Informed consent for a mother who wants to use marijuana for pain
control in labor means letting her know that:  doctors and nurses have
been highly sensitived to signs that a mother is or has been using
illegal drugs; if she is suspected of using them, she and her baby will
likely be screened for use of illegal drugs; any pretense may be used to
get the baby into the nursery for observation of signs of drug
withdrawal; pediatrician may refuse to release baby for at least 3 days;
social services and child protective services will be notified; baby
could be placed in foster care; CPS could be in this mother's life for a
long time.

It seems to me that all of these possibilities make it unlikely that ANY
legal drug has the potential of causing such serious disruption of
breastfeeding or of this mother's relationship to her baby as the above
scenario.  Incidentally, marijuana is a VERY long acting drug, and I
doubt that any woman actually experiencing labor will limit herself to
one or two puffs.

Why not suggest that this mother have a doula; it doesn't need to be a
trained paid doula.  It could be any caring woman who is able to stay
with her through the entire labor, comfort and encourage her.  If she
feels the need for medication, talk to her about trying a half dose
and/or a light epidural (late in labor).

Just my .02.
Bonnie Jones, RN, ICCE, IBCLC
from the sunny S.W. USA where I have seen a number of breastfeeding
experiences undermined by mothers being labeled "druggies"