Pregnant women who use cannabis during their first trimester of pregnancy could face poor outcomes with regard to the health of both the fetus and the mother, according to new research.
A Feb. 9 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology looked into early pregnancy cannabis exposure and potential adverse pregnancy outcomes.
The study, done by researchers from the University of Utah Health, analyzed urine samples from over 10,000 women who were due to give birth for the first time. Over 9,200 of these women were in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Of the women included in the study, 540 tested positive for marijuana metabolites, meaning that they likely used the substance in the first six to 14 weeks of pregnancy. The research found that the use of cannabis during early pregnancy was linked to potential stillbirth and poor fetal growth. Meanwhile, women also faced an increased risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy….