Smoking marijuana while pregnant

[Fastball]

I am friends with a girl who is pregnant and she is a heavy smoker. She's about four weeks into the pregnancy now and I'm trying to convince her to quit. I am very worried about her baby, but she's convinced herself that it doesn't do any harm to the baby. I know the first couple of months are the most crucial in the development of the child and I don't want to see her baby harmed due to her wreckless behavior.

Her argument is that the majority of the young women during the '70's smoked pot while pregnant and most of those kids turned out okay. I obviously disagree. Does anyone know of any specific information on this or websites that discuss it. I really need to arm myself with some facts and good information to make my case with her.

 

[UberNeuman]

Well, where does she stand in life at this time? Did her mother smoke?

 

[ImTyping]

Tell her to watch "Reefer Madness."

It is her body. If the baby she carries was fathered by you, then maybe you have a say in how she treats herself. Otherwise, stop trying to be a busybody and STFU.

 

[Fastball]

<< Well, where does she stand in life at this time? >>


I'm not sure what you mean. No, her mother didn't smoke.

 

[Fastball]

<< Otherwise, stop trying to be a busybody and STFU. >>



I'm going to contribute this comment to your ignorance that you display in this forum quite frequently.

 

[JC]

I've got nothing against 'mokin, but I think any pregnant woman should put the baby first....

Besides, after 9 months break the 'mokin will be waaaay better

 

[UberNeuman]

Is she doing anything with her life, other than being pregnant?

Sorry, got sidetracked with the pot thing - try this link for pregnant and smoking questions:



http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&newwindow=1&q=smoking+and+babies

 

[gopunk]

It is her body. If the baby she carries was fathered by you, then maybe you have a say in how she treats herself. Otherwise, stop trying to be a busybody and STFU.

it's not just how she treats herself, it's how she treats the baby. if pot had any negative side effects on the baby, like deformed limbs or something, it would be cruel to smoke pot. any decent person would want to put an end to such cruelty.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/marijuana.html
Any drug of abuse can affect a mother's health during pregnancy, making it a time when expectant mothers should take special care of themselves. Drugs of abuse may interfere with proper nutrition and rest, which can affect good functioning of the immune system. Some studies have found that babies born to mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy were smaller than those born to mothers who did not use the drug. In general, smaller babies are more likely to develop health problems.

A nursing mother who uses marijuana passes some of the THC to the baby in her breast milk. Research indicates that the use of marijuana by a mother during the first month of breast-feeding can impair the infant's motor development (control of muscle movement).

btw, she kinda sounds like an addict to me, seeing as she'd rather smoke pot than take it safe with her baby.

 

[bigdog1218]

<< Otherwise, stop trying to be a busybody and STFU. >>


he obviously doesn't have friends because when you have a friend thats doing something to harm themselves, or somebody else, like their baby, you make it your business

if i were you i'd do a search on google or something just to get any harmful effects and tell her anything that can happen to her can happen to her baby, good luck in trying to stop her

 

[flyfish]

Do you smoke? What kind of "proof" does she need? Why even take a chance? I've been through a similar situation and sad to say, you probably will never change her mind.

 

[Fastball]

<< Is she doing anything with her life, other than being pregnant? >>


Not really. Smoking pretty much consumes her life. She can't hold a job or do anything else productive due to her habit.

 

[gopunk]

Not really. Smoking pretty much consumes her life. She can't hold a job or do anything else productive due to her habit.

i'd say that makes her an addict...

people like that shouldn't be having children, imho. but who am i to judge... i'm sure there are lots of drug addicts that make perfectly good parents...

 

[Fastball]

<< Do you smoke? What kind of "proof" does she need? Why even take a chance? I've been through a similar situation and sad to say, you probably will never change her mind >>


No, I don't smoke. Unfortunately, I think you're right. She'll probably never quit.

 

[Ender]

Just wondering how you managed to pick up a drug addict and job-less friend?

 

[ImTyping]

<< it's not just how she treats herself, it's how she treats the baby. if pot had any negative side effects on the baby, like deformed limbs or something, it would be cruel to smoke pot. any decent person would want to put an end to such cruelty. >>



I would like to put an end to a lot of cruel things. But I cannot tell another person how to treat their own body, during pregnancy or otherwise.

Being obese while pregnant poses significant, documented health risks to the baby and the mother. If the woman was fat, would you want her to diet? Would you force her to diet?





<< I'm going to contribute this comment to your ignorance that you display in this forum quite frequently. >>


Just because my notions chip away at your cozy version of reality, do not think that I am ignorant. Whenever you would like to have an argument based on logic, bring it on. I am waiting for you right here. As for ignorance, I think it is pretty ignorant that you think you can convince a pothead that she should quit smoking for any reason. Who do you think you are, Mother (f king) Theresa?

If you really want her to quit smoking, call your stormtrooper police friends and have her arrested. She will have a (slightly) harder time finding pot in prison.

 

[Fastball]

<< Just wondering how you managed to pick up a drug addict and job-less friend? >>


She used to be my secretary until she got fired for not coming to work.

 

[Thegonagle]

She sounds like an idiot. At least her behavior is idiotic. Best of luck to her child(ren). They'll need all they can get.

I'd disagree that it does no harm. Ask any doctor. Hell, ask her doctor! At least don't let her drink. A swift kick to her head probably would be good for the baby, but that's about all I can think of that would help.

 

[ImTyping]

<< he obviously doesn't have friends because when you have a friend thats doing something to harm themselves, or somebody else, like their baby, you make it your business >>



You make it your business if you do not understand how the world works and how adults interact.
Let me put it in bold letters for you so you will understand it better: YOU CANNOT CHANGE PEOPLE. If you could actually change the way people thought or acted, you would not be wasting your time posting here. My best friend for 20 years is an alcoholic. I never once tried to get him into rehab, because I knew that he would either make it there on his own time or not go there at all. He eventually bottomed out, saw the light, and has been sober for 8 years. The mutual respect among my peers precludes any meddling in each other's human failings because we all understand that only WE are responsible for our actions.

If the woman really wants to quit smoking, she will quit. But she will have to do it for herself and her baby, not for fastball, or anyone else.

I pose the question of obesity again, since nobody wants to touch it: If she were obese, would you force her to lose weight for the baby's sake? If she smoked cigs, would you make her give them up? If she drank a lot, would you take her bottle away?

 

[conjur]

<< She sounds like an idiot. At least her behavior is idiotic. Best of luck to her child(ren). They'll need all they can get.

I'd disagree that it does no harm. Ask any doctor. Hell, ask her doctor! At least don't let her drink. A swift kick to her head probably would be good for the baby, but that's about all I can think of that would help. >>



Agreed. In this day and age, anyone who smokes is a complete moron. Gee...I think I'll up my chances of contracting cancer by a couple orders of magnitude, stink up my house, car, clothes, breath. Inflict second-hand smoke upon those around me.

But, hey! I look cool, right?

:|

And smoking pot while pregnant? <shaking head in disbelief> Probably see her on Springer one day.

 

[Jzero]

<< In this day and age, anyone who smokes is a complete moron. >>



*Snort*
ROFLMAO! That's a flame war for a different thread. As if our society "in this day and age" was so wise and health conscious, yet we still drive cars and eat greasy trash and drink too much booze, and poop sitting down, and don't sleep enough and sleep too much and waste too much and want too much and talk too much and breathe too much......
I got news for ya....if that's the criterion, we're all morons. If you don't have any unhealthy vices at all, then maybe you have a point.....but somehow I doubt that you've never eaten a piece of chocolate or drank a cup of coffee.....


But this lady is nuts. Even if the pot isn't bad for the fetus, he's going to be screwed when she's unemployed and he's starving and she's too busy smoking up to go provide for the child who is now her responsibility. Reminds me of Trainspotting....

Do your best to help her, but in the end, ImTyping is right--you can't change people that don't want to change. The only way she'll learn is when she hits rock-bottom. It might take a deformed, or stillborn, or pothead baby, or it might take DYFS taking her child away or worse......hope it doesn't go that far, but sometimes catastrophe is the only way to teach people.

 

[FrancesBeansRevenge]

I am a pothead. I love to smoke... and I love to smoke with others.
However, I have and will refuse to smoke with a pregnant woman...
she has the right to do what she pleases... but I am not going to contribute to it.

 

[jobberd]

<< You make it your business if you do not understand how the world works and how adults interact.
Let me put it in bold letters for you so you will understand it better: YOU CANNOT CHANGE PEOPLE. If you could actually change the way people thought or acted, you would not be wasting your time posting here. My best friend for 20 years is an alcoholic. I never once tried to get him into rehab, because I knew that he would either make it there on his own time or not go there at all. He eventually bottomed out, saw the light, and has been sober for 8 years. The mutual respect among my peers precludes any meddling in each other's human failings because we all understand that only WE are responsible for our actions.

If the woman really wants to quit smoking, she will quit. But she will have to do it for herself and her baby, not for fastball, or anyone else.

I pose the question of obesity again, since nobody wants to touch it: If she were obese, would you force her to lose weight for the baby's sake? If she smoked cigs, would you make her give them up? If she drank a lot, would you take her bottle away? >>

No, you can't change people. You cannot FORCE people to change. But you sure as hell can push them in the right direction. How do you know that if you pushed your alcoholic friend to go into rehab then he would not have went sooner and saved more years of his life? You act as if people have no respect for others comments. What Fastball is doing is not wrong. His friend is hurting her child and Fastball does not want his friend to be hurt. He doesn't take the apathetic stance as you have, saying "i can't change her mind, so why bother?". He tries to convince her to stop by asking for facts. how can this POSSIBLY be the wrong thing to do? Friends take care of each other, and that's exactly what he's trying to do.

 

[Belegost]

<< Being obese while pregnant poses significant, documented health risks to the baby and the mother. If the woman was fat, would you want her to diet? Would you force her to diet? >>


First, read the initial post, he said nothing about forcing anybody to do anything, he wanted information so he would have a better argument. To answer the question: if a pregnant friend of mine was endangering the life of her child by eating poorly I would have a discussion with her about it. If it was a matter of economics I would go so far as to help pay for a better diet. However, your argument here is flawed, obesity is a condition which cannot be changed immediately. Even as an addiction smoking marijuana can be stopped much more easily.



<< It is her body. If the baby she carries was fathered by you, then maybe you have a say in how she treats herself. Otherwise, stop trying to be a busybody and STFU. >>


Like hell it is. It's the child's body too, and the child who will suffer if her irresponsible behaviour leads to problems. I know of a young boy who has mental problems because his mother snorted crystal when she was pregnant. It makes me very angry that this boy has to live like he does because his mom felt she had the right to screw around.

Fastball: I really don't have anything of use to you, but I really hope you can find something or someone to help. And thank you for trying to make a difference for that unborn child.

 

[MrCodeDude]

Smoking is bad in general. Call the cops on her, she'll get thrown in jail for possesion of an illegal substance. No more smoking for her and maybe the baby would go to a better person, a better family. And after the woman gives birth to the baby, get her in HEAVY rehab. Or better yet, just leave her be, she'll be out on the street in no time..
-- mrcodedude

 

[bigdog1218]

<< My best friend for 20 years is an alcoholic. I never once tried to get him into rehab, because I knew that he would either make it there on his own time or not go there at all. He eventually bottomed out, saw the light, and has been sober for 8 years >>



my cousin was an alcoholic and me and my other cousins didn't allow him to sh!t his life down the drain by waiting around until he figured it out for himself, let me ask you this, what if your best friend didn't make it at all, while you were too worried about meddling in his business what if he killed himself in a car accident or killed someone else, everythings ok i guess cause he would learn his lesson then right