Posted by Pregnancy comes with several restrictions. Dietary restrictions, refraining from controlled substances, and physical restrictions all apply. There are even more restrictions in the third trimester to encourage an easy delivery.
Women who are pregnant face challenges in meeting their nutritional and other needs. If they are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, pain, or fatigue, it is normal to inquire about how to remedy those conditions. Kratom is a popular modern remedy for people looking for more and sustained energy, alertness, pain relief, and calm.
Because of the risk of substances harming the mother or child, there are some important things to know about taking kratom during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or who plan to be pregnant do well to read all they can about the effects of what they ingest. So, can kratom affect pregnancy? Let’s find out.
Substances That Affect a Pregnancy in Harmful Ways
Alcohol, tobacco, recreational or illicit drugs, and misuse of prescription drugs are all substances that can harm a developing fetus and even a fetus that is close to delivery. That’s because many substances the mother ingests easily crosses the placenta. Recreational or illicit drugs include cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, and marijuana. However, a few mothers have shared anecdotal experiences of marijuana being useful for morning sickness.
Some substances are not prohibited outright but require caution. How should expectant mothers or soon-to-be-pregnant women treat kratom?
Just because something is natural or comes from a plant doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe or okay to take in all circumstances. The legality of kratom is by U.S. state and is considered an opioid. Therefore, we must consider its effects like every other opioid, or opioids in a general sense.
Kratom Effects on Pregnancy
Some women took kratom during pregnancy for back pain relief, restless leg syndrome, or to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. Effects on mother and baby have not been studied on a large scale, but refer to regular usage throughout pregnancy.
Conception
Some herbal substances can affect fertility and the ability to conceive. However, kratom does not appear to have any negative effect on conceiving.
First Trimester
Some opioids have caused neural tube defects in babies during the first trimester. Although this does not mean kratom specifically, one can assume that the effects on the baby’s health and development would likewise be negative. Opioids have been shown to negatively impact the growth of cardiac tissue, fetal heart rate, and increase the risk of congenital heart defects.
Second Trimester
During the second trimester, the baby’s organs finish developing. This period is when the baby’s length and weight increase. A baby being born too small can be an effect of a mother using an opioid such as kratom throughout her pregnancy, especially during the second trimester.
Third Trimester
It may seem that since the third trimester is the final stage before childbirth, there’s not much that can affect the baby. However, opioids are especially risky during this time because of the possibility of negative birth outcomes.
Childbirth
Premature birth may be an effect of kratom use during pregnancy. The baby may have breathing problems. If taken before delivery, the baby can be sluggish. Some babies have Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) as a result of their mother’s opioid use during pregnancy.
Breastmilk
Kratom is definitely leached into breastmilk, so if you are planning to breastfeed your child, you should not take kratom. The substance would affect the baby’s central nervous system with symptoms such as problems latching on, sleepiness, and breathing problems, even slowing down breathing enough to be fatal.
The Verdict: Can/Should Pregnant Women Use Kratom?
Some pregnant women take kratom as a self-treatment for pain as well as an opioid alternative. However, doctors recommend against pregnant women taking any herbal substances without consulting them first. This is due to the risk of affecting their baby as well as cross-reacting with any medications they are taking. Since kratom is an opioid, it must be treated like any other narcotic, and ease of accessibility helps make it popular. Although not in every case, some babies present with NAS and extended withdrawal symptoms.
Kratom has cumulative effects in the body with regular usage. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, it is risky to take it for both the sake of their own health as well as that of their baby. Both mother and baby tend to need treatment for withdrawal after delivery. If a mother is experiencing opioid withdrawal, she should seek medical attention for treatment to manage her symptoms and ensure the best possible outcome for her baby.
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