New Research Shows That Smoking Harms Your Unborn Baby

A new research has shown clearer evidence that pregnant women who smoke marijuana could be limiting their child's development.

The rate of premature babies born to cannabis users is three times higher than those born to mothers who did not use the drug during the gestation period, the new research shows.

And these babies also had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, hypertension, neurologic disability, and cardiovascular disease later in life

The study, by a research team in London, Canada, is part of a growing swell of research trying to shed more light on this phenomenon, which medics have been spotting for years.

The objective of the study, by researchers from Western University and Brescia University College, was to find a relationship between socioeconomic status and adverse birth outcomes, particularly low birth weight and preterm birth.

However, they found that socioeconomic status had little influence on birth outcomes.

The most significant influence on a fetus's development was marijuana.

In the study, they analyzed data from perinatal and neonatal databases at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) from 2009 to 2014.

Infants with a birth weight of less than 2500 grams were classified as low birth weight. Preterm birth was defined as a live birth at a gestational age of less than 37 weeks.

They found 6.4 percent of infants had a low birth weight and 9.7 percent were preterm.

Cannabis was the biggest factor in affecting birth weight and date.

Maternal amphetamine use, chronic hypertension and smoking were identified as other top risk factors for low birth weight.

Low birth weight can lead to respiratory problems and asthma, and poor cognitive development during childhood.

Preterm birth can cause childhood neurologic disability, as well as long-term medical consequences including respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases and decreased immunity.

'Low birth weight and preterm birth are serious public health problems. Both are associated with a higher risk of infant mortality,' warned principal investigator Dr. Jamie Seabrook.


The researchers said more studies are needed to investigate why and how cannabis impacts the development of a fetus.

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