Most postpartum individuals who frequently used cannabis during pregnancy continued using after birth, often to cope with mental health challenges and pain, while reporting minimal knowledge of risks during breastfeeding.
Expecting and new parents, healthcare providers in perinatal care, and maternal health researchers.
10 of 15 postpartum cannabis users also used while breastfeeding
What the researchers found
Of 17 postpartum patients who used cannabis daily or weekly in early pregnancy, 15 reported postpartum cannabis use and 10 reported use while breastfeeding. Participants wanted nonjudgmental support services and better information about cannabis risks during breastfeeding.
Why it matters
With postpartum cannabis use rising, this study reveals a gap between what new parents want to know about cannabis and breastfeeding and what healthcare providers currently offer. Participants expressed genuine concern about safety but lacked information to make informed decisions.
The numbers in context
15 of 17 participants reported postpartum cannabis use. 10 of 15 postpartum users reported cannabis use during breastfeeding. The sample included Black (n=4), Hispanic (n=4), and White (n=9) patients.
How the study worked
Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 17 first-time parents in Northern California who reported daily or weekly cannabis use during early pregnancy, analyzed using thematic analysis.
What this study cannot tell us
Small qualitative sample (17 interviews) from a single healthcare system in Northern California. Participants were self-selected, and findings may not reflect the broader population of postpartum cannabis users.
How to read the evidence
Small qualitative study providing rich but non-generalizable insights from a single healthcare system.
When this study was published
2026 study based on 2022 interviews.
The bigger picture
The finding that participants wanted nonjudgmental support rather than abstinence-only messaging reflects a broader shift in how perinatal care might need to approach substance use conversations. Fear of judgment currently prevents many new parents from discussing cannabis use with providers.
Questions still open
- What specific information about cannabis and breastfeeding would help parents make informed choices? Could nonjudgmental counseling reduce cannabis use during breastfeeding more effectively than current approaches?
Common questions
Why did postpartum individuals continue using cannabis?
What did participants want from healthcare providers?
Read the original research
Cannabis Use Behaviors and Desired Interventions Among Postpartum Individuals With Frequent Cannabis Use in Early Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.
Journal of addiction medicine, 20(1), 102-108
Citation
Ogden, Shannon N; Foti, Tara R; Does, Monique B; Altschuler, Andrea; Iturralde, Esti; Sterling, Stacy A; Ansley, Deborah; Castellanos, Carley; Young-Wolff, Kelly C. (2026). Cannabis Use Behaviors and Desired Interventions Among Postpartum Individuals With Frequent Cannabis Use in Early Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.. Journal of addiction medicine, 20(1), 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000001514
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