CBD oil is known to have a relatively safe supplement profile that doesn’t cause severe side effects or interact with many medications. It has many benefits for various health conditions and wellness. Nevertheless, it is not recommended that pregnant or nursing mothers take CBD-based products. Let’s discuss the risks and side effects of CBD in breast milk.
Is There CBD in Breast Milk?
Some pregnant mothers and those who already breastfeed may experience mental health disorders including depression, postpartum depression, anxiety, stress, and others. The delivery of a child builds character yet causes lack of sleep, instills many new responsibilities, and brings about worries about parenting. Some women believe the mental health issues will dissipate as they grow used to being a parent. It does not always work like that. Some women visit psychotherapists; others listen to their friends’ recommendations and go for alternative and holistic treatments. This could lead them to reading about CBD products.
CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is just one component extracted from the hemp plant. It has many medicinal benefits, and a low-risk profile of side effects. However, this is not the case when it comes to pregnant and nursing mothers. Alongside CBD, the hemp plant contains the notorious tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is responsible for high effects, euphoria, and extreme relaxation. When producing CBD oils, tinctures, creams, capsules, and pills, the FDA warns about the legally-allowed content of THC in the products. It should be limited to 0.3%. Such a low percentage allows the average person taking CBD to not risk experiencing any kind of high effects and hallucinations.
Doctors can neither recommend CBD to breastfeeding mothers nor prohibit its intake as there are not enough studies conducted on whether it would cause harm. All the scientific findings confirming the harm of CBD in breast milk are related to the THC component which may harm the baby. Based on the FDA, they assume that CBD/THC may be transferred to the baby through breastfeeding. Hence, nursing mothers should abstain from taking it. Our bodies do have our own cannabinoids from the endocannabinoid system, but they are hard to measure, as there are also fats that mask the content of cannabinoids.
All the recommendations lead to one conclusion — if you breastfeed, you should abstain from taking or using any CBD products. CBD and newborns should not be connected until further research is done.
What Are the Possible Risks of CBD in Breast Milk?
When talking about the possible risks of CBD for kids, it is worth assessing the findings. Taking high doses of CBD oil can potentially cause issues with the reproductive system in relation to fetus development. It may be transferred to the breast milk. CBD is likely to contain compounds such as heavy metals, bacteria, and fungi, which can cause harm.
Some other possible side effects include:
- dizziness;
- extreme sleepiness;
- liver damage;
- headaches.
Even though these side effects will likely be short-term in nature, they can affect your behavioral patterns and mental/physical health. Most of the concern is regarding CBD ingested via oils, capsules, soft gels, and pills. Some believe tinctures and creams don’t have unwanted side effects, but make sure to check with a doctor before deciding.
Final Thoughts
As per the FDA and medical professionals, CBD is not the solution for addressing postpartum depression, anxiety, stress, and other health conditions when breastfeeding. Abstain from them until you stop breastfeeding.
CBD in breast milk is not guaranteed to be safe. There is no known confirmation that nursing mothers can safely take CBD products. Hence, speak with your healthcare provider about treatments that won’t harm your newborn in order to get healthier. If you’re looking for reliable and legal CBD products, refer to the Every Day Optimal store, buy them or get a free-of-charge consultation on cannabidiol and its safety.
