CBD and Breastfeeding: What We Know About CBD, Cannabis and THC

CBD is everywhere: gummies, oils, lotions, drinks and bath products, often marketed for sleep, stress and pain. All three can be part of life with a new baby, so it’s understandable to wonder whether CBD is a gentle option while you’re breastfeeding.

The short version is that the major US health organizations advise against it. That’s not because CBD is proven to harm babies, but because it hasn’t been studied, it does reach milk, and products are often not what they claim. Here’s what’s known about CBD, cannabis and THC, and what to do if you use them. For more on medicines and substances, see our hub on what’s safe while breastfeeding.

CBD vs. THC: what’s the difference?

Both come from the cannabis plant:

• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main psychoactive compound, the one that causes a “high.”
• CBD (cannabidiol) doesn’t cause a high. It’s sold in many over-the-counter products and, in one prescription medicine (Epidiolex), for certain seizure disorders.

“Hemp-derived” CBD products are supposed to contain only small amounts of THC, but labeling isn’t always accurate. That matters for breastfeeding, as explained below.

Does CBD get into breast milk?

Yes. LactMed, the National Library of Medicine’s drugs and lactation database, says CBD has been found in the breast milk of mothers who used cannabis products. In one milk repository study, the median level was 5 mcg/L. A computer model based on milk samples estimated that a fully breastfed baby’s exposure would be less than 1% of the dose given to children treated for seizures.

That sounds small, but LactMed also says there’s no published information on effects in breastfed babies and no data on effects on milk production. The FDA says it expects some CBD to pass into milk and doesn’t yet know whether that harms babies.

What health organizations advise

Organization	Advice on CBD and cannabis while breastfeeding
FDA	Strongly advises against CBD, THC and marijuana in any form
CDC	Advise breastfeeding mothers to avoid marijuana and CBD products
AAP	“If you are breastfeeding, don’t use marijuana”; no amount is proven safe
ACOG	Discourages cannabis during lactation, but continued use is not a reason to stop breastfeeding

The CDC adds that if a mother keeps using marijuana or CBD, she should be encouraged to cut down significantly. The American Academy of Pediatrics also warns that cannabis can affect your ability to care for your baby.

Why CBD products are a particular concern

The FDA and CDC point to the products themselves:

• They may contain THC, even when sold as CBD.
• They may contain contaminants, such as pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria or fungi.
• They’re not FDA-approved. Apart from Epidiolex, the FDA hasn’t approved any CBD product, so dose and purity depend on the maker.

So even if pure CBD turns out to be low risk, the bottle in your hand may not be pure CBD.

What about THC and cannabis?

THC is better studied, and the findings are more concerning. According to LactMed and the CDC:

• THC passes into milk from any form: smoked, vaped, edibles, oils and concentrates.
• It lingers. THC is stored in body fat and released slowly. Detection in milk has ranged from 6 days to more than 6 weeks in different studies.
• There may be effects on development. Experts are concerned about effects on a baby’s developing brain. One older study linked daily or near-daily use during breastfeeding to slower motor development.
• It may affect your milk. Some evidence suggests cannabis might reduce milk supply and how long you breastfeed.
• Today’s cannabis is stronger. The AAP notes that THC levels have risen sharply since the 1980s, when many earlier studies were done.

Because THC stays around for days, pumping and dumping doesn’t reliably clear it. That’s different from alcohol, which leaves milk as it leaves your blood; our breastfeeding alcohol calculator explains how that timing works.

Secondhand smoke and safe sleep

Cannabis smoke is a risk on its own. LactMed says cannabis should not be smoked by anyone near infants, and notes that a partner’s cannabis use may also increase the risk of sudden infant death. The AAP says secondhand cannabis smoke can be as much of a concern as tobacco smoke.

To protect your baby:

• keep your home and car smoke-free, for everyone,
• never share a bed or sofa with your baby after using cannabis or if you feel drowsy, and
• make sure a sober adult is caring for your baby if you’ve used THC.

The same rules apply to tobacco and nicotine vapes; see our guide to vaping while breastfeeding.

If you use CBD or cannabis now

You don’t have to choose between being honest and breastfeeding. ACOG says continued cannabis use is not a reason to stop breastfeeding, and that doctors should work with patients on ways to reduce risk.

Practical steps:

1. Talk to your doctor or midwife about why you use it. Pain, anxiety and sleep problems all have treatments with better breastfeeding data.
2. Cut down as much as you can, even if you can’t stop entirely.
3. Avoid smoking, and never use it around your baby.
4. Skip high-potency products such as concentrates and strong edibles.
5. Make sure your baby is cared for by a sober adult if you’ve used THC.
6. Ask for help if you find it hard to cut back. Your doctor can connect you with support.

If sleep is the reason, our guide to melatonin while breastfeeding covers what’s known about that option and non-drug sleep tips.

When to call a doctor

Call your baby’s doctor if your baby:

• is unusually sleepy, floppy or hard to wake,
• isn’t feeding well or isn’t gaining weight, or
• has been around cannabis smoke and has trouble breathing (call 911 for breathing problems).

If your child swallows a cannabis edible, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 right away.

Talk to your own doctor if you’re using CBD or cannabis for anxiety, low mood or sleep. These are common after birth, and there’s real help available.