More Than 5 Negative Effects of Vaping While Pregnant

Vaping (using electronic cigarettes) is unsafe during pregnancy.

The nicotine in most electronic cigarettes or vapes permanently harms a baby's growing brain and many other organs. The chemicals, flavors, and other additives in e-cigarette liquids could harm your infant.

It is commonly known that smoking cigarettes while pregnant can be harmful to both the mother and the fetus. However, evidence suggests that pregnant women who use e-cigarettes think they are safer than smoking cigarettes. Pregnant women often are unaware of the nicotine content of their e-cigarettes. Some women may use e-cigarettes while pregnant if they believe the gadgets would help them cut back or quit smoking cigarettes.

While using an e-cigarette may expose a developing baby to fewer chemicals than smoking a traditional cigarette, any exposure to nicotine is detrimental to a baby.

Quitting smoking or vaping while pregnant is the best way to give your unborn child a good start. Start by seeking counseling or assistance from your healthcare professional.

WHAT IS A VAPE?

"Vaping" refers to inhaling nicotine vapour rather than smoking through an electronic cigarette. They operate by heating a liquid that typically contains nicotine and flavoring. While some e-cigarettes are refillable, others are disposable.

E-cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes, are battery-operated devices that turn a liquid into an aerosol, or a fine spray, which you can inhale (breathe in), similar to how you would with a traditional cigarette. The use of e-cigarettes is frequently referred to as "vaping." There are numerous names for e-cigarettes. Other words for them include "e-cigs," "vapes," "mods," "e-hookahs," "tank systems," "vape pens," and "electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)."

E-cigarettes may contain toxins that endanger a pregnant woman's health as well as the health of the user. Chemicals, including nicotine, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, diacetyl, glycerol, and heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead, can all be found in the solutions used in e-cigarettes. Additionally, some may use artificial flavorings.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF VAPING WHILE PREGNANT

The rapid increase in e-cigarette usage has not been followed by adequate studies on the effects of smoking e-cigs on fetuses and neonates.

Studies on nicotine in tobacco products as well as smoking have revealed most of what is now known, and they demonstrate that nicotine is dangerous and raises the risk of:

• low birth weight
• sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• miscarriage and complications during pregnancy
• abnormal brain development
• chronic ear infections
• premature birth
• abnormal lung function and lower respiratory infections

USING E-CIGARETTES TO QUIT SMOKING WHILE PREGNANT: IS IT OKAY?

No. The FDA has not yet approved or regulated e-cigarettes like JUUL as a method of quitting smoking. They are NOT safer, and both contain large levels of nicotine. When you're pregnant, there are safer and more successful strategies to stop smoking, such as:

• The USPTF suggests behavioral therapy, like counseling, as the method most likely to help pregnant women quit smoking.
• If you find it difficult to stop smoking during pregnancy, either on your own or with counseling, you might consider using nicotine replacement medication (NRT). Nicotine gum, inhalers, patches, nasal spray, and lozenges are all FDA-approved NRT products. It's crucial to discuss the hazards of NRT use during pregnancy with your physician before beginning to use it. It should only be used closely and supervised by a doctor.
• The use of cessation medications during pregnancy is NOT advised, including Zyban and Chantix.

Don't be duped by the advertising claims made by tobacco firms, which claim that e-cigarettes can assist consumers in quitting regular smoking cigarettes. "Present evidence is not enough to suggest electronic nicotine delivery devices (e-cigs) for cigarette cessation in adults, including pregnant women," the U.S. Preventive Task Force (USPTF) determined.

SMOKING CIGARETTES WHILE PREGNANT

Since electronic cigarettes don't release similar chemicals as burning tobacco smoke, tobacco corporations promote them as safer alternatives to conventional cigarettes. E-cigarette aerosol or vapor still contains various additional dangerous ingredients, though. The chemical components in e-cigarettes might also differ between brands due to a lack of regulation. It's best not to use e-cigarettes while pregnant.

The following compounds can be present in e-cigarette vapor, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Very fine particles that penetrates the lungs deeply.
• Flavor similar to diacetyl, a substance connected to the dangerous, chronic lung condition known as obliterative bronchiolitis.
• Referred to as volatile organic compounds or gases released into the air that could harm human health.
• Cancer-causing substances, including formaldehyde, nitrosamines, propylene glycol
• Lead, tin, and other heavy metals, such as nickel.

E-CIGARETTES AND FERTILITY

Whatever its form, nicotine can have an impact on fertility. And more and more evidence suggests that vaping, in particular, may have a detrimental effect on your ability to conceive.

Research on animals implies that:

• An embryo's ability to implant in the uterus may be hampered by nicotine and the chemicals in e-cigarettes.
• E-cigarette contaminants, like nitrosamines and diethylene glycol, can change fertility by causing metabolic, pulmonary, inflammatory, and neurological c. E-cigarette toxins can harm ovarian follicles.
• Female fertility may be decreased by substances like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, which are basic liquids in e-cigarettes.
• E-cigarettes include endocrine disruptors, which mess with hormones and harm the reproductive organs' ability to function.
• E-cigarette flavorings typically harm sperm and sperm movement that is greater than nicotine alone (how it moves).

HOW ABOUT NICOTINE-FREE VAPES DURING PREGNANCY?

No. According to the CDC, even some e-cigarettes promoted as nicotine-free contain nicotine. According to one Australian study, six of ten e-liquids labeled as "nicotine-free" included the substance. Additionally, it was discovered that some of the samples analyzed had 2-chlorophenol, a toxic ingredient in insecticides.

IS USING E-CIGARETTES THE BEST APPROACH TO STOPPING SMOKING?

Yes. Licensed Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) treatments (like patches and gum) are advised if you require assistance quitting smoking while pregnant. These items have undergone testing and are regarded as pregnancy-safe.

Before using any of these products, it is important to consult a midwife, GP, pharmacy, or an NHS stop smoking service. Your chances of successfully stopping smoking are substantially higher if you receive support than if you try to do it on your own.

You can still seek free professional assistance from a stop-smoking adviser if you still wish to use an e-cigarette. Remember that these professionals are there to assist you, not judge you. You can ensure you're doing what's best for you and your kid by listening to their advice.

CAN SECONDHAND VAPOR HARM MY INFANT FROM E-CIGARETTES?

E-cigarettes do not produce smoke. You can come into contact with a tiny quantity of nicotine in the vapour if someone close to you is using an e-cigarette. So you won't be affected the way you might by secondhand smoke from cigarettes if your spouse, friends, or family members use them. But compared to cigarette smoke, experts think the health risk is probably quite minimal.

IS VAPING SAFE WHEN NURSING A CHILD?

Smoked nicotine easily crosses into breast milk after entering a mother's blood via her lungs. According to research, nicotine in a mom's breastmilk can alter an infant's sleep habits, increasing the likelihood of thyroid and blood sugar issues that cause youngsters to gain weight. Nicotine is also thought to reduce the milk nursing mothers produce, possibly by lowering prolactin levels and stimulating breast milk production.

It's a good idea to avoid vaping when nursing, as nicotine does enter breast milk. Nicotine might negatively impact your nursing infant, possibly altering their sleep habits and mildly reducing their milk production.

Breast milk is still the greatest meal for infants. Therefore, you should continue to nurse your child even if stopping is difficult.

Remember that any exposure to secondhand smoke can harm children—likewise, secondhand smoke (the smoke residue on clothing, furniture, walls, etc.).

SHOULD I CONTINUE BREASTFEEDING IF I CAN'T STOP USING E-CIGARETTES OR VAPING?

If you smoke, keep breastfeeding. Although if you're still a smoker, it's preferable to breastfeed than not because it's healthier for your infant.

Experts highly suggest breastfeeding even if the mother continues to use e-cigarettes because of its many advantages for babies and moms.

Create a strategy to lessen your child's exposure to tobacco smoke if it's not the correct time for you to stop smoking:

• Avoid smoking while feeding your child. They might get burned by the e-cigarette or inhale your smoke.
• Avoid smoking or vaping around your child—smoke outside if possible. To protect your newborn from secondhand smoke, ensure your home and vehicle are smoke-free.
• Before vaping, change what you're wearing and wash your hands before holding your infant.
• Instead of nursing your infant after vaping, do so first. It will give the nicotine in breast milk more time to be eliminated by your body.
• Continue to make an effort to stop. Smokers frequently make several attempts before succeeding.

VAPING AND PREGNANCY COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are e-cigarettes more likely to cause a miscarriage?

Any pregnancy can end in miscarriage. Studies on conventional cigarettes with nicotine have discovered a higher risk of miscarriage. No research has been done to determine whether e-cigarettes increase the risk of miscarriage.

Do e-cigarette use and the risk of birth abnormalities enhance each other?

A congenital disability has a 3-5% initial probability of occurring in every pregnancy. The term "background risk" refers to this. Nicotine-containing traditional cigarettes may raise the risk of developing oral clefts (a split in the lip or roof of the mouth that typically needs surgery). No research has been done to determine whether e-cigarette use increases the risk of birth abnormalities.

Does using e-cigarettes while pregnant raises the risk of developing other pregnancy-related issues?

According to research, the use of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes when pregnant has been linked to stunted growth in animals. These studies also discovered that nicotine-containing e-cigarettes reduced the baby's blood flow. The reduced blood flow may cause poor development in the developing baby.

Additionally, research on humans has revealed that pregnant vapers have a higher risk of having children who grow poorly (smaller than expected). One study also examined the baby's developing lungs and discovered a connection between e-cigarette use during pregnancy and the change in the baby's lungs. Sometimes it is referred to as "small for gestational age."

Few research has examined the usage of e-cigarettes while pregnant. Because not all e-cigarettes are created equal, and many have unique components, the information is sparse. While we occasionally have information on each ingredient individually, we frequently lack information on how those ingredients work together. It's unclear how these various components might affect pregnancy or a child.

Does e-cigarette use during pregnancy impact the unborn child's behavior or learning ability?

According to some research, smoking regular cigarettes that contain nicotine increases your risk of developing learning problems and attention deficit disorder. The behavioral effects of e-cigarette usage during pregnancy on infants are currently only the subject of one study. The study found that newborns of women who used vapes while pregnant were more irritable at the one-month check-up than those whose mothers did not smoke.

Could a man's usage of e-cigarettes have an impact on fertility or raise the risk of congenital disabilities?

There is just one study available to determine whether using e-cigarettes by fathers or sperm donors may raise pregnancy risks. Smoking tobacco products with nicotine can diminish sperm counts and cause irregular sperm shape and mobility, making getting pregnant more challenging. The risk of secondhand e-cigarette use during pregnancy or to the unborn child is not yet recognized. The amount of exposure that using e-cigarettes gives a nearby individual depends on the study.

Are e-cigarettes safer during pregnancy than traditional cigarettes?

Although e-cigarettes and many other products with nicotine are generally safer to use during pregnancy than cigarette smoke, this is not always the case. Nicotine can harm a developing baby's brain and lungs and is harmful to pregnant women and their unborn children. Additionally, some flavorings used in e-cigarettes could be dangerous to a newborn who is still developing.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Quitting smoking is the best move for your health and that of your unborn child. Speak to others who have stopped successfully and get assistance and advice from the local tobacco cessation service, your doctor, your midwife, ora family member.

While vaping may not be completely risk-free for smokers, it is probably less dangerous than smoking while pregnant.

For individuals who smoke, nicotine is a reasonably safe substance. However, it might be dangerous to infants, neonates, and unborn children. When pregnant, it is essential to abstain from nicotine.