If you are breastfeeding your little one and would like to smoke pot, you may want to hold off on either one. Because you cannot do both.
It is either you skip breastfeeding for a few days to smoke pot once, or you simply say no to pot until you are absolutely done with breastfeeding your baby. It is just really a matter of priority, and we all know what that should be.
This is because hundreds of the various chemicals contained in cannabis can get into the mother’s bloodstream and transfer into her breastmilk. And a baby who nurses can also get these chemicals into its system.
In fact, according to a new study, cannabis can stay in you breastmilk for up to six days after you use the drug. Therefore, pediatricians warn breastfeeding mothers against smoking pot.
The study, conducted by researchers from the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was still present in breastmilk almost one week after cannabis consumption. THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis and is what creates the high.
The study examined breastmilk samples from 50 Canadian and American moms who used cannabis. It found that 63 percent of the samples contained detectable levels of THC up to six days after the women last used the drug. Only nine percent of the samples had detectable levels of cannabidiol (CBD), which is the primary non-psychoactive compount in cannabis and is responsible for many of the plant’s therapeutic benefits.
Kerri Bertrand, who led the study, explained that THC and CBD bind heavily to fat, which is a main nutrient in breastmilk. But just because THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids are detectable does not mean that they are harmful, she said.
Bertrand, however, said that they are concerned with THC being psychoactive and with THC potentially influencing the child’s brain development.
Moreover, the study found that the frequency of cannabis use per day and the length of time since the drug was last used influenced the level of THC present in the breastmilk. Also playing a role in the THC level is the method by which a woman consumed cannabis. Inhalation by smoking, vaping or using a bong led to higher levels of THC compared to topicals or edibles.
The study also warned against smoking pot as it can expose babies to secondhand smoke, which may lead to respiratory and ear infections and even SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome.