development of the healthy human microbiome — the well-functioning immune system. Therefore, my concern is that interfering with a mother’s ability to breastfeed from the start could potentially set baby up for a lifetime of risk related to inadequate immune function, in addition to the risks associated with creating trauma for a brand new family.
Recently, Dr. Thomas Hale, PhD — the author of Medications and Mother’s Milk — one of the foremost authorities surrounding pharmacology and the perinatal period —commenced a study to determine the pharmacokinetics of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in breastmilk. Participants were asked to collect breastmilk for 6 hours after smoking a determined amount of cannabis flower. What he and his colleague, Dr. Teresa Baker, found was that cannabis is not concentrated in breastmilk. This alone is reason enough to review and amend practice standards, but let’s look at this on a broader scale. Read more about Dr. Hale’s study here — https://www.elephantcircle.net/circle/2017/2/1/my-take-on-it-what-i-learned-from-thomas-hale-rph-phd
In medicine, when it comes to breastfeeding — the rationale for breastfeeding with substances on board comes down to weighing the benefits versus risks. Women who take some SSRIs, opioid/narcotic medications, and benzodiazepenes (sometimes a combination of all three) are encouraged to breastfeed despite the known risks associated with exposing neonates and infants to these medications via breastmilk. All risks with these substances are considered low by the medical establishment.
Women who smoke tobacco are encouraged to use nicotine patches (or Wellbutrin — another SSRI) and breastfeed despite data that suggests nicotine exposure is a major factor in the occurrence of SIDS. To this end, we have limited understanding of the the long term risks associated with exposure to these medications for these babies. The research does indicate that the impacts from these substances may include neurobehavioral and potential cognitive challenges in exposed infants. The research also suggests that the impacts for babies exposed to cannabis long-term may include similar challenges.
KNOWLEDGE
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