There are now about 3.6 million live births annually in the U.S., and nearly 6% of pregnant women admit to smoking marijuana during those months, according to a U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Unfortunately, many of them are oblivious to the damage to their child, and to themselves, that it causes.

Stillbirth may happen. And with a live birth, low birth weight — and its many complications — can result.

So can neurodevelopmental deficiencies that become obvious throughout childhood and into young adulthood. A new study in JAMA Pediatrics found that prenatal cannabis exposure is linked to a negative impact on 5-year-old children's ability to think and learn, and to control impulsiveness and aggressiveness.

The increasing use of marijuana/cannabis while pregnant may be the result of recreational legalization making people think using it is safe. But it’s not.

And research shows that women who use marijuana while pregnant are also likely to use alcohol and other fetus-damaging drugs, such as tobacco and opioids, compounding the harm cannabis inflicts.

If you're thinking about getting pregnant or are pregnant and using marijuana and/or cannabis (or other drugs), please reach out to SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (also called the Treatment Referral Routing Service).

And read about the long-term health risks to you at nida.nih.gov/research-topics; scroll down and click on "Cannabis/Marijuana."

For help managing pregnancy-related discomfort (one reason for cannabis use during pregnancy), consider acupuncture — it really works.