Author bio: Marina Turea works as content manager at Digital Authority Partners and a huge fan of everything CBD. 

Being a new mum is hard: you’re knee-deep in nappies, vomit, and googly-eyed family members constantly. While all this can be fun at first, it can soon get tiring and the aches and pains start to kick in.

There’s now a brand new phenomenon bursting on to the mum scene (and just about every scene, to be honest) and it’s called CBD oil. Here we’ll go through 7 reasons why new mums are loving it, and why you should consider taking it.

But first of all, what is CBD?

CBD, or cannabidiol, derives from the hemp plant. It has no psychoactive effects as it doesn’t contain any THC- the chemical found in marijuana which is responsible for getting users high. In fact, it’s loved because of its apparent therapeutic effects on the body. 

It doesn’t get you high

We hear the calls of every mum out there, screaming that parents shouldn’t use CBD while looking after a child. We understand – but CBD is used by 64 million Americans safely each day. It is very, very unlikely to make you ‘high’, and if it does, the product probably contains more than the legal amount of THC.

You should carry out a lot of research before settling on any CBD product, and they should contain no more than 0.3% THC legally. You can also slowly introduce your body to CBD via microdosing to see how your body reacts to small amounts of CBD.

It helps with anxiety

New parents have an awful lot going on and it can be scary, especially if you’ve just had your first child. Add a severe lack of sleep onto the fear and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster. CBD helps to relieve symptoms of anxiety by reacting with the endocannabinoid system – the part of our bodies that is responsible for most functions including sleep, fertility, and mood.

By stimulating receptors within the endocannabinoid system, CBD can restore the body’s balance and release more serotonin- a chemical that releases feelings of happiness. A study published by NCBI agreed that CBD can be an effective compound to reduce anxiety and insomnia.

Headaches and fatigue

CBD is great for any kind of pain relief but has been commended for its ability to calm an achy head after hours of trying to stop your baby from crying. Rubbing CBD oil or gel into your temples can quickly bring pain to a halt thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. A study from the European Journal of Pain showed that CBD could lower inflammation from arthritis in animals, and there’s no reason to suggest it wouldn’t work the same on humans. 

A huge 40% of CBD users take it for pain – it can also help with sore muscles and even chronic pain. These products generally lack some of the unwanted side effects of pharmaceutical pain killers, too. A study published by Wiley Online Library found that people taking CBD could see improvements in pain, sleep quality, and the severity of their condition.

Improves skin

Mums missing that pregnancy glow could benefit from using CBD oils and creams on their skin. As CBD has anti-oxidant properties, it can really help to reduce the appearance of sleep-deprived-mom wrinkles and keep the skin hydrated. The product’s anti-inflammatory properties work to reduce redness and calm acne on the face and neck.

CBD can also help to improve the strength and appearance of hair and nails. For this, you may want to give hemp oil a try – you can read the difference between hemp oil and CBD oil here. While hemp oil is great for beauty applications, it doesn’t have the same effect on health conditions as CBD.

Helps to quit smoking

With all the stress of being a new parent, you may have found yourself falling back into the habit of smoking. While you could turn to chewing gum or wearing patches, CBD has also been found to help smokers quit.

That’s because CBD helps to boost serotonin levels – making the user feel happier and less likely to want to reach for a cigarette. You could reach towards a CBD tincture for its potency, but a CBD vape also works just as well and will give you the feeling of smoking. Next time you go to smoke – try using a little CBD instead. The side effects (released so far) are much better for you than those from smoking.

Helps keep a clear head

If you find yourself experiencing brain fog (most likely caused by stress and a lack of sleep) CBD can help to focus your mind by clearing anxious thoughts. Keeping your thoughts in order is an essential part of maintaining your mental health. 

It can also really help you to get tasks done faster without fretting or becoming pent-up at the little things. It’s also why students across America use CBD when finals are approaching. Being productive while your baby naps is key to motherhood- and CBD could help you get there. If you want to learn more, check out this article on the best CBD oils on the market today.

You don’t have to directly take oil

A lot of mums are put off by the thought of dirty looks from other parents when they whip out a bottle of CBD oil. This doesn’t have to be the case at all- the CBD boom has been amazing for helping companies create the perfect CBD gummies, creams, and even face masks.

It isn’t all about oil – there are so many products out there that can have the same effects! All you need to do is a little research (and maybe a little experimenting) to find what works best for you. CBD clothes are now making an appearance, too – there’s so much out there for you to try!

A note

CBD  has only been FDA-approved for treating two forms of severe and rare epilepsy so far. Before taking CBD, you should consult your doctor and carry out thorough research.