Cannabis and breastfeeding: new study warns of potential dangers

A recent study confirms that even small amounts of THC were found in breast milk. What are the risks for the baby?

Published last month in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology the study, shows that approximately 2.51% of the THC dose consumed ends up in breast milk. And while this may seem like a small amount, it could still be enough to impair the child’s neurological development, according to Dr. Teresa Baker, who led the study.

«We have no idea what this means for offspring,» Baker explains regarding 2,5%. «If there is chronic exposure [for the infant], up to what level is it safe for the child?».

Although it had long been known that the cannabinoids can be passed from mother to infant; however, there has been a lack of research on the amount of THC found in infants and how quickly it leaves the mother’s body.

Studies on cannabis and breastfeeding

A a 1991 Jamaican study had followed 59 children from birth to age 5 and found no difference between children raised by mothers who used cannabis and those raised by mothers who did not. Interestingly, at 30 days of age, the children in the «user» group scored higher on «autonomic stability and reflexes.»

Other studies, such as one 2014 Australian, had shown that THC could disrupt the formation of neural connections in the fetal brain. Phytocannabinoids such as THC mimic human cannabinoids, which are critical for hormonal signaling during the early stages of human development. Conversely, breast milk contains endocannabinoids that stimulate appetite and promote the bond between mother and child.

Why use cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding, you might ask? Some mothers, in countries where cannabis is legal (but not only there), use cannabis during pregnancy to relieve nausea and vomiting, instead of conventional medications. Teresa Baker, however, recommends avoiding cannabis use as much as possible during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

«How mothers use this information to avoid exposing their infants is up to them, but I would advise them to avoid it. Always. I would recommend abstaining from drinking alcohol for 24 hours [before pumping or breastfeeding],» she explains. «The longer they wait, the better.»

The study notes that THC levels in breast milk peak 1 hour after consumption. Another study showed that the THC could remain in breast milk for up to 6 weeks.