The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has published its position on use of pot during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

The bottom line.

Yes, there are limitations in the available data about marijuana’s effects on the fetus during pregnancy and on the neonate during lactation. However, ACOG has seen enough to recommend that during pregnancy and during breast feeding to advise “discontinuation of maternal use [of marijuana], whether recreational or medicinal.”

There are no FDA-approved indications regarding marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation. Also, there are no standardized formulations, dosages, or delivery systems. Smoking, the most common route of administration of THC, cannot be medically condoned during pregnancy and lactation, according to ACOG.

The use of marijuana during pregnancy is associated with lower scores on tests of attention, coordination, and behavior in offspring.

6/25/15 JR

The FDA is alerting parents and caregivers that some liquid Vitamin D supplement products are sold with droppers that could allow excessive dosing of Vitamin D to infants. (more…)

Researchers from Ecole Polytechnique de l’Université de Nice, in Biot, France reviewed the evidence and mince no words in their conclusions. (more…)

The Texas Department of State Health Services and FDA have notified healthcare professionals and consumers, especially pregnant or breastfeeding women, to avoid consuming a product called Nzu, taken as a traditional remedy for morning sickness.

There’s a potential health risks from high levels of lead and arsenic. (more…)

Researchers in Switzerland compared Echinacea/sage to chlorhexidine/lidocaine. (more…)

Women transfer about 200 mg of calcium per day to breast milk. Over 6 months, that could be up to 9% of bone mineral density.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro studied the potential of exercise to slow this bone loss. (more…)

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention, has updated its recommendations from 2003. (more…)

There were benefits “during early infancy but also during the preschool years,” in this study by researchers at Juntendo University, School of Medicine, in Tokyo, Japan.

They assign benefit to the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). (more…)

During the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology this April, researchers from Stanford University, in California will report, “Women who have multiple sclerosis (MS) may reduce their risk for relapse after pregnancy if they breast-feed.”

The findings will stir debate. (more…)

Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston have published a detailed review.

Their interest relates to the needs of vitamin D in the breastfeeding mother and her infant and child, but they also present a detailed and well-referenced review. (more…)

It turns out that Australia has one of the highest rates of allergic disease (hay fever, asthma, hives) in the world.

So, Australian Family Physician reviewed current recommendations. (more…)

A continuing education article on Medscape presents a nice summary on the use of black cohosh to treat the symptoms of menopause. (more…)

Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist and a board certified lactation consultant from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Her work focuses on family violence and perinatal health.

Here are her thoughts on postpartum depression. (more…)

The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition has summarized the recommendations from official groups, worldwide. Their website should be essential reading for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and women thinking of becoming pregnant.

Let’s summarize their summary recommendations. (more…)

Infant formulas are designed to lower the chances of developing allergy or food intolerance.

But do they?
(more…)

“What you feed your baby and toddler could be the key to controlling their waistline as they grow through childhood and into adulthood,” according to the University of Michigan.

Here are the highlights of the article.

• Breastfeeding protects against obesity risk later in life
• Seek help from a pediatrician or a lactation consultant if difficulty develops
• Begin solid food no sooner than four to six months of age
• A child?s first flavor experience should be something healthy
• The more a child tastes a particular food, the more they’ll like it
• Don’t make sweets their first experience with solid food
• Encourage eating a wide variety of foods

Before childbirth?

• Nursing moms should be vigilant about the foods they eat
• Women who drank carrot juice through pregnancy had infants who enjoyed pureed carrots more at four months of age than those children whose mothers did not drink carrot juice during pregnancy.

There’s more good information here, here, and here.

Drawing: Richmond Health Services

9/11/06 19:20 JR