The CBD industry is booming, and many people have incorporated the compound into their daily wellness routines. Some take tinctures in the morning with their coffee and tea. Others use calming hemp blends like our stelo™ Relax to unwind after a long day at the office. Those on the cutting edge of skincare even use serums and moisturizers that feature CBD as an active ingredient.
More and more people around the globe begin to rely on CBD as part of their day-to-day routines, but is it safe to continue with this regimen after becoming pregnant? What about while breastfeeding? Let’s take a look at what science says.
What Is CBD, And How Does It Work?
To better understand how CBD may affect expecting mothers, let’s first take a look at how CBD interacts with the human body to begin with.
CBD stands for cannabidiol, a class of molecule called a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants. While there are over 100 different known cannabinoids, the two most popular by far are CBD and THC.
Essentially, THC is the drug people associate with marijuana consumption—it gets you high. CBD, on the other hand, doesn’t produce feelings of intoxication when consumed. Despite this dramatic difference, the two compounds work in similar ways. Cannabinoids interact with our brains and nervous systems through a complex network of neurotransmitters, and neurotransmitter receptors called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS has the critical responsibility of helping regulate several essential human functions, including memory retention, mood, appetite, sex drive, and sleep patterns.
So using cannabinoids, even the non-intoxicating kinds like CBD, directly affect your nervous system.
How Safe Is CBD For Adults?
Generally speaking, CBD is a relatively safe compound for adult use. The consensus among medical professionals is that even in obscenely large doses, taking too much CBD won’t result in death. The compound is non-toxic, though some people experience mild side effects such as dry mouth, dizziness, and drowsiness.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved any CBD product, aside from Epidiolex, for therapeutic or medicinal use. Unfortunately, due to the legal restrictions on cannabis, researchers haven’t been able to conduct enough clinical trials with human models to satisfy the FDA. However, preliminary research strongly suggests that CBD may be useful in treating several ailments such as chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
Because the FDA hasn’t approved 99% of CBD, the products you see online or at stores aren’t well-regulated. Dangerous chemicals like residual pesticides or mycotoxins can wind up in these products, so it’s vital as a consumer to ensure that you’re purchasing CBD that’s been adequately tested by a third-party lab for potency and all potential foreign materials. To do this, check the brand’s website for a certificate of analysis (COA).
Is CBD Safe For Pregnant Women?
When you take CBD, or any chemical really, while pregnant or nursing, that chemical gets passed down to your child. Currently, there has been very little research into the effects of cannabinoids on prenatal development. As a result, the majority of physicians recommend abstaining from cannabis products while breastfeeding or expecting.
There are, however, a contingent of women who use CBD to help combat morning sickness as well as the other symptoms of pregnancy. For these women, the potential harm CBD may do to their child doesn’t seem any more dangerous than the more traditional pharmaceutical options often prescribed to pregnant women for treating their nausea and sleeplessness.
Ultimately, it’s up to the mother to decide what’s best for her and her baby, but it’s important to know the risks before making a decision on whether or not to use CBD. If you’re a pregnant or breastfeeding mother, consult your physician before continuing or starting your CBD regimen.
