CBD is one of the 100 chemicals found in cannabis or hemp plant. However, CBD is not addictive, and it does not cause euphoria. This is because it does not have THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes euphoria.
The fact that CBD does not intoxicate its users is the reason it is widely accepted as a remedy for various issues like pains and mental health challenges. This has also caused nursing mothers to consider using CBD.
There are various forms of CBD, including oils, topical products, and vapes. CBD oils are particularly popular because of their easy administration.
Reasons for taking CBD Oil when Breastfeeding
Women experience many changes to their bodies during and after giving birth. The changes bring about numerous pains, nausea, and mental health issues, like postpartum anxiety and stress. These changes warrant the use of medications.
However, some of these medications can cause adverse side effects to the mother and her newborn child. For this reason, nursing mothers consider taking CBD oil.
CBD oil can help some nursing mothers alleviate some medical and mental health issues associated with pregnancy and giving birth. Therefore, nursing mothers regard CBD products as natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals.
Nursing mothers may also take CBD to remedy stress, sleep problems, and low appetite. New mothers may also use CBD products to improve their general health. However, there are numerous questions about the safety of CBD when breastfeeding.
Another reason nursing mothers take CBD is to reduce depression. New mothers have been known to experience postpartum depression. CBD oil has been found to reduce depression in many ways. For instance, it works as an anandamide re-uptake inhibitor. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter responsible for joy, happiness, motivation, and stress reaction.
Therefore, CBD oil reduces depression by increasing amounts of anandamide in the brain. Additionally, CBD helps relieve depression by interacting with the ECS, responsible for mood and anxiety.
CBD Supplements Vs Medications
It is worth mentioning that other medications for depression, like antidepressants, are not usually appropriate for nursing mothers. This is because of their harmful side effects. For instance, one of the side effects is suicidal thoughts. This is a dangerous side effect for a parent with a newborn.
It may cause the parent to feel detached and have negative feelings about their child. CBD oils have been proven to have no adverse side effects like antidepressants.
CBD oil has also been proven effective for reducing nausea and increasing appetite. This increases caloric consumption for nursing mothers. Using CBD oil also helps parents take care of their physical and mental health while bonding and caring for their kids.
In a nutshell, the therapeutic and mental health benefits of CBD can improve a nursing mother’s general well-being and life.
Read More: A Review of the Most Popular CBD Products in Ireland
What do Scientists have to say about CBD Supplements & Breastfeeding?
A research published by the National Institutes of Health in 2016 indicates that cannabinoids naturally exist in breast milk. The cannabinoids help stimulate your baby’s appetite. However, it is nearly impossible to measure the amount of CBD in breast milk accurately. This is because CBD is fat-soluble, and breast milk is packed with fats.
However, there is no scientific evidence that explicitly confirms the presence of CBD or THC in human breast milk. Additionally, all available data about the interaction between CBD and breastfeeding remains inconclusive.
Additionally, according to the FDA and what experts already know about cannabinoids, they can be transferred to babies via breast milk. While there are no studies on the specific effects of CBD on pregnancy and breastfeeding, there are studies that have been done on subjects with prolonged exposure to marijuana.
Therefore, researchers and doctors use these studies because of the close association between CBD and marijuana. Meanwhile, the FDA continues to investigate CBD and breastfeeding.
Risks of using Cannabidiol while Breastfeeding
When breastfeeding, using any substance, including natural substances like CBD oil, poses significant risks. One of the greatest risks of using substances when nursing is that they can pass through breast milk to the baby. However, there is no real evidence that CBD can pass through breast milk to the baby.
Another risk of using CBD oil while nursing is that it may make you feel sleepy or slightly intoxicated. While it does not have THC, its calming effect may cause a slight feeling of intoxication. It may impair your judgment while caring for your child when this happens. Therefore, you must be careful not to overdo it.
Is it Safe to Use when Nursing?
CBD is currently out of the FDA’s purview. This means that each company or brand controls its product’s safety. Some companies cannot afford testing and studies, while others can. This means that you cannot fully trust the products. Therefore, you may not know the risks of the product for your child.
Ultimately, CBD has shown little risk to adults and children. Therefore, it may not pose significant risks to breastfeeding parents. Therefore, before taking CBD for breastfeeding, it would be wise to compare the product’s benefits for the parents and the parents.
Is this Food Supplement Worth it?
Before using CBD oil while breastfeeding, it would be wise to talk to your doctor. It would help even more to speak to a naturopathic doctor specialising in CBD for medical treatment.
Additionally, if you doubt how healthy it is to use CBD oil when breastfeeding, you should discuss other options with your doctor. Talking to a medical professional will give you all the information you need to determine whether CBD oil will benefit you while nursing.