Alanis Morissette, the Canadian songstress who penned the tune "Mary Jane," admits to using pot in the past to juice up her creativity. But when she became pregnant - her son Ever is 4 now - she gave up the weed.
"You Oughta Know" what she knows: Smoking pot while you're pregnant or breastfeeding is dangerous for your fetus and your child. Studies show that when you expose your fetus to marijuana, chances are your child will have lower test scores on visual problem-solving, visual analysis, and visual and motor coordination, plus behavioral problems and a decreased attention span. These are lifelong handicaps.
Unfortunately, according to a recent report from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit (in some places) drug during pregnancy, with roughly half of female marijuana users continuing to smoke it while pregnant. Self-reported prevalence of marijuana use during pregnancy ranges from 2 to 5 percent of all pregnant women and 15 to 28 percent of young, economically deprived urban women. Switching to edible pot may not be less hazardous for your offspring; the psychoactive chemicals still go into your bloodstream and then into the fetus's. A recent report shows 25 percent of the legal products deliver a lot more of pot's active ingredient, THC, than their label says!
If you want to mellow out while you're pregnant, we suggest yoga for pregnant women (details at sharecare.com) or a stress-reduction app for your smartphone.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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