Should you use CBD during pregnancy?

CBD and pregnancy appear to be a perfect match. The endless pain, nausea, stress, and irritability of pregnancy are just a few obstacles women face during their nine-month journey.

Given that CBD potentially treats all of the above symptoms, it’s unsurprising that many women use CBD while pregnant. But is CBD safe? is a burning question that most expectant mothers dwell on.

Why Some Pregnant Women Use CBD Oil

Some pregnant women use CBD oil to alleviate the many related symptoms. Mothers-to-be often report using CBD helps relieve pregnancy-related issues like:

• Morning sickness
• Irritability
• Aches and pains
• Gastrointestinal problems (bloating and gas)

However, while the short-term effects are undeniably positive, we have little research on CBD’s impact on the human reproductive system or pregnancy. This is why, if you searched this question online you would get very contradictory articles.

The negatives are stemmed from the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry with no proof that CBD during pregnancy could be harmful, other than a lack of evidence. So rather than discounting; why aren't they researching more is the million dollar question? And that usually lies with how the medical industry wants to control your pregnancy along with your health.

Few Options

From over-the-counter to prescription medications, developing fetuses don’t respond well to many types of drugs. In some cases, women may have to stop taking certain medicines during pregnancy.

Regardless, this limitation can make it hard to find relief from the unpleasant pregnancy side effects.

CBD seems like the perfect solution. It’s a natural extract considered safe and non-addictive by organizations like the World Health Organisation.

With that kind of endorsement, using CBD during pregnancy looks like an excellent option.

Is It Safe To Use CBD While Pregnant?

Once again if you ask that question to the medical "experts", the answer will more than likely be "no, it isn’t safe to use CBD while pregnant". But CBD could also be perfectly safe. Researchers don’t want to give cannabidiol their stamp of approval for pregnancy without concrete supporting evidence and sadly the industry does not want to spend money on research of a plant that could potentially, lose a myriad of pregnant "customers".

So to nobody’s surprise, consumers and experts are sharply divided on the issue.

FDA

Considering the FDA’s rather turbulent history with (or perhaps against) hemp-derived CBD, it’s not surprising that they oppose it. “FDA strongly advises against the use of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding,” they say.

“FDA wants you to know there may be serious risks to using cannabis products, including those containing CBD, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.”

Support for Using CBD During Pregnancy

Despite the big organizations warning about using CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding, CBD’s reputation precedes it. We know CBD can treat rare severe forms of epilepsy, and there’s plenty of preliminary evidence suggesting other beneficial effects of CBD.

But with little data, most of CBD’s support in this regard comes from everyday users. They don’t agree with the FDA or other organisations that dissuade the use.

What Pregnant Mothers Say About Using CBD Oil

Pregnant mothers who use CBD oil appear to enjoy its benefits and don’t notice any prenatal issues. For instance, according to a Reddit user r/m-v-0_0:

I take CBD oil about twice a week for third-trimester uterus discomfort and painful contractions. It works great. I don’t feel high at all, and my baby continues to do great.”

Similarly, Reddit user r/brookebuilder says:

“Use it! Love it. GREAT for my anxiety since I can’t take my diazepam and also helps me sleep!”

One thing worth noting is that most of the responses were hesitant, meaning posters were either apprehensive or completely against CBD during pregnancy.

Not Enough Research

We all know the old saying, “knowledge is power.” Unfortunately, we lack the knowledge – and therefore the power – to determine if CBD is safe, how much you need to take, and whether it can cause short-term or long-term harm to a developing foetus. However, if we look at the other side of the argument, we need to remember that the developing foetus will be building its own endocannabinoid system along with its immune, central nervous, and endocrine systems.

Summary: Can You Take CBD While Pregnant?

Yes, you can take CBD while pregnant. Whether you should is another story. So far, health organisations don’t recommend pregnant women consume CBD. However, this could change with conclusive large-scale human evidence.

If you’re pregnant, it’s best to go with your gut instincts, if pre-pregnancy you suffered from anxiety, stress, and/or depression and can no longer take your pharmaceutical drugs then switching to a plant may be the best option for a smooth stress-free pregnancy.