Vaping

[teabagfreak]

Just wondering - does anyone else vape during pregnancy? I gave up cigs 2 years ago and started using a vape instead. I understand that I am just replacing a bad habit with another habit but I keep feeling a terrible guilt wondering if it is harming my baby 😕 I get so stressed without it though.

I said to my midwife at the beginning and she didn't say anything about it really.

Do you use a liquid with nicotine?

Nicotine in itself while addictive isn’t harmful. All the other crap in cigs is what causes the damage. Whilst not ideal it’s better than smoking.

CDC says nicotine can damage a baby in pregnancy. Not sure what country you're in. Check advice.

I did until the oil kept leaking / spitting into my mouth. I looked at the back of the liquid bottles and saw all kinds of warnings so I stopped and quit nicotine completely.

Could you maybe join the NHS smoke free campaigns/apps or talk to someone about coming off them? Feel much better for not doing it and it saves any stress or worry.

I'm in Scotland - I have a small bit of nicotine in my liquid 0.3% 😳

Maybe switch then. It's not ideal. Yes better than cigarettes but would be better to do without.

I dropped down to a 0% nicotine when I was about 16 weeks - didn’t find out I was pregnant until I was nearly 14 weeks and my midwife preferred me vaping to smoking but wanted me to stop vaping completely. Might just be her preference though. I have stopped vaping since.

Don't worry about the nicotine, NRT is routinely prescribed to pregnant women. Sensible guidance here (PDF) from Smokefree Action.

Problem is vaping is new. Research on certain chemicals in regular use during pregnancy and such things can take 10 or even 20+ years to yield any dependable results.
If you feel guilty it's best just to try going without for the duration of the pregnancy. I'd rather be safe than blame any little niggle post birth on not giving up vaping.
Much like @Grimmfebruaury midwife. They'd rather air on the side of caution behind an unknown substance than to say it's okay.

Just stop. Seriously. Most people would do anything for their children. Do this.