Vaping FAQs

does smoking vaping while pregnant affect fetal development

by Dr. Kiara Waters Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago

The toxic chemicals in vape liquids can be just as harmful as those found in cigarettes. Additionally, vaping while pregnant can also cause adverse effects on fetal development and result in stunted growth in infants and children.

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

Is it safe to vape during pregnancy?

The limited literature suggests that vaping in pregnancy has little or no effect on birthweight. Implications: Smoking causes many negative health outcomes for pregnant women and to babies born to people who smoke. There remains a paucity of research on the effects of vaping in pregnancy.

What are the risks of smoking during pregnancy?

Smoking During Pregnancy 1 Smoking reduces a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.1,2 2 Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for pregnancy complications.1,2 3 Tobacco smoke harms babies before and after they are born.1,3 More ...

How does smoking affect fetal development?

Smoking Affects Fetal Development Active and passive smoking are two of the most widely discussed health problems due to the disastrous effects that they have on the expectant mother and her unborn child. Cigarette smoke contains nearly 4000 chemicals such as lead, cyanide, and 60 other cancer causing compounds.

What is the prevalence of vaping in pregnancy?

Prevalence of vaping in pregnancy (four studies) was between 1.2% and 7.0% overall, and <1% among nonsmokers. Twelve studies reported patterns of use, but findings were inconsistent. Twelve of 14 studies asking why pregnant women vaped reported that most vaped to reduce or quit smoking.

Is vaping safe during pregnancy?

Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes while pregnant?

Can a baby smoke e-cigarettes?

Can pregnant women smoke e-cigarettes?

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Is It Safe For Me To Vape While I'm Pregnant? | e-cigaretteuk.org.uk

Women who are pregnant have more than their own health and wellbeing to consider as everything that they do and consume could have an impact upon their growing baby. Everyone knows that pregnant women should avoid smoking regular tobacco cigarettes, however it isn’t always easy to kick the habit and if you find that you’re […]

Does nicotine affect motor maturity?

The study also found that higher amounts of nicotine correlated with reduced motor maturity in babies, such as how floppy or rigid a baby is when held.

Does nicotine affect the brain?

Lead author Suzanne Froggatt said: "Nicotine can cause widespread negative effects on the central nervous system, subsequently affecting brain development, with animal studies indicating the devastating effects within the brain. "Although e-cigarettes might expose the mother to fewer toxins than cigarettes, given the uncontrolled amount ...

Is vaping bad for babies?

Researchers have warned pregnant women that vaping puts unborn babies at risk Credit: Getty Images - Getty. And tests by experts at Durham University show the effects are as bad after vaping as after smoking conventional cigarettes. Vapers’ babies were unable to grasp a finger in their hand and were not startled by having head support removed.

Is vaping bad for pregnancy?

VAPING during pregnancy could put unborn babies at risk, researchers warn. E-cigarettes are considered a safer alternative to smoking but they can contain nicotine which is known to stunt babies' development. And tests by experts at Durham University show the effects are as bad after vaping as after smoking conventional cigarettes.

How many studies have reported that pregnant women vaped?

Twelve studies reported patterns of use, but findings were inconsistent. Twelve of fourteen studies asking why pregnant women vaped reported that most vaped to reduce or quit smoking. Mixed findings were reported from six studies on smoking cessation.

Does vaping affect birth weight?

The limited literature suggests that vaping in pregnancy has little or no effect on birthweight.

Is vaping bad for pregnant women?

Smoking causes many negative health outcomes for pregnant women and to babies born to people who smoke. There remains a paucity of research on the effects of vaping in pregnancy. There is, however, the potential for vaping products to reduce the negative health outcomes associated with smoking. More …

How does smoking affect babies?

Health Effects of Smoking and Secondhand Smoke on Babies. Mothers who smoke are more likely to deliver their babies early. Preterm delivery is a leading cause of death, disability, and disease among newborns. 1,2. One in every five babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy has low birth weight. Mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke ...

How many babies are born to mothers who smoke?

One in every five babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy has low birth weight. Mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant are more likely to have lower birth weight babies. Babies born too small or too early are not as healthy. 1,2,3. Both babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant and babies who are exposed ...

How many times more likely are babies to die from smoking?

1,2,3 Babies whose mothers smoke are about three times more likely to die from SIDS. 1.

Does smoking during pregnancy affect the baby?

Smoking During Pregnancy. Smoking reduces a woman’s chances of getting pregnant.1,2. Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk for pregnancy complications. 1,2. Tobacco smoke harms babies before and after they are born.1,3.

Can smoking cause cleft lip?

Smoking during pregnancy can cause tissue damage in the unborn baby, particularly in the lung and brain, and some studies suggests a link between maternal smoking and cleft lip. 1,2. Studies also suggest a relationship between tobacco and miscarriage. Carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke can keep the developing baby from getting enough oxygen.

How Can Quitting Help You and Your Baby?

The best time to quit smoking is before you get pregnant, but quitting at any time during pregnancy can help your baby get a better start on life. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to quit while you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

How does smoking affect babies?

How Can Smoking Harm You and Your Baby? 1 Your baby may be born too small, even after a full-term pregnancy. Smoking slows your baby’s growth before birth. 2 Your baby may be born too early (premature birth). Premature babies often have health problems. 5 3 Smoking can damage your baby’s developing lungs and brain. The damage can last through childhood and into the teen years. 4 4 Smoking doubles your risk of abnormal bleeding during pregnancy and delivery. This can put both you and your baby in danger. 5 5 Smoking raises your baby’s risk for birth defects, including cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. A cleft is an opening in your baby’s lip or in the roof of her mouth (palate). He or she can have trouble eating properly and is likely to need surgery. 1, 4 6 Babies of moms who smoke during pregnancy—and babies exposed to cigarette smoke after birth—have a higher risk for SIDS. 1

What is a cleft in a baby's mouth?

A cleft is an opening in your baby’s lip or in the roof of her mouth (palate). He or she can have trouble eating properly and is likely to need surgery. 1, 4. Babies of moms who smoke during pregnancy—and babies exposed to cigarette smoke after birth—have a higher risk for SIDS. 1. Top of Page.

How long does it take for a baby to breathe?

Your baby gets more oxygen, even after just 1 day. Your baby will grow better. Your baby is less likely to be born too early. You’ll have more energy and breathe more easily. You will be less likely to develop heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related diseases.

When is the best time to quit smoking?

The best time to quit smoking is before you get pregnant, but quitting at any time during pregnancy can help your baby get a better start on life. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to quit while you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Does smoking cause impotence?

Smoking can cause fertility problems for you or your partner. Women who smoke have more trouble getting pregnant than women who don’t smoke. In men, smoking can damage sperm and contribute to impotence (erectile dysfunction, or ED).

Can smoking cigarettes cause a baby to die?

And smoking while you’re pregnant can cause serious problems, too. Your baby could be born too early, have a birth defect, or die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Even being around cigarette smoke can cause health problems for you and your baby. 1. It’s best to quit smoking before you get pregnant.

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.

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.

Can e-cigarettes cause miscarriage?

Miscarriage can occur in any pregnant. Studies have not been done to see if e-cigarettes increase the chance for miscarriage. Studies on traditional cigarettes that include nicotine have found an increase in the chance of miscarriage.

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.

How does smoking affect a baby?

Shortage of oxygen can have devastating effects on your baby’s growth and development. Smoking doubles the risk of premature delivery, still birth, and low weight birth. Smoking a pack of cigarettes will shave off about a pond from your baby’s weight. Sometimes smoking can also cause stunt the growth of your baby in the womb.

What happens to a baby when you smoke?

When you smoke, the toxins gets mixed in your blood, the only source of nutrients and oxygen for your baby. Cigarette smoke contains some of the most harmful chemicals such as nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine and carbon monoxide work towards reducing the supply of oxygen to the baby. Smoking also lowers the chances ...

Is smoking bad for you?

Active and passive smoking are two of the most widely discussed health problems due to the disastrous effects that they have on the expectant mother and her unborn child. Cigarette smoke contains nearly 4000 chemicals such as lead, cyanide, and 60 other cancer causing compounds.

Does nicotine cause fetal death?

Nicotine, which reduces oxygen supply to the baby, can be a major factor in fetal death. Cigarette smoke may also detach the placenta from the uterus, leading to death as there is no supply of nutrients and oxygen to the baby.

Can pregnant women smoke?

When a pregnant women smokes, she risks negatively affecting her unborn child’s lifelong health. Expectant mothers should avoid both active and passive smoking. The risk of serious complications such as stillbirth, premature delivery, and low birth weight is increased due to smoking. Nicotine narrows the blood vessels in your body, including the one in the umbilical cord, forcing your baby to breathe from a narrow passage. Shortage of oxygen can have devastating effects on your baby’s growth and development. Smoking doubles the risk of premature delivery, still birth, and low weight birth. Smoking a pack of cigarettes will shave off about a pond from your baby’s weight. Sometimes smoking can also cause stunt the growth of your baby in the womb.

Can you give up smoking before conceiving?

You can give your baby the best gift by giving up smoking. You should ideally give up smoking even before you conceive, so that you eliminate even the rarest possibilities of miscarriage, stillbirth, low weight birth, and premature delivery.

Can smoking cause breathing problems in babies?

The lungs may not function properly, so babies may have continua l breathing problems. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome is also very high if the mother smoked during pregnancy. These are all the adverse effects of nicotine and carbon monoxide.

How do cannabinoids work?

How Cannabinoids Act Upon the Brain: Cannabinoids mainly act upon two prominent G protein-coupled receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are present in high levels in the brain and gonads (testes and ovaries) whereas CB2 receptors are more sparse and are found in immune cells and some neuronal cells (5).

How long does marijuana stay in the body?

THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, has a half life of 8 days in fat and is detectable for up to 30 days in the bloodstream. Once circulating in the bloodstream, THC is readily able to cross the blood brain barrier and the placenta due to its lipophilic nature. In a primate study, THC was detectable in fetal blood just 15 minutes after intravenous infusion in the mother. Three hours following infusion, fetal blood levels of THC equilibrated to maternal blood levels (2). A separate study in canines found that THC was deposited in fetal fat at concentrations that are approximately 30% of maternal plasma levels (3). Given the pharmacokinetic properties of THC, maternal tissues act as a reservoir for THC and other cannabinoids which results in prolonged fetal exposure. Taken one step further, when marijuana is used occasionally during pregnancy, say once per month, fetal exposure to marijuana persists throughout the fetus’ entire development in the womb.

How do cannabinoids affect embryos?

How Cannabinoids Affect Embryo Development: 1 Folic Acid Uptake: As stated above, THC interferes with fetal folic acid uptake. Low levels of folic acid during pregnancy are known to be associated with neural tube defects and low birth weight. 2 Cellular Growth: Exogenous cannabinoids may interfere with critical pathways for cellular growth and angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels). 3 Neural Development: Cannabinoids acting upon the CB1 receptor have the ability to influence the differentiation of neural cells from stem cells in the brain. This has tremendous potential to negatively affect learning and memory as well as developmental processes such as limb development.

What is the role of endocannabinoids in the brain?

Endogenous cannabinoids produced by the human body interact with these receptors and current data indicate that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in the regulation of sleep, feeding, pain, learning, and memory. It is thought that the psychoactive effects of THC are a result of binding (partial agonist) to CB1 receptors in the brain.

How long does it take for THC to be detected in the blood?

In a primate study, THC was detectable in fetal blood just 15 minutes after intravenous infusion in the mother. Three hours following infusion, fetal blood levels of THC equilibrated to maternal blood levels (2).

Where does THC enter the brain?

THC crosses the placenta, enters fetal blood circulation, passes through the blood brain barrier, and is found at the highest levels in fetal fat tissue. The brain is 60% fat and therefore stores THC following maternal ingestion. The brain is also densely populated with CB1 receptors which mediate THC’s psychoactive properties.

How long does THC stay in your system?

THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, has a half life of 8 days in fat and is detectable for up to 30 days in the bloodstream. Once circulating in the bloodstream, THC is readily able to cross the blood brain barrier and the placenta due to its lipophilic nature.

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.

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.

Can vaping harm a baby?

But even vaping products that don’t contain nicotine can harm a baby. Though the aerosol in ENDS contains fewer chemicals than cigarette smoke, it also contains harmful substances, such as: Lead and other heavy metals. Benzene, which is found in car exhaust. Diacetyl, which is linked to lung disease.

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.

How to contact an OB/Gyn?

To visit with an Ob/Gyn, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.

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.

Is vaping safe during pregnancy?

Using electronic cigarettes (vaping) during pregnancy isn't safe. Most electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain nicotine, which permanently damages a baby's developing brain and many other organs. E-cigarette liquids also contain chemicals, flavors and other additives that might not be safe for your baby.

Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes while pregnant?

E-cigarette liquids also contain chemicals, flavors and other additives that might not be safe for your baby. It's well known that smoking cigarettes during pregnancy can harm women and their babies.

Can a baby smoke e-cigarettes?

While use of e-cigarettes might expose a growing baby to fewer toxins compared with those from regular cigarette use, nicotine exposure of any kind is harmful to a baby. If you're pregnant and you smoke or vape, quitting is the best way to give your baby a healthy start.

Can pregnant women smoke e-cigarettes?

Pregnant women often don 't know if their e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Some also might use e-cigarettes during pregnancy because of the perception that the devices can help them quit or reduce cigarette smoking.

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