How much would you be willing to try if you were overdue?

[Arimeh]

I'm just putting this out there - just to see what other people think

We (DH, two friends and I) were talking today about the effects that having cannabis (in any form, smoking, eating, whatever) has, and the theory that it can lead to premature labour or leads to labour etc. Mainly because Cannabis is an "oxytocic herb that can help relax the controlling mind and bring attention to the needs of the body, as well as strengthen the needed contractions" (this is from an article that DH found on the internet as we thought it made for interesting discussion - yes we are strange!)

My friend had a bit throughout her pregnancy and gave birth a month early. I don't want to press too much into that (not interested in people's opinions on what my friend thinks is best for her and her son obviously!) just that it demonstrates that it might be true.

If you had a history of going over, and nothing else was working (RLT, EPO, massage, acupuncture etc) - would you go so far as to have a joint/bong/cookie (whatever form!) to see if that would bring something on?

I think our theory that we got to today, was that cannabis "frees" your mind of blockages, and to have some of this when your mind is "blocked" and stalling your labour from either a) happening, or b) progressing - as it makes you more in tune with nature and helps you therefore with the natural process of childbirth (theoretically of course!) - then is it another course of action that you would consider taking if you were faced with an induction, or a c/section if nothing happened?

Also according to the same article, the ancient egyptians used cannabis to induce contractions.

I just thought it was interesting and pretty thought-provoking (although I do have two young kids so anything other than wiping poo and boogers all day is pretty damn interesting to me!!!).

Any thoughts? Would you consider it?

[MrsFabuloso]

Nope, I would rather be induced if I was that desperate.

[Willow]

Nope, I wouldn't. Hated the way it made me feel.

[Maruschke]

Mel, interesting idea! Actually my doula lent me a book of birth stories, and one of them was about a woman who gave birth in the northern territory, and all she had for pain relief was a joint and green bananas. It worked for her.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. I have tried it a few times, and found the sensation so bizarre that it made me tense rather than relaxed. So nope, not for me. Also, I am not sure about the impact it would have on the baby (but yeah that is for another thread).

I was surprised by how desperate I got when I was nearing my due date, so I aint gunna judge anyone...

[christy]

ohhhh I find thats interesting. I'm not a pot smoker etc etc blah blah blah... BUT I know that I needed something that would disassociate my mind from things to get over the panic I was feeling at one point. I was all for a drug free natural labour but at one point my mind went *CRAP!!!!* so I asked for pethadine and that helped me get through everything to achieve the birth I wanted in the end.

[Arimeh]

BUT I know that I needed something that would disassociate my mind from things to get over the panic I was feeling at one point.

I think thats the point I was trying to make - to make you disassociated from all current thoughts, fears, etc that stop you going into labour (or stall) - the possibility of it helping - I think is really interesting.

(btw, I'm not saying or admitting that I'm going to turn into a huge potsmoking junkie - just that I find the actual idea of using cannabis to "let go" of your fears/issues so that birth can take its natural course is quite .. well.. interesting!)

[Lulu]

Hhmm, I think it would probably be a mistake to have a go at cannabis in order to get over the fear thingo (lulu had lotsa drinks right now, bear with me!).

If you used ganga in the past, and you knew it would get you where you needed to be....oohh I dunno. I don't think it would be an ACE idea...but then again, if I only had pot and green bananas, I know what I'd go for

[AliBaby]

No way. It has way too many bad things in it that I would not want going into me or my baby.

[sneakysparkle]

I would be interested to know if the effects of pot were worse for the baby than say, peth/epidural etc...

[Bathsheba]

Very interesting.... I'm a bit mentally exhausted from injecting a lot of energy into another post... but here goes:

Firstly I have used cannabis... fairly regularly before I had children... none since.

Secondly what you have said does make sense... scientifically. However if I was to use it I wouldn't use the same amount as I used recreationally.... and I wouldn't smoke it... maybe ingest instead... to limit the effect on the baby.

Thirdly regarding risks. If it was supervised by a trained carer then i would think that it would be no more harmful than pethidine or any other synthetic induction chemical (eg syncotin) which are also not without risk. Just because it's an illegal drug doesn't mean that it's more risky than legal medications if taken incorrectly.

Fourthly... Personally I also didn't like what cannabis did to my mental state... it made me feel vulnerable... out of control in a similar way to stronger doses of pethidine. Incidentally i have also taken pethidine recreationally and in small doses I actually liked the mental state it put me in. So... maybe both chemicals in high doses would make me feel crappy... I do tend to be quite sensitive to all medications I have ever been prescribed come to think of it.

I would like to see it tested more thoroughly. Cannabis, like the opiates, i think have a place in medicine. Not sure if labour is a good place... but I agree that, despite it's current status as an illegal drug, it should be viewed on par as any other pain killer and at least explored. Who knows... it could work for some women and even prove (under medical guidance) to be less risky than current chemical interventions/pain relief in labour.

ETA: I didn't have hallucination when using cannabis. My vision was altered... things seemed brighter, and kind of twinkled but i didn't see things that weren't there so to speak.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I wasn't scared of birth, I was looking forward to it. Much as I loved pregnancy, for some reason I wanted to meet my baby. I was doing every known and legal induction method a good month before I went into labour! Even going for runs at full term. Not having the runs, going out for them. Sex, evening primrose oil, bumpy drives, curry, that tincture tea thing, homeopathic pills, long walks, telling Leibling to just come out already...

I wouldn't have tried cannabis. I wanted a drug-free birth LMAO. But in more seriousness, I wasn't scared and don't like external things altering my mind.

[sunshine_sieben]

What an interesting topic.
I have used it in the past, long before having children. My reaction depended so much on the actual batch and of course quantity. Sometimes it made me feel more relaxed, but often it made me feel out of control and uncomfortable - a feeling I definitely wouldn't like during labour.
So I guess, in small amounts, and if it definitely is all natural (not the hydroponic stuff), and I'm really desperate, I might consider trying it. I don't believe it would be much worse than syntocinon, epidurals and pethidine.
I would however be worried about the effects on the baby. But i would be worried about how syntocinon, epidurals and pethidine affect the baby, too.
I hope I won't get that desperate...
Sasa

[Bathsheba]

I guess it's an interesting one to keep up your sleeve if society collapses and we lose the benefits of hospitals etc. I'm sure many ancient and non Western cultures have discovered postive uses of cannabis. But don't mind me I'm always thinking about things from the perspective of society collapsing If it does I'm bound to become an old witch-like croney who cultivates a garden of magical medicines!

Mushies: I once saw the Loch Ness gliding down the Peel river in Tamworth, no kidding.

[Lulu]

Look, I have used cannabis to self medicate in the past and dammit, it works. Apetite, lack of sleep..its worked before and its a crapload better than Valium in my estimation...

[Jahzara]

ummm.....ok, never used it and i cant see myself using it in the near or distant future. Ive never smoked etc......

Very much a case of "i dont think i would be desperate enough to go there" !

Having said that - i am not judging anyone who would choose this as a form of induction. I think it wouldnt be wise if you were a first time user, but if you have used before and know how you would react then.....

An interesting topic though......

[Muffy]

Girls for you im going to start a thread about your 'experiences' just so we can keep this one on topic

[Rouge]

Ok here's something...

Did you know Pethadeine, Morphine and Codeine are all opiates, closely related to Heroin. Yet we have all these things fine? Does it feel safer knowing that just because a drug is prescribed to you it somehow feels safer?

Now I'm not saying I'm for either or... just speaking out loud

[Ballerina]

I'll try to contribute something more useful than saying I'd smack my mum.

(Sorry Arimeh, childish shot from the hip and not particularly constructive)

I do feel prescribed drugs are more appropriate than illegal drugs. Prescription drugs are scruitinised to the nth degree in a laboratory, acceptable dosage determined by scientists, and any contraindications deciphered with trials conducted on willing participants. This would make it a safe and predictable option for the hospital repetoire.

Pethedine is an opioid like morphine and heroin. But they are drastically different in potency (heroin is very, very potent) thus it wouldn't be right to classify them as the same thing. That would be like saying a few light beers is the same as a bottle of spirits because they're all alchocol.

Back to Arimeh - I don't think your friend is wrong in taking cannabis to induce her labour, I sure as hell don't have the answers! What I would love to know though, is;

a) How long does a drug remain in your system when smoked or ingested versus something administered intravenously

b) When cannabis crosses the placenta, how long is it in your baby's system and fat cells for?

c) How much cannabis is in your breast milk.

d) Considering cannabis has an effect on the synapses in your brain, and your seratonin uptake, what kind of effect does this have on the brain chemistry of your newborn? What of their long-term development? Particularly if they are pre-disposed to mental illness?

I'd like to reiterate that I don't think your friend is wrong. Do I think it's irresponsible to take something without knowing whether it has a detrimental effect on bubs? Probably....and I'm sorry if that offends

Interesting article on the Copenhagen study btw!