In a Swiss hospital survey, 3.8% of pregnant women used cannabinoid products (all CBD-only), while only 25% of tobacco-using pregnant women received cessation counseling.
OB-GYNs, midwives, and prenatal care providers.
3.8% of Swiss pregnant women used CBD products, with zero reporting THC use
What the researchers found
7.6% of 262 pregnant women used tobacco, 0.8% used e-cigarettes, 0.4% used nicotine replacement therapy, and 3.8% used cannabinoid products (all CBD-only). Only 25% of tobacco users received smoking cessation counseling. No pregnant women reported THC-containing cannabis use.
Why it matters
The finding that nearly 4% of pregnant women use CBD products highlights a growing trend that healthcare providers need to address, especially given limited safety data on CBD during pregnancy.
The numbers in context
262 pregnant women surveyed. Tobacco: 7.6% (95% CI: 4.2-11.1%). ENDS: 0.8% (95% CI: 0.0-3.4%). NRT: 0.4% (95% CI: 0.0-3.8%). CBD: 3.8% (95% CI: 1.1-7.0%). Cessation counseling: only 25% of tobacco users (5/20).
How the study worked
Cross-sectional survey of 262 pregnant women attending regular clinical visits at Spitalzentrum Biel, Switzerland (February-May 2023). Frequency and proportions with 95% confidence intervals reported.
What this study cannot tell us
Small single-site sample from one Swiss hospital. Self-reported use may underestimate actual prevalence. CBD product contents unverified. Wide confidence intervals due to small numbers. 3-month data collection window.
How to read the evidence
Small single-site survey with wide confidence intervals. Provides a snapshot of prevalence but cannot assess outcomes.
When this study was published
2025 publication with February-May 2023 data.
The bigger picture
The exclusive use of CBD (not THC) among pregnant women in this Swiss sample may reflect CBD marketing as "safe" and legal, but safety data on CBD during pregnancy is insufficient to support this assumption.
Questions still open
- Why are pregnant women choosing CBD products, and what do they believe about CBD safety?
- Is the low cessation counseling rate a systemic gap in prenatal care?
Read the original research
Tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery system, nicotine replacement therapy, and cannabinoid use during pregnancy: A descriptive cross-sectional survey.
PloS one, 20(9), e0332961
Citation
Kandhasamy, Sreemanjari; Baggio, Stéphanie; Mathis, Jérôme; Mattmann, Yolanda; Maisonneuve, Emeline; Auer, Reto; Panchaud, Alice; Jenkinson, Stephen P; Schoeni, Anna. (2025). Tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery system, nicotine replacement therapy, and cannabinoid use during pregnancy: A descriptive cross-sectional survey.. PloS one, 20(9), e0332961. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0332961
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