Prenatal cannabis use may increase the risk of pregnancy-related problems such as placental abruption and preeclampsia, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
“Whereas many studies have examined how maternal prenatal cannabis use is associated with fetal and neonatal outcomes, less is known about the associations with maternal health during pregnancy” wrote Kelly C. Young-Wolff, Ph.D., M.P.H., at Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland, Calif., and colleagues. “As we continue to learn about the potential harms and benefits of prenatal cannabis use, clinicians must provide coordinated, nonstigmatizing care and education to support pregnant individuals in making informed decisions about cannabis use.”
Young-Wolff and colleagues studied health records for 316,722 pregnancies (from 250,221 individuals) that began during 2011 to 2019; all pregnant individuals were members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, responded to a self-reported cannabis-use question, and took a THC urine toxicology test. Researchers mined health records for data on various maternal health outcomes and examined potential links to use of cannabis.
Researchers adjusted the results to account for maternal demographics, as well as when prenatal care was initiated, prepregnancy body mass index, other substance use, and psychiatric and other medical comorbidities.
Overall, in 6.3% of pregnancies, the mothers screened positive for prenatal cannabis use, by either self-report and/or positive toxicology testing. Compared with pregnant individuals who did not use cannabis, those who did had significantly greater risk of placental abruption (19% more likely), gestational hypertension (17%), preeclampsia (8%), and gestational weight gain less than or greater than guidelines (5% and 9%, respectively).
However, maternal use of cannabis was associated with an 11% lower risk of gestational diabetes.
“Young-Wolff et al highlight the importance of examining potential maternal outcomes associated with cannabis use in pregnancy,” Jamie O. Lo, M.D., at Oregon Health & Science University, in Portland, and Catherine Y. Spong, M.D., at the University of Texas in Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, wrote in an invited commentary. They highlighted, however, that the study period was from 2011 to 2019 but did not compare maternal outcomes before and after California legalized recreational cannabis in November 2016.
“Cannabis legalization has been associated with easier access and greater acceptance, including reduced stigma,” Lo and Spong wrote. “Thus, it is important to understand how legalization of cannabis in California was associated with the findings of this study, including disclosure of use, patterns of use, and maternal outcomes during pregnancy.”
For related information, see “Cannabis Use During Pregnancy on the Rise” in Psychiatric News.
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Natalia Kuzina)
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