Can you use CBD while pregnant or breastfeeding?

What do official bodies say?

The FDA strongly advises against any use of CBD, THC and marijuana during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stated that the safety of CBD in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding could not be established. The UK Food Standards Agency also advises that people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy not take CBD unless a doctor directs them to. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) calls for pregnant and breastfeeding women to be asked about cannabis use and offered counseling aimed at reducing use.

What is known about pregnancy?

Data on CBD in pregnant women are very limited. In animal studies, high-dose CBD caused problems in the reproductive system of developing male offspring; in rats, offspring loss increased, and in rabbits, offspring weight decreased. For this reason, the European leaflet for the approved CBD medicine says it should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit to the mother clearly outweighs the possible risk to the baby.

What is known about breastfeeding?

No study has measured how much passes into breast milk in mothers taking the approved CBD medicine. Of 54 milk samples from 50 mothers who used marijuana, CBD or a THC breakdown product was measured in only 5; THC, however, was found in about two thirds of the samples, up to 6 days after last use. The European leaflet assumes CBD may pass into breast milk and advises stopping breastfeeding during treatment. LactMed, a database on drug safety in breastfeeding, also notes that another medicine may be preferred, especially when nursing a newborn or premature infant.

Added risks from the product

The FDA warns that CBD products may contain THC, which could harm the baby. The agency also says it has received reports of products that may contain contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria and fungi. About one fifth of CBD products bought online contained THC.

Why do people still use it?

In a large survey in the US and Canada, about one in five pregnant women said they used a CBD-only product. The most common reasons were anxiety, pain, depression, headache and nausea. These complaints are real and should be treated, but talk with your doctor about options whose safety in pregnancy is better known.

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