Thank you for publishing the above referenced article. I am presently involved in a custody case involving my ex-girlfriend and my 10-month old son. I found this article very informative regarding the dangers of breastfeeding and Marijuana use. After performing a urine test on my baby in August, he tested positive for THC. I had tried unsuccessfully two times prior to get her to stop the abuse. The last and third time, I filed a paternity and custody case. I would like to report that my newborn baby did demonstrate “tremors” and “altered” responses to sight and sound stimulation. We had taken him to a Neurological specialist at 3 months. Would like to add that her 5-year old daughter has shown serious behavioral and attention issues for the past 3 years.

Thanks again for the article.

Does the child become fussy, if the mother has not smoked in a few days? Does the smell of the marijuana also affect the child?

THC can be found in the urine of babies whose mothers smoked marijuana for up to 3 weeks after the mother has smoked. While there is no evidence to show that the smell of marijuana is harmful, there is ample evidence for the harmful effects of the smoke. I hope this answers your questions.

This article is all wrong. Just so you know, I have studied this for the past 6 years. You dont know me, so you dont know anything about where I am coming from. Hold your judgement. Anyway, here is a full article about it. Drugs in pregnancy and lactation. Briggs, Freeman and Yaffe. Ed Williams and Wilkins, 1990.

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (TCH), the main active ingredient of marijuana, is excreted into breastmilk. Analysis of THC and two metabolites, 11-hydroxy-THC and 9-carboxy-THC, were conducted on the milk of two women who had been nursing for 7 and 8 months, respectively, and who smoked marijuana frequently (69). A THC concentration of 105 ng/ml, but no metabolites was found in the milk of the woman smoking one pipe of marijuana daily. In the second woman, who smoked seven pipes/day, concentrations of THC, 11-hydroxy-THC, and 9-carboxy-THC were 340 ng/ml, 4 ng/ml, and none, respectively. The analysis was repeated in the second mother, approximately 1 hour after the last use of marijuana, using simultaneously obtained samples of milk and plasma. Concentrations (in ng/ml) of the active ingredient and metabolites in milk and plasma (ratios shown in parenthesis) were 60.3 and 7.2 (8.4), 1.1 and 2.5 (0.4), and 1.6 and 19 (0.08), respectively. The marked differences in THC found between the milk samples was thought to be due to the amount of marijuana smoked and the interval between smoking and sample collection. A total fecal sample from the infant yielded levels of 347 ng of THC, 67 ng of 11-hydroxy-THC, and 611 ng of 9-carboxy-THC. Due to the large concentration of metabolites, the authors interpreted this as evidence that the nursing infant was absorbing and metabolizing the THC from the milk. In spite of the evidence that the fat soluble THC was concentrated in breast milk, both nursing infants were developing normally.

In animals, THC decreases the amount of milk produced by suppressing the production of prolactin and, possibly, by a direct action on the mammary glands (42) While data on this effect are not available in humans, maternal marijuana use does not seem grossly to affect the nursing infant. In 27 infants evaluated at 1 year of age, who were exposed to marijuana via the milk, compared to 35 nonexposed infants, no significant differences were found in terms of age at weaning, growth, and mental or motor development.

Although no adverse effects of marijuana exposure from breast milk have been reported, follow-up of these infants is inadequate At the present time, the long term effects of this exposure are unknown and additional research to determine these effects, if any, is warranted. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers the use of marijuana during breastfeeding to be contraindicated. Breastfeeding and drug exposure. CR Howard and RA Lawrence. Obstetric Gynecol Clin of North America 1998; 25(1): 195-217.

Animal studies indicate that THC reduces prolactin levels. Data on this effect, however, are not available in humans. Marijuana appears in human milk as THC, which is poorly absorbed in this form; however; with prolonged exposure, the compound may cause an infant to be lethargic and to feed less frequently and for shorter periods of time. In infants evaluated at 1 year of age, no differences were found in growth or mental or motor development when infants exposed to marijuana in breast milk were compared with non-exposed infants. Follow-up of these infants, however, has been limited, and long-term effects of marijuana exposure through breast milk are unknown.

In case you missed it, it said that in breast milk, it is not easily absorbed, and in another article by the famous Dr Hale, he says himself that there is not enough THC that is absorbed, despite its concentrated form, to effect the baby in any way other than a dirty urinalysis. I am a marijuana smoker. I am not some junkie who flunked out of school and never did anything with my life. I have 3 children who are 5 and under, and 2 stepkids that are teenagers. I don’t smoke all day or wear Bob Marley clothing. I don’t smoke in my house or around my kids. But I do smoke and I did breastfeed ALL of my kids. My 5-year-old is gifted, reads and writes, and is very emotionally sound and physically fine. My 3-year-old is precocious and funny. She knows all 50 states, our President, VP, Speaker of the House and simple math not to mention all of the basics. My one-year-old is a terrific little guy who loves to be loved, and is walking and talking. I have NEVER seen any symptoms in my children as babies as a result of my marijuana use. However, I am also married with a stable family environment and we are financially okay. No welfare or anything like that. Oh and my kids have never had one ear infection or problems with breathing, asthma, allergies, anything. Perhaps it is a parent in general who is defective as a parent rather than something that is moderately used. Oh and my 3-year-old just completed a diaper study where they applied the Bailey test each time we went once a year since birth and completed this summer. Her test scores on motor skills and all others were above normal compared to the other 1000 kids who participated in this study across my region. I believe that moderate use of marijuana (I don’t mean smoking all day, or even a few times. Maybe a joint before bed.) is not harmful to an infant or to a developing older child. I think that parenting and environment are more determining factors than this. I do believe that heavy use would be bad. My kids have never acted strangely, had red eyes, or had any other symptoms when I smoked…they also did not act any different when I did not smoke.

One final thing…your ex girlfriend could have smoked one joint in July and not ever again and your kid would have failed the drug test. THC stays in the system for a long time. What is to say that is not the case. You could get drunk every night and pee clean ta day later. Smoke one joint and your baby could pee THC for weeks. Really it sounds like the problem is the girl, not the marijuana.

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It prompted me to carefully review the data on marijuana use by breastfeeding mothers, including the article by Garry and colleagues that was the subject of Katie’s post. The article you cite by Briggs and colleagues was published in 1990, nearly 20 years ago suggesting that there is indeed, as you have stated, a scarcity of research on women’s use of marijuana during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Dr. Hale in his book Medications and Mothers’ Milk acknowledges that there is little safety data and cites only two references. However, he classifies marijuana (cannabis) as an L5 drug (one that is contraindicated during lactation) based on the drug’s characteristics which include rapid distribution to the brain and fatty tissue, the ability to be stored for weeks to months, and small to moderate secretion into breast milk.

In the absence of clear safety data, most recommendations regarding drug safety reflect a desire on the part of health care providers to err on the side of caution. Unfortunately, where drugs, both legal and illegal, are concerned it is nearly impossible to get good safety data because few mothers are understandably unwilling to participate in studies where drugs are knowingly taken and the effects in mothers and babies can be measured. Most often safety data is based on case reports, and involve small numbers of individuals.

I certainly appreciate you sharing your experience. Given that marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs, readers may find it reassuring to hear that one mother had a positive experience. But until more data is available to confirm the safety of marijuana, the recommendations regarding the use of marijuana by breastfeeding women are unlikely to change. Science by its nature is imperfect, so researchers like Garry can only take available data, however scant, and make recommendations that they feel are in the best interest of mothers and babies.

Why bother smoking to begin with? When you decide to have a baby, it’s time to put your big girl pants on, and GROW UP. You don’t matter anymore, your child does. As a parent you sacrifice the things you want, you’re not supposed to be selfish. And if you are, you don’t deserve your child.

I just wanted to add I smoked with all five of my children. Not alot but enough to wind down. No drinking though. They are all grown up and have kids of their own. I have a soldier, a nurse, a construction worker and two in college. And they are just fine. I think people really over react. 55 year old mom.