Vaping FAQs

what does vaping do to pregnant wimen

by Saige Lind Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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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.
  • Your baby could be born with low birth weight, and may need to be kept in the NICU.
  • The chances of developing defects at birth increase.
  • There is risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, colic, asthma, and ADHD.

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.

Full Answer

What are the side effects of smoking cigarettes while pregnant?

Smoking while pregnant will:

  • Lower the amount of oxygen available to you and your growing baby
  • Increase your baby's heart rate
  • Increase the chances of miscarriage and stillbirth
  • Increase the risk that your baby is born prematurely and/or born with low birth weight
  • Increase your baby's risk of developing respiratory ( lung) problems
  • Increases risks of birth defects

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Can marijuana use during and after pregnancy harm the baby?

While this doesn’t always happen in babies whose mothers smoked marijuana, it can increase a baby’s risk. If you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant and use marijuana regularly, talk to your doctor about ways you can quit. This will ensure the greatest safety for your little one.

What are the side effects of smoking weed while pregnant?

What are the effects of smoking weed when pregnant? For the fetus, daily marijuana use during pregnancy may lead to "an increased risk of low birth weight, low resistance to infection, decreased...

Is smoking marijuana safe during pregnancy?

This isn't true. Marijuana use during pregnancy can affect you and your baby in many negative ways. Smoking marijuana (or tobacco) while pregnant raises carbon monoxide levels in your blood. This can reduce the amount of oxygen that your developing baby receives, which can adversely affect your baby's growth.

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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.

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;

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.

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.

Can second-hand ‘vape smoke’ cause harm to pregnant women?

It is also worth noting that so-called “passive vaping” poses no known risks to bystanders.

What is Smokefree Action Coalition?

The Smokefree Action Coalition has a Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group , which is a partnership between the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. The group have produced a leaflet entitled ‘ The Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Pregnancy ‘.

Can you vape while pregnant?

Vaping while pregnant. It’s common knowledge that smoking cigarettes whilst you are pregnant can harm your unborn child, and cause a myriad of health issues. Many of these health issues can cause permanent damage to your baby, and have negative effects for the duration of his or her entire life. Vaping is touted as a safer alternative ...

Is vaping 0% nicotine safe for pregnant women?

As there is no nicotine, surely it can’t be that harmful to your baby? Again, the results from these studies cannot yet confirm if this is safe or not. Scientists are still unsure of the effects that e-liquid chemicals can have on unborn babies.

Is it safe to quit smoking while pregnant?

Although it would be safer to quit altogether whilst pregnant, it is widely understood how difficult that can be.

Is it unreasonable to open a window?

If it makes you uncomfortable, it shouldn’t be considered unreasonable to open a window or even ask the person to vape outside.

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.

How does vaping affect the body?

When a person vapes using an e-cigarette, the nicotine and other substances in e-liquids are absorbed into the lungs and body rather quickly, entering the bloodstream. When it enters the bloodstream, it stimulates the adrenal glands which in turn, releases the hormone epinephrine or better known as adrenaline.

What is a vaping device?

They are devices that are battery-operated and used for people to inhale a vapor that contains certain stimulants and/or chemicals, and other flavorings typically with nicotine (but not always).

How can tobacco addiction be treated?

Typically, tobacco addiction can be treated with replacement drug therapies as well as some behavioral therapies.

Why do women become addicted to nicotine?

Despite the risk that it poses to a woman’s health, the reaction to the nicotine in the brain, and the reward receptors causes them to want more and more of it. This can cause a woman to become addicted and have a difficult time quitting.

What are the chemicals in e-cigarettes?

The study indicated that chemicals such as nickel and chromium were found in high levels in the e-cigarettes, specifically from the nichrome heating coils of the vaporizing device. Another chemical, cadmium, was found in low quantities which could cause breathing problems or other diseases.

Is vaping harmful to pregnant women?

Pregnant women who are vaping, as opposed to smoking real cigarettes, believe this to be less harmful to their unborn child, than regular cigarette smoking. Often, they don’t know if what they are using even contains nicotine. They may also think that the vaporizing devices will help them quit or reduce their cigarette smoking habit.

What is New Directions for Women?

New Directions for Women is available to treat women who are struggling with e-cigarettes or vaping. We serve women of all ages with a history of trauma and multiple treatment episodes. We are one of a few organizations in the nation who treat women, pregnant women, and women with children.

How many people vaped in 2018?

Gallup's data showed that one in five people under 30 vaped in 2018. The Truth Initiative, an organization aimed at getting young people off of both smoking and vaping, tells Bustle that male high schoolers reported vaping at a slightly increased rate than female high schoolers.

What chemicals are in vape cartridges?

Caron’s work focused on one specific chemical found in most vapes, propylene glycol vegetable glycerin, but didn’t test the effects of all of the chemicals found in vape cartridges. That’s because, Caron says, there is so little regulation when it comes to vapes and their suppliers that there’s a seemingly endless list of chemicals that go into these products, and any one of them could be harmful when inhaled. (Widespread fear following early reports of vaping's health effects led Juul, a popular e-cigarette brand, to stop advertising in the U.S. and accept a proposed ban on their flavored products. Vapes with THC, which are still illegal on the federal level, continue to be unregulated, despite the fact that they have been implicated in most cases of vape-related injury.) Caron's study found that even being exposed to just part of the chemical cocktail in vapes resulted in impaired fertility, delays in pregnancy, and even low fetal weight.

How many vaping deaths in 2019?

Amid a growing public health crisis, researchers are scrambling to find out how vape and e-cigarette use will affect people over time. So far this year, there have been over 1,600 cases of vaping-related illness or injury, and at least 34 deaths have been confirmed across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Is vaping a healthier alternative to smoking?

But Suter says that nicotine changes fetal brain and lung development, so vaping "is not a healthier alternative to tobacco cigarettes.". Like Caron, Suter noted that there was simply not enough research on the effects of vaping on reproductive health.

Does vaping affect pregnancy?

Dr. Suter was one of the few researchers looking into how vaping affects pregnancy back in 2014. Her research has focused specifically on the effects of nicotine on pregnancy. She says part of the reason she wanted to conduct her research was because she noticed that pregnant smokers were switching to vaping because they thought it was a healthy way to quit smoking cigarettes. But Suter says that nicotine changes fetal brain and lung development, so vaping "is not a healthier alternative to tobacco cigarettes."

Is vaping harmful during pregnancy?

“While there are many studies and 50 years worth of work that tell us that cigarette smoking is dangerous during pregnancy,” Caron says, “we were unable to find any rigorous research or data that tells us whether or not vaping is safe during pregnancy.”

What happened to Piper Johnson?

That’s exactly what happened to Piper Johnson, an 18-year-old from Illinois. Johnson was hospitalized after experiencing severe chest pain and difficulty breathing while on her way to move into her dorm. While doctors initially thought Johnson had pneumonia, they quickly learned they were dealing with something entirely different.

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