Vaping FAQs

does vaping while pregnant affect the baby

by Adelia Cummings Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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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 vaping when pregnant harmful to Your Baby?

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.

Does vaping affect your fertility?

While research is ongoing, it appears that yes, vaping can lead to fertility difficulties. A recent study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society found a correlation between e-cigarette use and embryo implantation.

How does smoking and drinking affect pregnancy?

Smoking during pregnancy has also been linked with many health problems, including:

  • Problems with the placenta
  • Premature birth
  • Birth defects
  • Low birth weight
  • Pregnancy loss

Does smoking marijuana effect getting pregnant?

When a pregnant woman smokes marijuana, it increases her exposure to carbon monoxide gas. This can affect the oxygen the baby receives, which could impact the baby’s ability to grow. While this doesn’t always happen in babies whose mothers smoked marijuana, it can increase a baby’s risk.

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Can vaping cause birth defects?

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.

Is vaping worse 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.

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).

Can you have a healthy baby if you smoke during pregnancy?

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. It's best to quit smoking before you get pregnant.

Which is worse vaping or smoking?

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.

Does vaping cause miscarriage?

Is vaping safe during pregnancy? No. Most vaping products contain nicotine, which is known to be harmful to a developing baby. Nicotine use in pregnancy can harm a baby's developing brain, can cause babies to be born too small or too early, and increases the chance of miscarriage, stillbirth, and SIDS.

How soon should you stop smoking while pregnant?

It Is Never “Too Late” to Quit Smoking During Pregnancy! Quitting smoking before getting pregnant is best. But for women who are already pregnant, quitting as early as possible can still help protect against some health problems for their developing babies, such as being born too small or too early.

Can I quit smoking at 6 months pregnant?

It's never too late to quit smoking during your pregnancy. However, stopping by 20 weeks into pregnancy can reverse many of the harmful effects for your baby. After just one day of not smoking, your baby will get more oxygen. Each day that you don't smoke, you are helping your baby grow.

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 is nicotine addictive?

The same holds true for regular cigarettes. Nicotine is known to raise rate of respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate. It is also known for stimulating the user’s central nervous system. Upon reaching the brain, dopamine levels start increasing, and a feeling of pleasure is released. Nicotine is said to be an ingredient that gets the brain primed to become addicted to other substances. Different manufacturers of e-liquids will use different degrees of nicotine while making their products. Some do not use it at all, while others do.

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.

What are the flavors of e-cigarettes?

The number of flavors available in e-cigarettes is astounding! Over 7,000 flavors have been created, such as coconut, berry blast, cherry, sweet tarts, fresh apple, menthol, and cinnamon. There is a great number of ingredients that are used to create these flavors. One special mention of an ingredient is diacetyl. This ingredient is also known for creating the buttery flavor that is found in some popcorns. Although it is commonly consumed, it is said that it is very dangerous when inhaled. Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is a disease that cannot be cured, and it is believed that diacetyl can trigger it.

Is vaping dangerous for pregnant women?

Dangers to the Baby. The effects of vaping while pregnant do not just stop at you – they extend to your little one as well. Here are some very real and very serious problems that your baby is at risk of developing if you vape during pregnancy: Your baby could be stillborn.

How to socialize with someone who smokes?

If you want to socialize with someone who smokes, and you know they do it inside their home or car, avoid going inside either one. Instead, suggest meeting outdoors.

What are the side effects of vaping (E-cigarettes) while pregnant?

The full effects of vaping and vaping while pregnant are still being investigated but the following are a list of the current known side effects:

How to stop vaping while pregnant?

Nicotine is dangerous for the baby and the mother and so it is best to choose a natural method of quitting smoking and vaping – one that avoids any drugs.

What is diacetyl used for?

One that was used until recently was diacetyl. This is used to create a buttery flavour such as used in popcorn, custard and sweet dessert flavours. High levels of exposure to diacetyl can lead to the serious lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans also known as “ popcorn lung ”.

What are the risks of smoking cigarettes while pregnant?

Miscarriage. Placenta issues. Stillbirth. Low weight babies. Read more about the side effects of smoking while pregnant.

Is nicotine vaping poisonous?

Poison – Nicotine vaping liquid can be poisonous within a few minutes of contact to an adult’s skin. To a child it can be deadly. In 2014 a 1 year-old child died from liquid nicotine poisoning in US 20. Asthma & emphysema – these can be exacerbated by the ultrafine particles inhaled by vapers 11, 12.

What is PG in stage?

Propylene Glycol (PG) – This is used to create artificial smoke and fog on stage and on screen. It is also an ingredient in antifreeze and is known to cause irritation to the lungs and eyes and may cause issues for people with asthma and emphysema.

Can vaping harm a baby?

It can damage the baby’s brain and is a risk to both the mother’s lungs and the babies lungs 1. The best advice and safest advice is for expectant mothers not to vape because not enough is known about the safety of vaping especially during pregnancy and even juices without nicotine may contain harmful chemicals.

Is it safe to vape while pregnant?

In short, no. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists does not consider e-cigs to be safe substitutes for cigarettes and says they should not be used during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control has also issued a warning that pregnant women should not vape.

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.

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)

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.

What are the chemicals in a flavoring?

The flavorings often contain toxic chemicals such as benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, and diacetyl. Some liquids or vapor can be contaminated with stuff you shouldn't be inhaling, like silica and such heavy metals as nickel, tin, and lead.

Why do blood vessels in the brain need to dilate?

Blood vessels in the brain need to dilate or get wider as the brain needs more or less blood blowing through it.

Is vaping good for pregnancy?

The people who make and cell e-cigarettes and the liquids that are used to make the vapors have suggested that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes even during pregnancy. They base this idea on the fact that there are fewer toxic chemicals in vapors than in tobacco smoke. About half of women who smoked before they became pregnant continue to smoke during their pregnancy and afterward.

Does vaping affect the brain?

In their recent study, they exposed pregnant and breastfeeding rats to the vapors from vaping and found that it affected the way blood vessels work in the brain. Because they looked at the brains of the offspring at several time points up until adulthood, they found that this effect lasts all the way up to the time the rat pups were adults.

Is vaping bad for your lungs?

Many people think that vaping—using an electronic cigarette to inhale vapors that usually contain nicotine—is safer than smoking cigarettes. A new study suggests that not only is vaping bad for your lungs, appears to be bad for your baby in years to come.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

Mark Olfert and his colleagues at the University of West Virginia have been investigating that claim that vaping is safer than smoking tobacco for several years. They have shown in their research that vaping produces the same problems with the way blood vessels in adults react that are seen with smoking. They decided to see if this causes problems to fetuses in the uterus if the mother vapes during the pregnancy.

Can smoking cigarettes cause premature birth?

Smoking tobacco during pregnancy has been linked to premature birth , low birth weight, birth defects, and to an increased risk of your baby dying from sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking during pregnancy has also been shown to impair the development of the lungs and the brain in children of women who smoked while they were pregnant and has been linked to impaired learning during adolescents. Although e-cigarettes have been promoted as a way to help stop smoking cigarettes, most young users vape for pleasure rather than to stop smoking.

Can nicotine cause brain problems?

This means that it may not be the nicotine that is causing the problems in the brain’s blood vessels but that the problem is with something else in the liquids used in e-cigarettes.

Is it safe to vape while pregnant?

This, unfortunately is a question that no one can fully answer. Vaping simply hasn’t existed long enough for scientists and researchers to give definitive answers on how safe it is. Of course, vaping allows you the option of zero nicotine, which eliminates tobacco's most addictive component. However, despite this obvious benefit, we cannot conclusively state that vaping is a ‘healthy’ activity to partake in while pregnant with the available research.

What is the best way to quit smoking?

One popular alternative is nicotine replacement therapy, with many healthcare professionals claiming it is the most effective and healthiest way to quit smoking. However, some studies are suggesting that this method is very similar to just giving up smoking altogether.

How many women smoke while pregnant?

The leaflet reports on a few statistics regarding women smoking during pregnancy, claiming over 26% of women admitted to smoking at some stage during their pregnancy. Considering the health concerns of smoking while pregnant, 26% is a high percentage, so it’s no surprise that women are looking for alternatives to smoking.

Is it safe to vape second hand?

It’s also important to note that if you often find yourself surrounded by people vaping , evidence suggests that second-hand vaping poses no known risks to second-hand users. So, if you’re concerned about the risks of inhaling second-hand vape smoke this is good news. Studies have revealed that the smoke from an e-cigarette evaporates so quickly that it doesn’t pose a threat to bystanders. If you are still concerned or wary about second-hand vape smoke then its probably still best to avoid people vaping in a confined space.

Is smoking while pregnant a high percentage?

The leaflet reports on a few statistics regarding women smoking during pregnancy, claiming over 26% of women admitted to smoking at some stage during their pregnancy. Considering the health concerns of smoking while pregnant, 26% is a high percentage, so it’s no surprise that women are looking for alternatives to smoking.

Is vaping bad for pregnancy?

From the evidence and research available, vaping could be claimed as the ‘lesser of two evils’ when it comes to pregnancy. While it is advised to avoid both, vaping appears to harbour less health concerns. An important point raised in the leaflet was that even if vaping was helping a woman to refrain from smoking, it’s still dubious to switch to vaping while pregnant.

Is the leaflet for midwives worth reading?

Although the leaflet was primarily written for midwives and other healthcare professionals, it’s definitely worth reading if you’re interested.

Can I Vape While Pregnant?

Nobody can stop you, but as mentioned above, vaping during pregnancy has a negative effect on you and your baby. If you’ve stopped smoking and switched to vaping as a ‘safer’ option, have in mind that studies show that people who vape are actually 28% less likely to stop smoking.

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.

Why is it important to deal with nicotine withdrawal?

Dealing appropriately with nicotine withdrawal symptoms is very important for the long-term brain development of the child. If your baby was exposed to nicotine while in the womb and is showing signs of nicotine withdrawal, then it is wise to take extra care in the rearing of a behaviorally vulnerable baby.

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;

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.

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.

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