Will My Partner's Marijuana Smoking Affect My Pregnancy?

Q. My husband smokes marijuana every now and then; the last time was six months ago. I’m six weeks pregnant and have heard that marijuana can stay in the body long after having it – could it have affected my husband’s sperm? Should I be worried about the health of my unborn baby?

A. Marijuana stays in the system for three months and is the only drug that does that. All other drugs flush out within 72 hours. The biggest effect it has on sperm is that it makes blokes less fertile. Luckily for you, your husband gave up and what a fantastic result. You now have this precious baby inside you!

In the long term, exposure to smoke (including marijuana smoke) can make babies more prone to cot death and asthma. As for your hubby, it can make him feel a bit flat, depressed and even precipitate a bout of more severe mental illness. Plus if he has a regular toke, he ups his risk of lung cancer. These are all good reasons to leave the joints in the past and move onto a new drug-free era. 

If he does have to have a smoke now and then, make sure he does it well away from you and the baby.