Unborn babies exposed to cannabis from mothers could end up experiencing increased aggression at 5 years of age along with other adverse developmental impacts, according to a new study. Out of the 250 children who participated, 80 of them were exposed to cannabis during the prenatal stage. “Use of tobacco, other drugs, and alcohol during pregnancy was common (22 percent to 39% each).
Most families were living in poverty,” the study said. Among exposed children, scores for attention and inhibitory control were lower than their peers. “Exposed children also exhibited poorer task-based planning ability and more observed aggression,” the study said.
These traits were expected to affect the long-term academic success of the children, the study stated. Results of the study may be taken into consideration for clinical recommendations regarding the use of cannabis by pregnant women, researchers concluded. Some women could resort to cannabis to deal with challenges faced during pregnancy such as stress, sleep problems, and nausea.
However, “this is not recommended,” Keim said, while advising pregnant women to consult a health care provider to find safer options to deal with such issues. “Our findings were not surprising—they actually confirm and expand on longstanding evidence from previous research,” Keim stated. Researchers also identified a 19 percent higher risk that the placenta in these women could separate from the uterus.
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