does vaping while breastfeeding affect the baby

When mothers vape, the chemicals, and nicotine in the e-juice spread from the bloodstream and into breast milk incredibly easily. It causes health problems for breastfeeding babies. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics

, there is no safe way to vape and breastfeed.

Full Answer

Is it safe to vape while breastfeeding?

A baby should be breastfed for at least the first 6 months. Breast milk provides balanced nutrients and protection against infections. It also provides an excellent way for a mother and the baby to bond. As a precaution, however, it’s essential to vape after breastfeeding. That’s because waiting means your baby won’t get nicotine from breast milk.

Is there a connection between vaping and breast milk?

However, most breastfeeding women that want to enjoy their daily dose of nicotine are still concerned about the possible presence of nicotine in their breast milk. This article focuses on revealing a real connection between vaping and breastfeeding. How Long Does It Take for Nicotine to Get Out of Breast Milk?

What are the risks of vaping during pregnancy?

Research on the effects of vaping on fetuses and newborns has lagged behind the quick rise in e-cigarette use. Much of what we do know comes from studies of nicotine in tobacco products and smoking, which shows that nicotine is harmful and increases the risk of: miscarriage and complications during pregnancy. premature birth. low birthweight.

Is it safe for a mother to smoke while breastfeeding?

Yes. Inhaled nicotine enters a mother's blood through her lungs, and then easily passes into breastmilk. Research shows that nicotine in a mother's breastmilk can affect infant sleep patterns―raising the risk for blood sugar and thyroid problems that can lead children to become overweight.

How long does vape stay in your breast milk?

The levels of nicotine in milk are highest just after a mother finishes her cigarette and over the following two hours the concentration of nicotine in breast milk falls significantly. The half life of nicotine in breast milk is variously quoted as 95 minutes (Mohrbacher, 2020) or 120 minutes (halesmeds.com 2020).

Can a baby get addicted to nicotine through breast milk?

Exposure to high levels of nicotine through breast milk can potentially cause nicotine dependence and nicotine poisoning in babies. The symptoms of nicotine poisoning are rare and occur in babies who are exposed to a lot of smoke.

How much nicotine gets in your breast milk?

Dose Delivered to Infants Baseline levels of nicotine (nonsmoking day: 10.2 ± 4.4 ng/mL; smoking day: 12.4 ± 4.0 ng/mL) and cotinine (nonsmoking day: 154.3 ± 31.8 ng/mL; smoking day: 141.3 ± 31.4 ng/mL) in mothers' milk at the beginning of each testing session were similar.

How long should I wait to breastfeed after smoking?

Nicotine passes rapidly into your breast milk and affects how much milk you have. Nicotine in breast milk and passive smoking can give your baby chest infections, vomiting, diarrhoea and irritability. Avoid smoking for half an hour before you breastfeed.

How does nicotine affect my baby?

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.

How long does nicotine withdrawal last in newborns?

Your baby's withdrawal symptoms may continue for longer than a week and possibly up to 6 months, but over time they will gradually decrease.

Can smoking while breastfeeding cause autism?

Logistic regression did not find any associations between maternal alcohol and tobacco use while breastfeeding and ADHD or ASD diagnosis at ages 6–7 or 10–11 years. Alcohol and tobacco use during lactation may not increase ADHD or ASD risk. Abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, however, may still be the safest option.

How does nicotine affect baby's brain?

Nicotine exposure early in fetal development adversely affects the synaptic development and function of serotonin systems as well as those of other monoamines (dopamine, norepinephrine), eliciting neuronal damage and cell death, as well as suppressing both presynaptic and postsynaptic elements required for ...

What effects can tobacco or e-cigarette exposure have on infants?

Regardless of feeding method (breastfeeding or infant formula), maternal smoking is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), as well as lower respiratory illnesses (such as bronchitis and pneumonia), ear infections, and impaired lung function in infants and children .

What to do after smoking and prior to handling an infant?

change clothes and wash hands after smoking and prior to handling the infant.

What is an e-cigarette?

E-cigarettes, and other vaping devices, are battery-powered devices that typically deliver nicotine, flavorings, and other additives through an inhaled aerosol. Little is known about the effects of e-cigarette use by the mother on the infant’s health.

Can you smoke e-cigarettes while breastfeeding?

Yes. Mothers who use tobacco or e-cigarettes should be encouraged to quit; regardless, breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits and breast milk remains the recommended food for an infant. recognize pregnancy and lactation as two ideal times to promote tobacco and smoking cessation.

Can you smoke while 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. Mothers who use tobacco or e-cigarettes should be encouraged to quit; regardless, breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits and breast milk remains the recommended food for an infant.

What is an electronic cigarette?

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes (electronic nicotine delivery systems) are battery powered fake cigarettes consisting of a mouth piece, a cartridge with nicotine and other chemicals, and an atomiser that converts the liquid into a vapour. Some look like a traditional cigarette and some look more like a pen and are called vaporisers. In the UK e-cigarettes are regulated under the UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 which translates the European Union Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) into UK law. 9 In America different brands are not safety regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and contain various chemicals and flavourings with varying amounts of nicotine 10 11.

Can you use an e-cigarette while breastfeeding?

Can I use an e-cigarette if I’m breastfeeding?#N#Based on the available evidence on e-cigarette safety there is no reason to believe that using an e-cigarette would compromise breastfeeding. If vaping is helping you to quit smoking and stay smokefree, you should carry on with it, including while breastfeeding.

Does nicotine gum affect breastfeeding?

Blood levels of nicotine from nicotine gum can vary quite widely and may be similar to smoking traditional cigarettes however there aren’t any studies on breastfeeding mothers using this product ( Lactmed, 2018). Hale says levels of blood nicotine from chewing gum may be 30-60% of the levels of blood nicotine found in cigarette smokers. Hale also states however that if the gum is chewed rapidly the levels of nicotine may be similar to smoking itself. Breastfeeding mothers are advised to avoid breastfeeding for two to three hours after chewing this product (Halesmeds.com. 2018)

Does lactmed affect breast milk?

However, Lactmed 3 cautions that nicotine crosses into breast milk readily; and based on animal studies it may increase a baby’s risk of SIDS and may interfere with normal lung development. Lactmed says no studies have been undertaken to resolve concerns around using nicotine products for breastfeeding mothers.

Is nicotine replacement therapy safe for breastfeeding?

Nicotine replacement therapy and breastfeeding. Although there has not been much research on NRT it is thought that the small amount of nicotine excreted into breast milk from nicotine therapy products is less dangerous for the baby than smoke inhalation from smoking traditional tobacco products.

Can you use nicotine replacement therapy on a baby?

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) by patch, gum, spray or inhaler will at least avoid some of the harmful effects of passive smoking for mother and baby. However nicotine does still pass into the breast milk of a mother using these products.

Can you take nicotine patches while breastfeeding?

Nicotine levels. The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says that nicotine products taken at intervals ( intermittent therapy) are preferred in breastfeeding women as opposed to products that provide a steady stream of nicotine (such as a nicotine patch, see next section). This allows blood levels ...

What is Vaping?

A vape or electronic cigarette is a device created to heat up liquid containing tobacco or marijuana to create a vapor that the user can inhale. Vaping has become one of the most popular methods of consuming both tobacco and marijuana products.

Types of Vaping Devices

Whether a vaping newbie or someone who has vaped for quite some time, you may not know the different types of vaping devices available. There are standard devices and then those for the technology savvy. Vaping devices come in four categories:

Is it Safe to Vape While Breastfeeding?

The CDC encourages breastfeeding mothers to quit vaping. Even if they are still vaping, they still consider it best to continue with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits, and breast milk is still the recommended food for infants. As with smoking, it is highly recommended to avoid vaping around your infant.

Does Vaping Affect Breast Milk Supply?

Vaping does affect breast milk supply. The effects are due to the fact that nicotine easily crosses into breast milk from the mother. This nicotine is ingested via breastmilk and absorbed into the system of the infant. In some studies, the impact on infants who ingest the breast milk supply that has nicotine in it include:

Vaping Health Risks

Vaping is seen as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. It contains anywhere from one-third to half the nicotine found in a regular cigarette. Although there may be less nicotine, there are many other risks to vaping. The liquid itself and the vapor it produces contains harmful substances like:

Can I Vape With No Nicotine While Breastfeeding?

It is not recommended to vape nicotine-free e-cigarettes. The recommendation is because even some nicotine-free advertised e-cigarettes still contain nicotine. In a 2019 Australian study, six out of 10 nicotine-free e-liquids still had nicotine. There were also test samples that found 2-chlorophenol.

CBD Vape While Breastfeeding

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) strongly advises against using cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana while breastfeeding. There are many negative health effects from using marijuana and other THC-containing products while breastfeeding.

What are the effects of nicotine on a developing fetus and newborn baby?

Research on the effects of vaping on fetuses and newborns has lagged behind the quick rise in e-cigarette use.

How to keep a baby from smoking?

Make your house and car smoke-free to keep your baby away from secondhand smoke. After vaping, change your clothes, and wash your hands before holding your baby. Nurse your baby before, rather than after, vaping. Your body will have more time to clear the nicotine from breast milk. Don't give up trying to quit.

Are e-cigarettes safe to use while pregnant?

No, e-cigs are NOT safe to use while pregnant. Tobacco companies advertise e-cigs as safe alternatives to traditional cigarettes, since they don't release the same chemicals as burning tobacco smoke. However, e-cig vapor or aerosol still contains many other harmful substances. Also, due to the lack of regulation, the chemical compounds in e-cigarettes can vary between brands.

Does nicotine from e-cigarettes get into breastmilk?

Yes. Inhal ed nicotine enters a mother's blood through her lungs, and then easily passes into breastmilk. Research shows that nicotine in a mother's breastmilk can affect infant sleep patterns―raising the risk for blood sugar and thyroid problems that can lead children to become overweight. Nicotine is also thought to decrease milk supply in nursing mothers, possibly by lowering levels of the breastmilk-stimulating hormone prolactin.

What is the chemical in e-cigarette vapor?

flavoring like diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious, irreversible lung disease called obliterative bronchiolitis.

Is smoking a cigarette during pregnancy bad for you?

It is proven and well known that smoking cigarettes during pregnancy is dangerous to the mother and baby's health. But, do you also know e-cigarette use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is risky? E-cigarettes―also known as e-hookah, e-pens, vape pens, or tanks―are NOT a safe way to quit smoking during pregnancy either.

When is the CDC urging people to stop vaping?

Stop Vaping Now! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a health advisory on August 30, 2019 urging people to avoid e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. An outbreak of severe lung disease related to vaping has caused severe illness and death in many US states. The American Academy of Pediatrics joins ...

Why is breastmilk important for babies?

Your breastmilk protects your baby against infections and has the perfect balance of nutrients to help her thrive. It's also a lovely way for the two of you to bond.

How does an e-cigarette work?

As you draw on the e-cigarette, the liquid is drawn into a chamber. This heats the liquid and turns it into a vapour, which you breathe in. A hit of nicotine goes straight into your lungs, and is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream.

What is the liquid in an e-cigarette?

E-cigarettes usually contain a liquid mixture of flavourings, nicotine, water, propylene glycol and glycerine. Propylene glycol is used in foods to keep them moist and as a carrier for medicine in inhalers. Glycerine is a slightly sweet, moistening food additive.

Can e-cigarettes pass into breastmilk?

We already know that nicotine and other toxins from tobacco smoke pass into breastmilk. So the same could happen if you use an e-cigarette.

Is it safe to smoke e-cigarettes while breastfeeding?

It's safer to use e-cigarettes than smoke conventional cigarettes while breastfeeding. E-cigarette vapour has many fewer toxins, and at much lower levels, than tobacco.

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Does nicotine affect breastmilk?

Nicotine makes blood vessels become narrower in adult smokers. In theory, nicotine in breastmilk could have the same effect on babies as it does in adults. However, the amount of nicotine that passes to your baby through breastmilk would be a lot less than the nicotine you take into your body when you vape.

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.

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.

Can you use e-cigarettes while breastfeeding?

The best and safest approach is to not use e-cigarettes while breastfeeding. Nicotine does pass into breast milk. Studies have shown that infant heart rate and blood pressure changes have been associated with increased nicotine concentrations in milk.

Can you use an e-cigarette while pregnant?

There are only a few studies that look at e-cigarette use while pregnant. The information is limited because not all e-cigarettes are the same and many contain different ingredients. While we sometimes have information about individual ingredients, we often do not have information on the effect of those ingredients in combination. It is not clear how these different ingredients can impact the pregnancy or the baby.