Vaping FAQs

can vaping harm a fetus

by Lila Hettinger Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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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.

Full Answer

What Is Vaping?

Smoking an e-cigarette, or a similar device, is known as vaping. E-cigarettes are electronic cigarettes. They are battery-powered, and work on liquid-filled cartridges. They work when the liquid gets heated and turns into vapor. This vapor is then inhaled by the user. It is because of this that smoking an e-cigarette is known as vaping.

What E-Liquids Do E-Cigarettes Contain?

While there are many chemicals that may go into making the e-liquid, there are four standard ingredients that are used. These are nicotine, water, vegetable glycerine base of propylene glycol, and flavorings. Let us look at each component in a little more detail:

Why do people want e-cigarettes?

Most people opt for e-cigarettes when they are addicted to nicotine but want to find a way to reduce the dosage that they consume.

Can smoking cigarettes cause cancer?

Smoking regular cigarettes have been known to cause many health issues, out of which cancer is a very serious and notable one. E-cigarettes have also been linked to lung diseases and cancer. The level of nicotine that is present in e-cigarettes is not always reported correctly on the packaging.

Is vaping bad for pregnancy?

While there are the obvious health issues with nicotine, vaping can have some serious consequences when it comes to your pregnancy specifically. Here are some dangers caused by vaping of which you should be aware:

Is smoking e-cigarettes while pregnant dangerous?

How to Limit Exposure to E-Cigarettes When Pregnant. FAQs. Most people are well aware that smoking while pregnant is quite harmful to both the mother and the baby. Even so, some women may continue their nicotine habit even while they are expecting.

Is e-cigarette smoke harmful?

The vapor emitted from an e-cigarette is just as harmful as the smoke emitted from a regular cigarette.

How many women vape before pregnancy?

According to a March 2019 study, 7% of women reported vaping three months before pregnancy, while pregnant, or up to six months after delivery. More than 38% of women who vaped during the last trimester reported using products that contained nicotine. Further compounding the issue, vaping rates have skyrocketed among middle and high school girls. ...

Why did the FDA warn about vaping?

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to a prominent vaping products company, saying it had violated federal regulations because it did not receive agency approval to market its products as a healthier alternative to cigarettes.

Why do people vape?

There is no data to suggest vaping can help people quit smoking. In fact, there are several reasons that vaping may keep patients addicted to nicotine: 1 Vaping is more socially acceptable than smoking. ENDS typically don’t leave a noticeable scent in the user’s hair or clothing. 2 Sweet and fruity flavored products taste better than traditional tobacco to many patients. 3 The amount of nicotine is unregulated and not always appropriately labeled on packaging.

Is vaping better for pregnant women?

Unfortunately, many pregnant women have been led to believe that vaping instead of smoking is healthier for their babies. This confusion can be boiled down to a general lack of transparency with consumers and four widespread myths.

Can vaping harm a pregnant woman?

Vaping during pregnancy has deeper implications. In utero exposure to nicotine, which is found in many vaping products, is known to directly harm fetuses by causing abnormal lung, heart, brain, and immune system development, which carries lifelong consequences.

Can vaping help you quit smoking?

Myth 2: Vaping can help me quit smoking. There is no data to suggest vaping can help people quit smoking. In fact, there are several reasons that vaping may keep patients addicted to nicotine: Vaping is more socially acceptable than smoking. ENDS typically don’t leave a noticeable scent in the user’s hair or clothing.

Does vaping harm fetuses?

In utero exposure to nicotine, which is found in many vaping products, is known to directly harm fetuses by causing abnormal lung, heart, brain, and immune system development, which carries lifelong consequences.".

What are the different types of e-cigarettes?

E-cigs also go by a lot of different names: 1 Vapes 2 Vape pens 3 Cig-alikes 4 E-hookahs 5 Hookah pens 6 Mods 7 Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)

What does an electronic cigarette look like?

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, are small devices that often look like a cigarette or cigar, but can also look like pens, pocket flashlights, USB memory sticks, or other common objects.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

These may include nicotine (the stimulant in tobacco), natural or artificial flavors and scents, and vapor-producing chemicals like polyethylene glycol (the stuff in antifreeze). Some have few er risk y chemicals than others, but it's hard to make a safe choice. Here's why:

Can e-cigs help me quit smoking?

That's not likely. You may have heard that some people use e-cigs to help them quit smoking, but it's just not that simple.

Does vaping affect fertility?

There aren't any good human studies on vaping and fertility. Experts suspect that vaping may be less harmful than cigarette smoke, but isn't entirely safe. No matter how it's delivered, nicotine can affect fertility. To be on the safe side, you and your partner might want to quit altogether while you're trying to conceive.

How many people quit smoking with an e-cigarette?

E-cigarette users were more likely to quit smoking (18 percent) than those who used the patch or other nicotine replacement options (10 percent). While that sounds good at first, it means that more than 80 percent of the vaping group kept smoking.

Can pregnant women vape?

The Centers for Disease Control has also issued a warning that pregnant women should not vape. There are no studies on vaping during pregnancy, but we do know that any form of nicotine can affect a developing baby's brain and lungs.

What about vaping?

Often touted as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, vaping refers to consuming tobacco via an electronic device. There are a number of vaping devices on the market. Some are visually similar to traditional cigarettes, while others are sleek, futuristic-looking devices.

Do smokers have more infertility than non smokers?

Both women and men who smoke are 50% more likely than non-smokers to struggle with infert ility.

Is vaping bad for fertility?

In other words, there was a strong connection between delayed pregnancy, impaired implantation of embryos, birth defects, and vaping. The negative impact on both fertility and fetal health should serve as a caution for women who vape that are considering becoming pregnant.

Is vaping harmful?

However, vaping is not harmless. Vape liquid contains large amounts of highly addictive nicotine, and initial studies have linked the practice to lung irritation. And because vaping is so new, the long-term effects are still unknown.

Is smoking e-cigarettes harmful during pregnancy?

Researchers from Oregon State University found in a meta-analysis that “e-cigarette usage during pregnancy will be as harmful to fetal lung development as is conventional cigarette usage.”

Does vaping affect embryo implantation?

A recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society found a correlation between e-cigarette use and embryo implantation. Researchers found that mice exposed to e-cigarette vapor had major delays in the onset of their first litters, along with difficulties in embryo implantation. In pregnant mice, vaping “caused changes in metabolic, inflammatory, neurological, and pulmonary factors within exposed offspring.”

Does smoking affect fertility?

Strikingly, the study found that women who had stopped smoking shortly before their treatment cycle had the same rates of implantation and full-term pregnancy as non-smokers, illustrating just how damaging smoking is for fertility.

How does vaping affect pregnancy?

However, nicotine use narrows the blood vessels, which can result in lack of oxygen and nutrients for the baby. At the same time, e-cigs contain chemicals that might be carcinogenic.

Is e-liquid carcinogenic?

On top of that, e-cigs contain many chemicals and experts can’t be sure which toxins reach the baby and which not. In fact, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency revealed that some chemicals are carcinogenic. A study showed that after the e-liquid’s been heated, chemicals like formaldehyde are formed, which is carcinogenic.

Is vaping while pregnant safe?

Though it seems like it should be safer to vape without nicotine while pregnant, there are some studies that show that it is equally dangerous. Since these are early days in the context of vaping, there are no concrete results that definitively say that it is 100% safe or unsafe.

Can a newborn have nicotine withdrawal?

Asthma. ADHD. Note that the newborn may go through nicotine withdrawal, which can lead to trouble sleeping, eating disorders, and irritability. Therefore, many organizations, such as the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend avoiding vaping and smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Can vaping affect your health?

Far from the physical health of the pregnant woman, vaping may affect her social health . As often any unhealthy habit during pregnancy is easily stigmatized by people, expectant women who vape may experience isolation or verbal abuse, which can cause additional stress to the body. Any burst of cortisol can hurt the fetus.

Is vaping hard to regulate?

As e-cigs and vaporizers come in all shapes and flavors, vaping is something hard to regulate. In fact, up to 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration couldn’t keep track on all the hundreds of brands and thousands of flavors on the market. What’s more, vaping and pregnancy is a topic that has not been researched in-depth yet;

Can vaping stop you from smoking?

Nobody can stop you, but the safest option, according to experts, is to stay away from vaping and smoking. Vaping can lead to numerous problems, such as difficulties with the placenta, premature birth, stillbirth, low weight, nicotine withdrawal, and congenital disabilities. Vaping after pregnancy also has a negative effect on kids ...

What are e-cigarettes called?

And the terminology is just as varied — you may hear them called e-cigs, cigalikes, vape pens, personalized vaporizers or mechanical mods.

Is e-cigarette regulated?

These products are difficult to study: No researcher would willingly put an expecting mom potentially in harm's way in the name of research. What's more, there are hundreds of e-cigarette brands and thousands of e-liquid flavors, and they just recently began to be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Are e-cigarettes safer than regular cigarettes?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a 2016 Surgeon General report say that e-cigarettes are not safe for pregnant women, but because vaping has a potential benefit to smokers who are not pregnant, researchers are still conducting studies.

Is vaping dangerous when you're pregnant?

Smoking during pregnancy can be harmful to your baby both before and after birth — which is why many groups, including the AMA, AAP and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which represents American OB-GYNs, urge moms to avoid lighting up at all during pregnancy.

Can vaping cause miscarriage?

That goes for conventional cigarettes as well as e-cigarettes, since vaping still exposes your baby to nicotine and other potentially harmful substances. Because e-cigarettes do contain nicotine, experts are concerned that they could also increase the risk for: Ectopic pregnancy. Miscarriage. Problems with the placenta (such as placental abruption)

Is e-cigarette vapor harmful?

But e-cigarette vapor definitely isn't harmless water vapor. The liquids used in e-cigarettes are typically made up of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine and flavoring chemicals. And some research has shown that when this liquid is heated at a high voltage (some vaping products allow the user to determine how low or high the voltage to produce more or less vapor), other chemicals are formed, and some of them, like formaldehyde, cause cancer.

Can you smoke cigarettes while pregnant?

Or, if you're a non-smoker, you might have wondered whether secondhand vapor from electronic cigarettes affects your baby.

When will e-cigarettes be available for pregnant women?

E-cigarettes (Vaping) May 1, 2020. This sheet talks about exposure to e-cigarettes in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your healthcare provider.

What is an e-cigarette?

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes are battery operated devices that heat a liquid solution into an aerosol (a fine spray) that you inhale (breath in), like you would inhale tobacco smoke from a traditional cigarette. E-cigarettes are known by many different names.

What are the chemicals in e-cigarettes?

The solutions in e-cigarettes can include chemicals such as nicotine, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, diacetyl, and/or glycerol; and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and/or lead. Artificial flavorings might also be added.

How many chances do you have of having a baby with a birth defect?

In every pregnancy, a woman starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a baby with a birth defect. This is called her background risk. Studies have not been done to see if e-cigarettes increase the chance for birth defects.

Can you get pregnant from e-cigarettes?

It is not yet known if second hand exposure to e-cigarettes poses a risk to your pregnancy or the baby after birth. Studies are unclear about the level of exposure using e-cigarettes provides to a nearby person. For more information, please see the MotherToBaby fact sheet Paternal Exposures at ...

Can smoking e-cigarettes cause pregnancy?

Studies have not been done to see if a man’s use of e-cigarettes could increase risks to a pregnancy. Men who smoke traditional cigarettes with nicotine can have lower sperm counts, as well as abnormal shape and movement of sperm, which may make becoming pregnant more difficult.

Do e-cigarettes cause learning problems?

Studies have not been done to see if e-cigarettes increase the chance for learning or behavioral problems. Some studies have linked traditional cigarettes with nicotine to higher chances for attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities.

What is an e-cigarette?

What are e-cigarettes? Electronic cigarettes (also called electronic nicotine delivery systems or e-cigarettes) come in different sizes and shapes, including pens, mods, (i.e., these types are modified by the user) and tanks. Most e-cigarettes contain a battery, a heating device, and a cartridge to hold liquid.

Is nicotine bad for babies?

Nicotine is a health danger for pregnant women and developing babies and can damage a developing baby’s brain and lungs. Also, some of the flavorings used in e-cigarettes may be harmful to a developing baby. Top of Page.

Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes while pregnant?

You may have heard that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes or that they can help you to quit smoking. Quitting can be hard—but if you’re pregnant, quitting all forms of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is best for you and your baby. Learn more about resources to quit all tobacco products.

Can you quit smoking after a baby is born?

After your baby is born, you will have more options for FDA-approved quit-smoking medications. E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA to help people quit smoking. It’s important to know that nicotine is poisonous, and parents and caregivers should keep all products containing nicotine, including e-cigarettes and stop-smoking medications, ...

Are e-cigarettes safer than regular cigarettes in pregnancy?

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. Also, some of the flavorings used in e-cigarettes may be harmful to a developing baby.

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