Skip to main content
Advertisement
Browse Subject Areas
?

Click through the PLOS taxonomy to find articles in your field.

For more information about PLOS Subject Areas, click here.

  • Loading metrics

Cannabis use in pregnancy and maternal and infant outcomes: A Canadian cross-jurisdictional population-based cohort study

  • Sabrina Luke ,

    Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

    sabrina.luke@phsa.ca

    Affiliations Perinatal Services British Columbia, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Women’s Health Research Institute, BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  • Amy J. Hobbs,

    Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliations Perinatal Services British Columbia, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America

  • Michaela Smith,

    Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Better Outcomes Registry Network Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • Catherine Riddell,

    Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Better Outcomes Registry Network Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • Phil Murphy,

    Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Resources, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Children’s & Women’s Health Program, Eastern Health, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

  • Calypse Agborsangaya,

    Roles Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Alberta Health, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

  • Christina Cantin,

    Roles Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • John Fahey,

    Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

  • Kenny Der,

    Roles Resources, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Perinatal Services British Columbia, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  • Ann Pederson,

    Roles Resources, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliations Perinatal Services British Columbia, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Women’s Health Research Institute, BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

  • Chantal Nelson,

    Roles Formal analysis, Resources, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

  • on behalf of the National Maternal Cannabis Working Group

    Membership of the National Maternal Cannabis Working Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.

Abstract

Background

With the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada, there is an urgent need to understand the effect of cannabis use in pregnancy. Our population-based study investigated the effects of prenatal cannabis use on maternal and newborn outcomes, and modification by infant sex.

Methods

The cohort included 1,280,447 singleton births from the British Columbia Perinatal Data Registry, the Better Outcomes Registry & Network Ontario, and the Perinatal Program Newfoundland Labrador from April 1st, 2012 to March 31st, 2019. Logistic regression determined the associations between prenatal cannabis use and low birth weight, small-for-gestational age, large-for-gestational age, spontaneous and medically indicated preterm birth, very preterm birth, stillbirth, major congenital anomalies, caesarean section, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension. Models were adjusted for other substance use, socio-demographic and-economic characteristics, co-morbidities. Interaction terms were included to investigate modification by infant sex.

Results

The prevalence of cannabis use in our cohort was approximately 2%. Prenatal cannabis use is associated with increased risks of spontaneous and medically indicated preterm birth (1.80[1.68–1.93] and 1.94[1.77–2.12], respectively), very preterm birth (1.73[1.48–2.02]), low birth weight (1.90[1.79–2.03]), small-for-gestational age (1.21[1.16–1.27]) and large-for-gestational age (1.06[1.01–1.12]), any major congenital anomaly (1.71[1.49–1.97]), caesarean section (1.13[1.09–1.17]), and gestational diabetes (1.32[1.23–1.42]). No association was found for stillbirth or gestational hypertension. Only small-for-gestational age (p = 0.03) and spontaneous preterm birth (p = 0.04) showed evidence of modification by infant sex.

Conclusions

Prenatal cannabis use increases the likelihood of preterm birth, low birth weight, small-for-gestational age and major congenital anomalies with prenatally exposed female infants showing evidence of increased susceptibility. Additional measures are needed to inform the public and providers of the inherent risks of cannabis exposure in pregnancy.

Introduction

The Government of Canada passed the Cannabis Act (Bill C-45) on October 17th, 2018, legalizing the possession, distribution, sale and production of cannabis in Canada [1]. Approximately 15% of Canadian women of childbearing age reported cannabis use in the year prior to legalization, a trend that is expected to increase with the changing legislation [24]. Cannabinoids readily cross the human placenta, potentially causing both immediate and delayed health effects [5]. It is hypothesized that prenatal exposure to cannabis produces similar outcomes to tobacco by reducing blood flow to the placenta [6]. Limited research has reported that prenatal cannabis exposure adversely impacts neurodevelopment in male fetuses but not female fetuses through growth restriction [713]. Evidence suggests potential sex differences in the affinity of cannabinoid receptor 1 in the brain, the main target of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol [12].

Given the changes in legislation, trends in use, and limited safety information in pregnancy, there is an urgent need to determine the potential impact of prenatal cannabis exposure to fetal development and maternal health.

While Canada has long engaged in routine surveillance of alcohol and tobacco use, there is currently no ongoing, standardized national surveillance system that collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on cannabis use during pregnancy. The Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Perinatal Programs Coalition, and Perinatal Services BC led a collaboration of perinatal programs across Canada to improve and standardize national data collection of prenatal cannabis use and study the impact of exposure on maternal and infant health.

This study is the first to pool national population-based data from across Canada to investigate the effects of prenatal cannabis use on both maternal and newborn outcomes, and examine whether infant outcomes differ by infant sex.

Methods

Participants

Canadian perinatal programs from twelve provinces and territories identified jurisdictional data availability of prenatal cannabis use to investigate its effects on maternal and infant outcomes. Three provinces, British Columbia (BC), Ontario (ON) and Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), were able to contribute both prenatal cannabis use and perinatal data through third-party perinatal data registries including British Columbia’s Perinatal Data Registry, the Better Outcomes Registry & Network Ontario, and Perinatal Program Newfoundland and Labrador for the study period of April 1st, 2012 to March 31st, 2019. Other provinces and territories did not contribute data for the following reasons: limited funding or capacity to collect data, years of data did not overlap with other jurisdictions, cannabis data could not be linked with perinatal data, and changes in government during the study period prevented data sharing.

Sources of data

Prenatal cannabis use was collected through maternal self-report documented by providers at antenatal visits and hospital admission for labour and birth. Information on the frequency, dose or route of administration was not available for any jurisdiction. BC only records a positive response to cannabis use on the antenatal record resulting in a dichotomous ‘Yes’ or ‘Unknown’ variable while ON and NL collect “Yes”, “No” and “Unknown” responses. ON asks the question “Have you ever used drugs and/or other substances during your pregnancy?” on their maternal health history questionnaire and includes a multi-select pick list of selected substances to record responses with cannabis use captured as “Marijuana”. BC includes a substance use section in its antenatal form but does not specify a question and also includes a multi-select pick list of substances, with cannabis listed as “Marijuana”. NL includes a section on substance use on their prenatal record but does not include a question specific to cannabis use. Information on cannabis use was collected at any time during pregnancy and did not include pre-conception or postpartum use. While it is recommended, providers are not required to ask about substance use and the manner in which the question is asked may vary between providers. Data collection methods remained consistent for all three jurisdictions during the study time period.

Other substance use variables collected at the antenatal visit by all three jurisdictions included tobacco, alcohol, solvents, cocaine, methadone, heroin and opioids. Heroin, opioids, methadone, cocaine and solvents were combined for the purposes of data analysis.

Gestational age was defined as gestational age at delivery in completed weeks of pregnancy measured by ultrasound at the first prenatal visit, by last menstrual period where ultrasound was not available, or by clinical exam of the infant. BC used an algorithm to identify the most robust measure of gestational age available based on a hierarchy of criteria [14].

Diabetes variables were defined using ICD-10-CA codes and antenatal record risk flags for BC and NL while hypertension variables were defined using only ICD-10-CA codes. S1 Table includes the complete list of ICD-10-CA codes used for diabetes and hypertension. ON used the antenatal record alone as the source of hypertension and diabetes information. Quintile of Annual Income Per Person Equivalent (QAIPPE) score and rurality of maternal residence were identified using Statistics Canada’s Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF+) based on the 2016 census with rurality defined as residence within a community of less than 10,000 residents. QAIPPE is a neighborhood-level index used as a proxy measure for individual-level socioeconomic status.

Outcomes

The main outcomes of interest included low birth weight (LBW), small-for-gestational age (SGA), large-for-gestational age (LGA), spontaneous (SPTB) and medically indicated preterm birth (MPTB), very preterm birth (VPTB), stillbirth, major congenital anomalies, caesarean section, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension. Outcomes were chosen as key indicators of fetal growth and development, pregnancy complications and predictors of long term infant and maternal health. Gestational age at birth and birth weight are biomarkers of fetal neurodevelopmental risk [13], a key concern with prenatal cannabis exposure.

SGA and LGA were calculated using a Canadian reference curve developed by Kramer et al. (2001) [15]. SGA was defined as birth weight for sex and gestational age in weeks at delivery below the 10th percentile, while LGA was defined as birth weight for sex and gestational age in weeks at delivery above the 90th percentile. PTB was defined as an infant born before 37 weeks of gestation, while VPTB was defined as birth before 32 weeks of gestation. SPTB indicated that labour began without induction or the use of caesarean section while MPTB indicated that preterm delivery was initiated through the use of medical intervention. LBW was defined as an infant born at a weight <2500g at birth.

In accordance with the Kramer reference, the analyses examining PTB, SGA, LGA and LBW outcomes was restricted to live births between 22 and 43 weeks of gestation and excluded infants where sex could not be determined. The three jurisdictions all applied the same exclusion criteria for gestational age.

Stillbirth was defined as the complete expulsion or extraction of a product of conception after at least 20 weeks of pregnancy or after attaining a weight of at least 500 grams, in which after expulsion or extraction, there is no breathing, beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or unmistakable movement of the voluntary muscle.

Any major congenital anomalies at birth included neural tube defects, other central nervous system defects, selected sense organ defects, selected congenital heart defects, oro-facial clefts, selected gastrointestinal defects, selected urinary tract defects, selected genital anomalies, limb deficiency defects, diaphragmatic hernia, prune belly sequence, selected abdominal wall defects, and selected chromosomal defects. These were included based on the previous work done by the Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System [16]. These conditions were grouped together for the purposes of the analysis. ICD-10-CA codes are shown in S1 Table.

Statistical analysis

Data from the British Columbia Perinatal Data Registry, the Better Outcomes Registry & Network Ontario (BORN), and the Perinatal Program Newfoundland Labrador were transferred to and stored in Population Data British Columbia’s secure research environment for analysis [17]. The initial cohort included only singleton births to pregnant individuals who were residents of the province and where newborn records could be linked. We did not include multiple births in our analysis as newborns are often born smaller and earlier compared to singleton births. Late terminations were excluded from the initial cohort since only BC captures this information within their perinatal data registry. Separate cohorts were created for stillbirth, congenital anomalies and maternal outcomes as shown in Fig 1.

thumbnail
Fig 1. Flowchart of study cohort.

* BC combines “No” and “Unknown” responses. ** Maternal age, other substance use, pre-existing hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, parity, community size, infant sex, neighborhood income index.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276824.g001

After the initial exclusion criteria, the cohort included 1,280,447 live and stillbirth pregnancies (952,880 from ON, 298,538 from BC, and 29,029 from NL). Records with missing cannabis and covariate data were further excluded, and additional restrictions were applied depending on the outcome of interest as outlined in Fig 1.

A retrospective study was conducted on the final cohort. Chi-square tests were used to compare the maternal characteristics of pregnant individuals who used cannabis with those who did not. The variables were tested for multicollinearity using correlation matrices. Adjusted logistic regressions were performed to determine the associations between cannabis use in pregnancy and maternal and infant outcomes.

Models for infant outcomes were adjusted for other substance use, maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, rural maternal residence, parity, QAIPPE score, pre-existing diabetes, chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension. Infant sex was added as an interaction term to regression models for newborn outcomes to identify modification by infant sex. Models for maternal outcomes were adjusted for the same factors as for infants above and either gestational diabetes or gestational hypertension depending on the outcome of interest. These were selected based on causal diagrams and a priori subject-matter knowledge. Further sub-analyses were conducted to compare associations in pregnant individuals who only used cannabis with those who used cannabis and other substances. E-values were calculated to estimate the impact of unmeasured confounding [18]. Results are summarized in S2 and S3 Tables.

All analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4. Research ethics board approvals and other data sharing agreements were obtained from participating jurisdictions to access third-party de-identified registry data as well as waive informed consent on the basis of implied consent of registry participants (University of British Columbia Research Ethics Board (H18-03440)).

Results

We did not find any evidence of multicollinearity among variables. Table 1 compares sociodemographic characteristics and outcomes between pregnant individuals who reported cannabis use and those who did not. The prevalence of cannabis use in our cohort was approximately 2% and increased over time from 1.5% in 2012/2013 to 2.5% in 2018/2019. Pregnant individuals who used cannabis were more frequently age 24 or younger (p<0.0001) and underweight or obese (p<0.0001). There was a high co-occurrence of cannabis use with other substance use. Pregnant individuals who used cannabis more often lived in a rural community and in a neighborhood in the lowest income quintile compared with non-users.

thumbnail
Table 1. Maternal characteristics by prenatal cannabis use, British Columbia, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador 2012–2019.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276824.t001

Table 2 summarizes the prevalence and odd ratios for each infant and maternal outcome by prenatal cannabis use. Pregnant individuals who used cannabis had higher rates of LBW, PTB and SGA births. Adjusted regression models indicate that pregnant individuals who used cannabis had 85% higher odds of PTB, 73% higher odds of VPTB and 90% higher odds delivering a LBW infant. There was also 21% higher odds of an infant being SGA and 71% higher odds of any major congenital anomaly. No association was found for stillbirth. For maternal outcomes, prenatal cannabis use was associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes and caesarean section but there was no statistically significant association with gestational hypertension. Only SGA and SPTB had statistically significant variation by infant sex, however, there was overlap in confidence intervals between infant sex strata. As shown in S2 Table, sub-analyses of pregnant individuals who only used cannabis did not eliminate associations. With the exception of LGA, we also didn’t find a difference in odds ratios between those who used all substances versus cannabis alone. We found that the magnitude of confounding needed to explain our observed associations ranged between 1.5 for SGA to 3.5 for preterm birth (S3 Table).

thumbnail
Table 2. Associations between cannabis use in pregnancy and maternal and infant outcomes, BC, ON and NL, 2012–2019.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276824.t002

Discussion

This study is the first to combine population-based data from Canadian jurisdictions to investigate the effect of prenatal cannabis use on maternal and infant outcomes. The prevalence of cannabis use in our cohort was approximately 2% which is similar to what has been reported previously by Ontario and British Columbia during the same period (1.3% and 2.4%, respectively) [19, 20]. Yearly trends of perinatal outcomes for the provinces included in our cohort have been previously published elsewhere [2123]. Pregnant individuals who used cannabis were younger and less likely to have a normal pre-pregnancy BMI, and had higher rates of concurrent substance use, particularly tobacco. After adjusting for other substance use and confounders, we found positive associations between prenatal cannabis use and LBW, PTB, SPTB, MPTB, VPTB, SGA, major congenital anomalies, caesarean section and gestational diabetes. Associations remained in a sub-sample of pregnant individuals who reported only using cannabis. Unmeasured confounders would need to be associated with both cannabis use and outcomes at a magnitude of greater than 2 for most outcomes to fully explain the observed results.

Our results are consistent with previous research showing an association between prenatal cannabis use and LBW, PTB and SGA births [19, 24]. Our analysis of data from multiple provinces also builds on previous work using BORN Ontario perinatal data (up to 2017) which had similar findings in relation to PTB and SGA [20]. Previous research has shown that cannabis use increases plasma cortisol levels in pregnant individuals with higher levels of cortisol increasing the risk for PTB [6, 2527]. We found some evidence that the effects of prenatal cannabis use on spontaneous PTB and SGA were more pronounced in female infants. These results did not corroborate with previous research showing that in-utero cannabis exposure adversely affects male offspring but not female offspring with regards to LBW and is not associated with length of gestation [12, 13]. However, previous research applied additive instead of multiplicative interactive effects which may account for the differences observed.

Our results indicate an association between major congenital anomalies and prenatal cannabis use. Currently, the evidence is mixed and mostly limited to ecological studies. A more recent study, also using data from BORN Ontario for 2012 to 2018 found positive associations between maternal cannabis use and gastroschisis [28]. Additionally, there is evidence for the development of ventricular septal heart defects, esophageal atresia and diaphragmatic hernia [2931].

Differences in data collection practices between jurisdictions posed a challenge for combining data sources and limited the number of jurisdictions that could participate in the study. We were not able to include late terminations, thereby limiting our analysis to congenital anomalies among live and stillbirths, and resulting in incomplete stillbirth records. It is possible that this may underestimate the magnitude of effect for congenital anomalies and stillbirth outcomes. Self-reported substance use may be underreported due to social desirability bias and providers are not required to ask about use. Women who use substances may be hesitant to attend prenatal care visits out of fear that their children will be removed from their care. We were not able to account for possible differences in prenatal care utilization in our analysis. Additionally, records with unknown cannabis use are reported as “no use” in some jurisdictions leading to potential misclassification. However, this would mean that the true magnitude of effect is actually greater than what is observed since it is unlikely that women who don’t use cannabis would report that they do. Therefore any misclassification would most likely result in exposed women being included in the reference group, thereby underestimating the magnitude of effect towards the null. This limitation is present for all substance use data collected as women, even if asked universally, may not be willing to disclose their use to a provider. Also, we do not have data on the dose, duration, frequency or route of exposure. However, due to the variability in the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol in cannabis products and different routes of exposure, correct measures of dosage for cannabis use based on route of exposure have not yet been established and require additional development before implementation is possible. Due to ethical concerns, it is not recommended to universally screen pregnant women for substance use using urine toxicology testing in the context of routine care. Examining the association between any cannabis use and adverse outcomes is the most conservative approach as any observed association can be assumed to be underestimated due to the inclusion of varying degrees of cannabis dose, frequency, route of exposure and duration of use during pregnancy reported by the exposed group. Furthermore, the reason for use is not documented limiting the ability to account for other confounders including depression which pregnant individuals have reported using cannabis to treat [32] and which is also associated with caesarean section, PTB and LBW [33, 34].

Our study includes a large population-based cohort which limits selection bias. While we were not able to capture data from all jurisdictions across Canada, our cohort includes approximately half of all Canadian births as ON represents 40% of births in Canada while BC and NL account for approximately 13% of births.

Research and surveillance of prenatal cannabis use and associated outcomes would be strengthened by standardizing data collection and reporting practices across Canadian jurisdictions. Key strategies to support data collection include addressing the barriers and facilitators to implementing routine screening practices including providers’ lack of knowledge regarding the evidence associated with prenatal cannabis use, perceptions that cannabis is less harmful than other substances, and a focus on the legal consequences of use when counselling patients [35]. Further research is needed beyond the immediate newborn period, as researchers have identified concerning associations between cannabis use during pregnancy and adverse childhood outcomes including autism spectrum disorder [36]. Greater efforts are required to inform the public, to communicate evidence-based information during prenatal visits and to support shared decision making. Health care providers need to make a concerted effort to create a safe space to engage in respectful, trauma-informed discussion especially given that experiences of violence and abuse are more common among pregnant individuals who use substances [37]. Providers can refer to existing discussion guides to counsel patients [38].

Prenatal cannabis use is associated with PTB, LBW, SGA and major congenital anomalies in the newborn. Additional measures are needed to inform the public and providers of the inherent risks of cannabis exposure in pregnancy. Enhancing capacity to collect national data is an important priority while simultaneously promoting trauma-informed approaches to screening and intervention for this population.

Supporting information

S1 Table. Summary of ICD-10-CA codes used to define pregnancy characteristics.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276824.s001

(DOCX)

S2 Table. Associations of prenatal cannabis use and maternal and newborn outcomes among pregnant individuals who only used cannabis compared to all substance use.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276824.s002

(DOCX)

S3 Table. Estimation of the effect of unmeasured confounding on the observed associations between cannabis use and maternal and newborn outcomes.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276824.s003

(DOCX)

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the members of the National Maternal Cannabis Working Group for their contributions to this work:

Kristina Kattapuram1, Gaetane LeBlanc Cormier2, Shamara Baidoobonso3, Karen Phillips3, Nancy Poole4, Shannon Ryan5, Selina Khatun6, Leah Thorp7, Lindsay Wolfson4, Lorraine Greaves4, Jocelyn Cook8, Irene Gagnon9, Kathryn Bocking2, Val Ross10, Marianne Bilodeau-Bertrand11, Charissa Patricelli1, Pamela Joshi12, Anja Bilandzic13, Sarah McKenna14, Christina Tonella1, Jana Encinger1, Victoria Otterman13, Wei Luo13

Affiliations:

1Perinatal Services British Columbia, Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

2NB Perinatal Health Program, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

3Chief Public Health Office, Government of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

4British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

5Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

6Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

7Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

8Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, Ottawa, Canada

9Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

10Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

11Institut National de Santé Publique, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

12BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

13Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

14Better Outcomes Registry Network Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

References

  1. 1. Parliament of Canada. Statutes of Canada 2018 [Internet]. 2018 [cited 8 March 2021]. Available from: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-45/royal-assent.
  2. 2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings. HHS Publication (SMA) 14–4863 [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2021 Mar 8]; 1–184. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUHresultsPDFWHTML2013/Web/NSDUHresults2013.pdf
  3. 3. Porath AJ, Konefal S, & Kent P. Clearing the Smoke on Cannabis: Maternal Cannabis Use during Pregnancy–An Update. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 1–14. Available from https://ccsa.ca/clearing-smoke-cannabis-maternal-cannabis-use-during-pregnancy-update
  4. 4. Statistics Canada [Internet]. (2018). The National Cannabis Survey: Fourth Quarter 2018; 2019 7 Feb [cited 2021 Mar 9]. Available from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190207/dq190207b-eng.htm
  5. 5. Grant KS, Petroff R, Isoherranen N, Stella N, Burbacher TM. Cannabis use during pregnancy: Pharmacokinetics and effects on child development. Pharmacology & Therapeutics [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 182: 133–155. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6211194/ pmid:28847562
  6. 6. Natale BV, Gustin KN, Lee KL, Holloway AC, Laviolette SR, Natale DRC, et al. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure during rat pregnancy leads to symmetrical fetal growth restriction and labyrinth-specific vascular defects in the placenta. Scientific Reports [Internet]. 2020 Jan [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 10(544): 1–15. Available from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-57318-6 pmid:31953475
  7. 7. Lee A, Leon Hsu HH, Mathilda Chiu YH, Bose S, Rosa MJ, Kloog I, et al. Prenatal fine particulate exposure and early childhood asthma: Effect of maternal stress and fetal sex. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology [Internet]. 2018 May [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 141(5): 1880–1886. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28801196/ pmid:28801196
  8. 8. Bose S, Jose Rosa M, Chiu YHM, Hsu HHL, D Q, Lee A, et al. Prenatal nitrate air pollution exposure and reduced child lung function: Timing and fetal sex effects. Environmental Research [Internet]. 2018 Aug [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 167: 591–597. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935118304547 pmid:30172192
  9. 9. Zarén B, Lindmark G, Bakketeig L. Maternal smoking affects fetal growth more in the male fetus. Paediatric & Perinatal Epidemiology [Internet]. 2000 Apr [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 14(2):118–126. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10791654/ pmid:10791654
  10. 10. Drake AJ O’Shaughnessy PJ, Bhattacharya S, Monteio A, Kerrigan D, Goetz S, et al. In-utero exposure to cigarette chemicals induces sex-specific disruption of one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation in the human fetal liver. BMC Med 13 [Internet]. 2015 Jan [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 18 (2015). Available from: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-014-0251-x#citeas pmid:25630355
  11. 11. Jedrychowski W, Perera F, Mrozek-Budzyn D, Mroz E, Flak E, Spengler JD, et al. Gender differences in fetal growth of newborns exposed prenatally to airborne fine particulate matter. Environmental Research [Internet]. 2009 Mar [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 109(4): 447–456. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19261271/ pmid:19261271
  12. 12. Bara A, Manduca A, Bernabeu A, Borsoi M, Serviado M, Lassalle O, et al. Sex-dependent effects of in-utero cannabinoid exposure on cortical function. Elife [Internet]. 2018 Sep [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 7: e36234. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30201092/ pmid:30201092
  13. 13. Massey SH, Mroczek DK, Reiss D, Miller ES, Jakubowski JA, Graham EK, et al. Additive drug-specific and sex-specific risks associated with co-use of marijuana and tobacco during pregnancy: Evidence from 3 recent developmental cohorts (2003–2015). Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 2018;68:97–106. pmid:29886244
  14. 14. BC PS. Appendix 10.5: Gestational age calculation. British Columbia Perinatal Data Registry Reference Manual Perinatal Services BC; 2014.
  15. 15. Kramer MS, Platt RW, Wen SW, Joseph KS, Allen A, Abrahamowicz M, et al. A new and improved population-based Canadian reference for birth weight for gestational age. Pediatrics. [Internet]. 2001 Aug [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 108(2): E35. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11483845/ pmid:11483845
  16. 16. Government of Canada [Internet]. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada. Congenital Anomalies in Canada; 2013 [cited 2021 Mar 9]. Available from: https://health-infobase.canada.ca/congenital-anomalies/
  17. 17. Population Data BC [Internet]. Victoria: University of British Columbia; [cited 2021 Mar 9]. Available from: https://www.popdata.bc.ca/secure_data
  18. 18. Haneuse S, VanderWeele TJ, Arterburn D. Using the E-value to assess the potential effect of unmeasured confounding in observational studies. JAMA. 2019;321(6):602–603. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2723079 pmid:30676631
  19. 19. Luke S, Hutcheon J, Kendall T. Cannabis Use in Pregnancy in British Columbia and Selected Birth Outcomes. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada [Internet]. 2019 Feb [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 41(9): 1311–1317. Available from: https://www.jogc.com/article/S1701-2163(18)30909-5/fulltext pmid:30744979
  20. 20. Corsi DJ, Hsu H, Fell DB, Wen SW, Walker M. Association of maternal opioid use in pregnancy with adverse perinatal outcomes in Ontario, Canada, from 2012 to 2018. JAMA Network Open. 2020; 3(7): e208256. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2768766 pmid:32725246
  21. 21. Perinatal Services BC. Perinatal Health Reports [Internet]. Vancouver: PSBC; 2022 [cited 2022 Oct 4]. Available from: http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/health-professionals/data-surveillance/surveillance/perinatal-health-reports
  22. 22. Better Outcomes Registry & Network. Annual and Biennial Reports [Internet]. Ottawa: BORN; 2022 [cited 2022 Oct 4]. Available from: https://www.bornontario.ca/en/publications/annual-and-biennial-reports.aspx
  23. 23. Public Health Agency of Canada. Perinatal Health Indicators for Canada 2017: A Report from the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System [Internet]. Ottawa: ASPC-PHAC; 2017 [cited 2022 Oct 4]. Available from: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2018/aspc-phac/HP7-1-2017-eng.pdf
  24. 24. Conner SN, Bedell V, Lipsey K, Macones GA, Cahill AG, Tuuli MG. Maternal Marijuana Use and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Obstetrics and Gynecology [Internet]. 2016 Oct [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 128(4): 713–23. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2016/10000/Maternal_Marijuana_Use_and_Adverse_Neonatal.6.aspx pmid:27607879
  25. 25. Ranganathan M, Braley G, Pittman B, Cooper T, Perry E, Krystal J, et al. The effects of cannabinoids on serum cortisol and prolactin in humans. Psychopharmacology [Internet]. 2008 Dec [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 203 (4): 737–744. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2863108/ pmid:19083209
  26. 26. Giurgescu C. Are maternal cortisol levels related to preterm birth? Journal of Obstetric Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing [Internet]. 2009 Jul-Aug [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 38(4):377–90. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0884217515301969 pmid:19614873
  27. 27. Wang H, Xie H, Dey SK. Loss of cannabinoid receptor CB1 induces preterm birth. PLoS ONE. 2008; 3(10):e3320. Available from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0003320
  28. 28. Bourque DK, Meng L, Dougan S, Momoli F, Riddell C, Walker M, et al. Gastroschisis in Ontario, Canada: 2012–2018. Birth Defects Research [Internet]. 2021 Apr 19 [cited 2021 Mar 9]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33871183/ pmid:33871183
  29. 29. Forrester MB, Merz RD. Risk of selected birth defects with prenatal illicit drug use, Hawaii, 1986–2002. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A [Internet]. 2007 Jan [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 70(1): 7–18. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17162495/ pmid:17162495
  30. 30. Feng Y, Yu D, Yang L, Da M, Wang Z, Lin Y, et al. Maternal lifestyle factors in pregnancy and congenital heart defects in offspring: review of the current evidence. Italian journal of pediatrics [Internet]. 2014 Nov [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 40(1): 85. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25385357/ pmid:25385357
  31. 31. van Gelder MM, Donders ART, Devine O, Roeleveld N, Reefhuis J. Using Bayesian Models to Assess the Effects of Under‐reporting of Cannabis Use on the Association with Birth Defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2005. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology [Internet]. 2014 Aug [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 28(5): 424–433. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4532339/ pmid:25155701
  32. 32. Chang JC, Tarr JA, Holland CL, De Genna NM, Richardson GA, Rodriguez KL, et al. Beliefs and attitudes regarding prenatal marijuana use: Perspectives of pregnant women who report use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019 Mar [Cited 2021Mar 9]; 196: 14–20. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6756431/pdf/nihms-1519166.pdf pmid:30658220
  33. 33. Jefferies AL. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy and infant outcomes. Paediatrics & Child Health. 2018 [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 16(9): 562–562. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/16.9.562
  34. 34. Marin T Depression (pregnancy): Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). JBI Evidence summary. 2019 [cited 2021 Mar 9].
  35. 35. Holland CL, Nkumsah MA, Morrison P, Tarr JA, Rubio D, Rodriguez KL, et al. "Anything above marijuana takes priority": Obstetric providers’ attitudes and counseling strategies regarding perinatal marijuana use. Patient Education & Counseling. 2016 [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 99(9): 1446–1451. Available from: https://doi.org/https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2016.06.003 pmid:27316326
  36. 36. Corsi DJ, Donelle J, Sucha E, et al. (2020). Maternal cannabis use in pregnancy and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Nature Medicine 2020 [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 26: 1536–1540. Available from: pmid:32778828
  37. 37. Puurunen K, Vis J. Pregnancy as an opportunity for trauma-intervention among women who are addicted to substances. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. 2019 [cited 2021 Mar 9]; 28(3): 281–296. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2017.1332703
  38. 38. Cantin C and the perinatal substance use expert panel of the Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program. Lactation and Cannabis Use: Developing a Discussion Guide to Facilitate Informed-Decision Making. 2017 [Cited 2021 Mar 9]. Available from: http://www.cmnrp.ca/en/cmnrp/Substance_Use_p4914.html