CBD oil use is a popular trend, recognized as a cure for anything from anxiety to nausea. But since it comes from the cannabis and hemp plants, if you are on breastfeeding, is it really okay to try?
These days, CBD oil seems to be all the rage as a cure for a wide range of conditions, including stress and pain. In many states, the growing acceptance and legalization of hemp has unleashed on the market as a flood of CBD oil products. Fans hyping their healing powers will find CBD-spiked lattes, gums, candies, lotions and beauty products almost everywhere.
But none were approved or regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in terms of dose, formulation, or delivery method. And although the CBD oil from the cannabis plant does not seem to be addictive, it has not been shown to be safe for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
Between your disrupted sleep schedule, elevated stress levels, and the newly discovered body pains you may experience while breastfeeding, it makes perfect sense why a product you would like to add to your routine at this moment. As you’ve probably heard, cannabidiol or CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found naturally in cannabis and hemp grow plants. People say that CBD can help with anxiety, as well as relieve aches and pains. But the question is, can women who breastfeed use CBD safely?
This is a tough question to answer right now, because CBD has not been extensively studied and the products on the market are hardly controlled, explains Philip Anderson, PharmD, clinical professor at the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, who has been studying cannabis use and breastfeeding. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists discourages the use of cannabis for lactating women because insufficient data are available to assess the effects that the drug would have on the health of a child. Not all CBD comes from hemp, of course, which is where it gets tricky.
Most CBD items are drawn by the fact that they are meant to be free of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the cannabis compound that makes you high. However, with the exception of the one pure CBD prescription drug licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, “all others from hemp or cannabis have the potential to be a combination of CBD and THC,” says Anderson. “There are no criteria that I would trust in testing or labeling.” In other words, there is always a possibility that a CBD drug may contain traces of THC and pass through breast milk to a child.
Unlike alcohol, which we know can be clear in a few hours from a person’s breast milk, it is not clear how long either of these cannabis compounds will stay in the body and breast milk of a person. “The long term studies of these compounds remaining in milk are contradictory,” says Anderson. For example, one study estimated that getting THC out of breastmilk would take six days, while another show that it would take six weeks. A pretty big disparity is probably due to the fact that the amount and duration of cannabis products used by people vary greatly.
Yeah, it’s probably best to save the CBD oil after you’ve done weaning for all these different reasons and unknowns. Determine what’s best for you and your baby is up to you and your doctor. And if you struggle with insomnia, anxiety, or just want some relief for your painful blocked duct, it’s always worth talking to your doctor, health care provider, or a lactation consultant.
Does CBD Oil Pass through Milk to baby?
Sadly, this question does not have a definitive answer. The effects of CBD oil on newborn babies are not yet understood, but it has been shown that THC passes through breast milk and can be toxic to a child.
Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that there are some cannabinoids that are naturally present in breast milk formed by the endocannabinoid system of the body itself. While it’s better not to use THC during pregnancy or breastfeeding, it has been shown that CBD oil is of little concern to both adults and children, so it may not be problematic at all.
Because there is still no definitive evidence to support a response to this question, always talk to your doctor before you use CBD oil, particularly if you are a new mother.
Is CBD Oil right for You?
The decision to use CBD oil during breastfeeding is one that you can make with your doctor’s assistance. You may also consider talking to a naturopathic doctor who is specialized in medical treatment with CBD.
In a study on the use of cannabidiol ( CBD oil ) when breastfeeding, the Drugs and Lactation Database ( Lact Med ) reports that:
“If the mother needs cannabidiol, it’s not a reason to stop breastfeeding. Since there is no research on the use of cannabidiol during breastfeeding, however, an alternative medication may be preferred, especially when nursing a newborn or preterm baby. “If in doubt, talk to your doctor about all the options available to you. You will determine whether CBD oil can help you once you have all the knowledge you need.”
Conclusion
Thus, it is concluded that carrying a baby and taking care of a child are stressful emotional and physical activities. But don’t give in to the temptation to try CBD oil. There is evidence to suggest that it’s not healthy for you or your infant, and there’s plenty of other ways to help you handle the less positive side effects of pregnancy and postpartum. Therefore, it is better not to use CBD oil when you are on breastfeeding although its not so dangerous but health matters most and it should be your first priority. Also by using it, may make you feel sleepy or slightly intoxicated, so when caring for your child, you risk having impaired judgment which is not good for you and your baby.