Jacob Bell
New Member
To the Editor:–1. If alcohol is taken to a point of intoxication during
labor, what effect will it have on labor and on the new-born child?
2. If cannabis is taken to a point of intoxication during labor, what effect
will it have on labor and on the new-born child ?
Stanton S. Hoechstetter, M.D., New Brighton, Pa.
Answer.–1. Large quantities of alcohol sufficient to intoxi¬
cate a woman in labor will, in most instances, produce a con¬
siderable diminution or a total abolition of the pain due to the
uterine contractions. In some cases a deep sleep will result.
Since there is nearly always a loss of self control and the will
power is weakened, the patient may become unruly, there will
be difficulty in maintaining asepsis during the actual delivery,
and the patient may even injure the new-born child by her
uncontrolled manipulations. According to -------n, the amount
and quality of the milk are unaffected by the administration of
alcohol. It is hardly likely that a baby born of an alcoholically
intoxicated mother will show any abnormalities. According to
Cushny, alcohol can be given to children in relatively larger
amounts than to adults.
2. Cannabis is used as an intoxicant in Asiatic countries and
in Africa under such names as hashish and bhang by from one
to two hundred million people. Its chief effects are on the
central nervous system. There is a mixture of depression and
stimulation similar to that occasionally seen under morphine.
Soon after its administration the patient passes into a semi¬
conscious state in which judgment is lost and vivid dreams
occur. The sensation of pain is distinctly lessened or entirely
absent and the sense of touch is less acute than normally. Hence
a woman in labor may have a more or less painless labor. If a
sufficient amount of the drug is taken, the patient may fall into
a tranquil sleep from which she will awaken refreshed. Some
degree of tolerance for this drug is rapidly acquired and death
from acute poisoning is rare. As far as is known, a baby born
of a mother intoxicated with cannabis will not be abnormal in
any way.
Source: Effects of Alcohol and Cannabis During Labor
labor, what effect will it have on labor and on the new-born child?
2. If cannabis is taken to a point of intoxication during labor, what effect
will it have on labor and on the new-born child ?
Stanton S. Hoechstetter, M.D., New Brighton, Pa.
Answer.–1. Large quantities of alcohol sufficient to intoxi¬
cate a woman in labor will, in most instances, produce a con¬
siderable diminution or a total abolition of the pain due to the
uterine contractions. In some cases a deep sleep will result.
Since there is nearly always a loss of self control and the will
power is weakened, the patient may become unruly, there will
be difficulty in maintaining asepsis during the actual delivery,
and the patient may even injure the new-born child by her
uncontrolled manipulations. According to -------n, the amount
and quality of the milk are unaffected by the administration of
alcohol. It is hardly likely that a baby born of an alcoholically
intoxicated mother will show any abnormalities. According to
Cushny, alcohol can be given to children in relatively larger
amounts than to adults.
2. Cannabis is used as an intoxicant in Asiatic countries and
in Africa under such names as hashish and bhang by from one
to two hundred million people. Its chief effects are on the
central nervous system. There is a mixture of depression and
stimulation similar to that occasionally seen under morphine.
Soon after its administration the patient passes into a semi¬
conscious state in which judgment is lost and vivid dreams
occur. The sensation of pain is distinctly lessened or entirely
absent and the sense of touch is less acute than normally. Hence
a woman in labor may have a more or less painless labor. If a
sufficient amount of the drug is taken, the patient may fall into
a tranquil sleep from which she will awaken refreshed. Some
degree of tolerance for this drug is rapidly acquired and death
from acute poisoning is rare. As far as is known, a baby born
of a mother intoxicated with cannabis will not be abnormal in
any way.
Source: Effects of Alcohol and Cannabis During Labor
