Cannabis and breastfeeding

The importance of breastmilk

Doctors always recommend that mothers breastfeed their babies. Breastmilk builds a strong immune system and provides nutrients that your child needs. However, because of certain medical circumstances or personal preferences, some mothers choose not to do this. Instead, some mothers use formula. In this case, cannabis use isn’t a problem. 

But for those who do choose to breastfeed, there are many things to consider. Is there truly enough cannabis in breastmilk to affect the infant?

Looking at what we do know

The active compounds in cannabis, cannabinol, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can stick to fats. Breastmilk, as you may know, is full of fats. This fact suggests that these compounds can possibly end up in breast milk. This raises another question. 

How unsafe are these compounds for the infant? Do they really cause any negative effects? The health risks are undetermined, needing much more research in this area.

Understanding differing opinions

It wouldn’t be fair or honest to just disregard the negative opinions and theories when it comes to cannabis and breastmilk. You should always want the best for your infant and yourself. So, here are a few questions to consider. 

• Will cannabis use deplete my breastmilk supply?

• Can I just ​“pump and dump” to get a pure milk supply?

• Is cannabis really unsafe for both pregnancy and breastfeeding?

• Can secondhand smoke cause problems?

• Is CBD oil safe when breastfeeding?

You see, many concerns cannot be conclusively answered in a simple statement. There are differing beliefs and opinions, and without enough research, there are no definitive answers. While some people insist that it’s perfectly fine to enjoy cannabis while breastfeeding, there are others who claim that this would be a bad decision. 

Separation processes

CDC researchers have developed an interesting process, and it begins with saponification. The process of saponification is known for being the way soap is made. It’s an action where elements are separated in a solution. The same action can possibly be used for taking THC, for example, away from milk fats. With this procedure, researchers are able to detect trace levels of marijuana in breastmilk.

This particular test is 100 times more effective at detecting cannabinoids than any test in the past. What does this mean? Well, this helps researchers understand the true dangers of cannabis in breast milk if there are any at all. 

Interesting arguments

While the negative points are obvious, there are some opposing viewpoints on this subject. Many people have actually had their own breast milk tested for cannabis. In these cases, marijuana was undetected. Whether this means it’s safe to enjoy cannabis when breastfeeding or not is still undecided. While there are still opposing results in these studies, there will be many other questions that arise. And with a good conscience, we cannot say one way or the other. 

In similar aspects, as with caffeine or particular foods, there’s much more research to be done. In fact, for years, debates on coffee have gone from negative to positive, back and forth, until it basically stands at your own educated decision.

In a nutshell, this is one of those situations you should decide for yourself. 

If you aren’t planning on breastfeeding, then consider trying edibles, tinctures, or topicals at LucidaClub. We have carefully curated experiences for whatever mood you’re in. 

Try something new!