain works and can cause changes in the way a person feels, behaves, and thinks.
Research shows that there is no safe amount or safe time to use cannabis if you are trying to become pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding because cannabis use can lead to potential harms to the fetus and infant. Therefore, the safest choice for your baby is to not use cannabis in any form while trying to get pregnant or during pregnancy.
Cannabis use during pregnancy can cause babies to be born with low birth weight, have increased irritability, poor sleep and problems with mental health, learning, memory, and behaviour as they grow up.
If you are pregnant or have a baby, it is important to protect yourself and your baby from secondhand cannabis smoke. You can do this by asking people to not smoke around you and your baby.
Some people experience morning sickness during pregnancy. Cannabis is not recommended to treat nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. If you have morning sickness, talk to your health care provider about options that are safe for during pregnancy.
Using cannabis can make it difficult to care for a child. If you choose to use cannabis, plan ahead and make arrangements for childcare while you use.
For more information see
CMHA.ca,
MotherToBaby.ca, or call MotherToBaby at 1-866-626-6847.
For more information and for resources you can print and use in your community please see the following links: