Â鶹app

ABSTRACT:

Cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation has increased, partly due to expanding legalization, accessibility, and changing perceptions of safety. While tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis, is known to transfer through breast milk, evidence surrounding the effects of infant exposure through lactation remains limited, creating areas of uncertainty for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs surrounding maternal cannabis use during lactation. 

I developed a survey for this purpose which was refined by professionals in the field. The survey was distributed to a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals prior to an educational session surrounding what is known regarding cannabis use and lactation at the monthly meeting for the New Hampshire Breastfeeding Task Force. Additionally, participants were recruited through posted flyers throughout labor-and-delivery, obstetrics and gynecology outpatient, and the neonatal intensive care unit at an academic medical center in rural care hospital. Forty-five participants completed the survey, and I performed descriptive statistics to summarize responses. Findings demonstrated variability in provider knowledge, confidence, and clinical practices relating to care surrounding cannabis use and lactation. Many reported limited access to standardized clinical guidance and uncertainty regarding where to locate evidence-based resources. Confidence in counseling differed based on professional role and years of clinical experience, with those with more years of experience expressing higher levels of perceived confidence to counsel patients. Nurses were less confident to counsel patients while lactation consultants were more confident, respectively. Overall, these findings highlight ongoing gaps in professional education and the availability of standardized guidelines. Improving access to resources and developing consistent clinical recommendations may strengthen provider confidence, promote patient-centered counseling, and reduce variation in care for individuals who use cannabis. 

ORAL PRESENTATION SLIDES

I would like to thank Bridget Linehan, Lisa Lamadriz, and Daisy Goodman for their continuous support throughout this project. I also would like to thank the NH-iSURF-n program for the introduction to this topic and mentors. 

Author and Mentor Bios

Meryam Belhassad, BSN, RN, is from Rochester, New Hampshire, and graduated in May 2026 with a dual major in nursing and women's and gender studies. She is now a labor and delivery nurse at Dartmouth Health continuing this project at aim for publication. 

Lisa Lamadriz, MPH, RN, IBCLC, is a clinical research nurse for the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Dartmouth Health and a board-certified lactation consultant. 

Daisy Goodman, DNP, MPH, CARN-AP, APRN, CNM, is an associate professor in obstetrics and gynecology, community and family medicine, and the Dartmouth Institute at the Geisel School of Medicine. 

Alyssa J. O’Brien, PhD, RN is an associate clinical professor at Â鶹app’s School of Nursing. Their expertise focuses on family nursing, with a commitment to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based practice, healthcare innovation, and interprofessional collaboration.