What birth defects are caused by vaping?
Yes, vaping can cause birth defects due to the presence of nicotine, a toxic and addictive chemical. An unborn child is at risk of developmental problems like small head circumference, low birth weight, orofacial clefts, and other pregnancy issues like preterm birth, stillbirths, and sudden infant death syndrome.
Can vaping mess up your baby?
If your baby is exposed to nicotine — which is found in many vaping products — while still in the womb, he or she may have problems with lung, heart, brain and immune system development. These problems can cause issues for your baby's entire life. Even vape products that don't have nicotine can harm your baby.
Is vaping OK while pregnant?
Although the aerosol of e-cigarettes generally has fewer harmful substances than cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes and other products containing nicotine are not safe to use during pregnancy. Nicotine is a health danger for pregnant women and developing babies and can damage a developing baby's brain and lungs.
How do you stop vaping when pregnant?
If you are having a hard time quitting during pregnancy on your own, or with counseling, you may consider nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). FDA-approved forms of NRT include nicotine gum, patches, inhalers, nasal spray, and lozenges.
At what stage of pregnancy does smoking affect the baby?
1. The most sensitive period for causing birth defects is the fifth to the 10th week after the last menstrual period (the third to eighth week of gestation).
Is vaping better than smoking while pregnant?
E-cigarettes don't burn tobacco and do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, which can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. Experts estimate that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking.
Do they test newborns for nicotine?
Meconium drug screening identifies substances that can elicit newborn withdrawal symptoms. Including nicotine and/or its metabolites in the meconium drug screen helps discern the level of exposure and assists in the management of withdrawal symptoms.
Does vaping affect breastfeeding?
Using tobacco or e-cigarettes while breastfeeding can allow harmful chemicals to pass from the mother to the infant through breast milk or secondhand smoke exposure.