Skip to main content
SMFM 2025 Pregnancy Meeting Main banner
Final Program


Program Book
Icon Legend
Presentation Icons
Additional registration fee required
Additional registration fee required
CME Credit Offered
CME Credit Offered
Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Poster Icons
Additional registration fee required
Additional registration fee required
Faculty have requested this content not be shared on social media
Faculty have requested this content not be shared on social media
CME Credit Offered
CME Credit Offered
Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Back

Poster Session 2

(546) Influence of Preconception and Pregnancy Exposure to Marijuana on Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

Thursday, January 30, 2025
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM  

    Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

  • Madison Blount, BA

    Medical Student
    The University of Kentucky College of Medicine
    Lexington, KY, United States

    • Coauthor(s)

  • Neil B. Patel, MD

    Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician
    Ascension Sacred Heart - Pensacola
    Pensacola, FL, United States

  • ED

    Emily A. DeFranco, DO, MS (she/her/hers)

    Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky
    Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Objective: Marijuana consumption during pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. However, whether exposure during the preconception period also poses a risk is unknown.  

Study Design: Retrospective cohort utilizing data from PRAMS Phase 8 Core Questionnaire and the Marijuana & Prescription Drug Supplement from 2017-2021. The association between marijuana use 3 months prior to pregnancy, during pregnancy, and during both periods and pregnancy outcomes were observed. The primary outcome was fetal growth restriction (FGR) < 10%ile. Other outcomes examined were severe FGR, preterm birth <37 weeks, low birth weight, infant mortality, and NICU admission. Generalized linear modeling estimated the associations while adjusting for coexisting risks of maternal race, tobacco use, education status, obesity, and parity.  

Results: Of 17,882 postpartum individuals surveyed, 88.7% reported no marijuana consumption, 5.4% reported use prior to pregnancy only, 0.1% during pregnancy only, and 5.9% preconception and during pregnancy. Marijuana consumption prior to and during pregnancy was associated with a 30% increased risk of FGR and severe FGR, even after accounting for tobacco use and other risk factors (Table 2). The rate of infant mortality also increased but was not statistically significant. Cessation of marijuana use after the preconception period was not associated with an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

Conclusion: Marijuana use before and during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, even after adjusting for confounding risks. However, exposure during only the pregestational period was not. This highlights the importance of counseling patients regarding the risks of marijuana use during pregnancy and the importance of cessation