Using Cannabis While Breastfeeding: What We Know

In recent years, people have become more interested in understanding how using cannabis can affect breastfeeding. But, it's still a topic that has a lot of questions and concerns. A new study from May 2, 2024, called "Human Milk Cannabinoid Concentrations and Associations with Maternal Factors: The Lactation and Cannabis (LAC) Study," looked into this. The study explored how cannabis use among breastfeeding moms affects the amount of a chemical called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in their breast milk.

How Often You Use Cannabis Matters

The study found that how often moms use cannabis can change how much Δ9-THC is in their breast milk. Moms who used cannabis more often had higher levels of Δ9-THC in their milk. This means it's important for moms to keep track of how much cannabis they use, especially when breastfeeding, to understand how it might affect their milk.

Differences in Δ9-THC Levels

One interesting part of the study was the difference in how much and when Δ9-THC peaked in breast milk. On average, the highest amount of Δ9-THC happened about 2 hours after using cannabis, but this varied a lot. Before using cannabis, the average amount of Δ9-THC in breast milk was 15.3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). After using cannabis, this amount could range from 2.9 ng/mL to 312.6 ng/mL. Factors like how often moms used cannabis, how long it had been since they gave birth, and how they used cannabis all affected these levels. This shows that moms need personal advice based on their own cannabis use when breastfeeding.

How Cannabis in Milk Affects Babies

The study also found that Δ9-THC was still present in breast milk even after moms had not used cannabis for 12 hours. This means babies could be exposed to Δ9-THC through breastfeeding. There are important questions about how this exposure might affect a baby's development. Some studies have looked at this, but more research is needed to understand the long-term effects and potential risks fully.

What This Means for Moms and Doctors

The study's findings are important for both healthcare professionals and breastfeeding moms. Clear advice on using cannabis while breastfeeding is needed, considering the different levels of Δ9-THC and the potential risks to babies. Current guidelines advise against using cannabis during breastfeeding, but more research is needed to provide better recommendations. Future research should focus on understanding how cannabis affects babies to give better advice to moms. By understanding the complexities of cannabis use while breastfeeding, we can help keep both moms and babies healthy.

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