Vaping during pregnancy

[Electricmouse026]

Hi all,
I'm just wondering if anyone has vaped during pregnancy? I'm pg with my first, I am a smoker however dramatically cut down when I found out and in the process of trying to quit, the hospital have actually prescribed me a vape and e liquid to aid me in quitting, however I am seeing loads of contradicting information online weather it's safe for pregnant women or not, I don't want to harm my baby and I can't see why the hospital would give me anything that would do so either! Just wondering everyone's thoughts? Xxxx

No @Thefeud I happened to post on it and saw your post. Trust me there was no hunting needed.

For anyone who'd like to learn more about vaping and what we know so far about risks (not everything, but actually rather a lot), I recommend:

Public Health England evidence review

Royal College of Physicians report

Also the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group's written evidence to the current Science and Technology Committee's E-cigarettes Inquiry.

Many studies suggest that vaping with nicotine is safer than smoking real cigarettes. However, that does not mean that nicotine isn’t harmful to the foetus.

Some of us don’t eat pâté, shellfish etc as a precaution because it carries risks in pregnancy. I’m simply suggesting that it would be best if OP cut out the nicotine completely as a precaution. Nicotine isn’t safe, nicotine does cause cancer. If you are intaking nicotine then so is your baby.

Besides, the addictive affects of nicotine (chemically) wear off after 2 days of not smoking. It’s the action of smoking that some people find hardest to stop, thus me suggesting no nicotine free vapes (with just water vapour). Unfortunately, women find it harder than men to kick the habitual side of smoking (the oral fixation, the action of inhaling etc) that is purely psychological and actually harder to suppress. [dont have the references on me but had to write an essay on smoking cessation for my degree- take it or leave it].

Here’s a study on nicotine and pregnancy:

www.nhs.uk/news/2011/07July/Pages/nicotine-patches-quit-smoking-pregnancy.aspx

Sorry *suggestig nicotine free vapes

Basically, you need to get whatever support you can to stop smoking entirely. You know cigarettes are very dangerous for your baby so they go.

E-cigs have not been around long enough to truly understand their effects. Studies are still being done and the more that come out, the more it looks like they are indeed very bad for human health too. So far better than traditional cigarettes but still not ok.

If you have to do either you must choose to vape, however it’s incredibly selfish not to quit entirely. If you can’t do this then how are you ever going to make the many sacrifices necessary to look after a child? It’s time to woman-up.

@PencilsInSpace - I’ll add to your thread about smoking/vaping in pregnancy. The judgments and ignorance about the subject are depressing.

I vaped in my last pregnancy and am doing so this time as well. Both me and my midwife are happy with my choice. My co2 test has come back negative every time. And I'm still getting a small amount of nicotine and therefore not ripping everyones heads off.

Then your child is still getting nicotine too. Very irresponsible. Your midwife isn’t happy. It’s the lesser of two evils.

@BarryTheKestrel - it’s great that the midwife is happy too. Cancer Research have published some positive reports about vaping in the last year, not sure if you’ve seen this.

I was a vape, for four years, until I fell pregnant. If you look on any of the sites which promote vaping, they will NOT advise it during pregnancy. Yes, it is safer than smoking, but in terms of NRT, it is not a good shout for pregnant ladies.

In studies of vaping on embryonically similar vertebrates like frogs and mice, and in one such test, damage to neural crest cells were identified, and these cells govern craniofacial development. In effect, vaping was linked to craniofacial deformity in mice and frogs. Worth noting is that results were similar in tests of vape containing nicotine, and nicotine free options.

journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185729

popcorn lung

@Iwasjustabouttosaythat
So sorry I didn't realise you were mother of the year! We all make sacrifices, yes I have quit smoking....am I a big girl now?! And yes I have been prescribed an e-cig, from my consultant at the hospital I might add! As this seems fairly new practice I was asking the experiences of others in a similar position who obviously have/have had an addiction, obviously in your case you havent, which seems easy for someone like you to look down their nose at....grow up....and woman up :) xxx

@BarryTheKestrel
Glad that your doing well with your vape! Yeah my CO2 was 2 last few times they checked, which is that of a non smoker so my midwife was really happy! Before I got prescribed it when I found out I was pg, I cut down to 1 per day which I had on my lunchbreak at work, which I have obviously bow replaced with the vape xxx

Vaping is not just nicotine and food colouring. TPD (tobacco product directive) regulated ejuice contains vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, flavour concentrates and sometimes sweeteners such as ethyl maltol. The level of VG and PG varies depending on the thickness of the ejuice.

Nicotine in itself is harmful in pregnancy, most commonly associated with small birth weights. Vegetable glycerin is sold on the shelves at boots and used to be taken orally to soothe a sore throat, it is also in various good products as it is a thickener product. Propylene glycol is a disinfectant, used in many things, including asthma inhalers. You can get ejuice with added food colouring, personally I would steer clear.

If you decide to vape, I would suggest you use a zero nicotine, 100% VG ejuice which you will need a powerful ecigarette due to the thickness of the liquid. This minimises the amount of chemicals. Flavour wise, any fruit flavour, avoid menthols which do damage your lungs more than fruit flavours.

I vape and have managed ecig stores for 4 years. If I was pregnant, I would not vape. However I have caped long enough to think I wouldn't go back to smoking. If you don't feel you can quit the cigs, then yes, vape. It is the lesser of two evils.

Vaping absolutely does not cause popcorn lung. Popcorn lung was caused in popcorn factories from inhaling diacetyl. Under the EU TPD regulations, regulated ejuice no longer contains diacetyl and even when it once did, in dessert flavoured ejuices, it was in miniscule amounts. It was usually found in ejuices that contained butter, custard or cake concentrates. It was banned in 2016.

Electric, actually I did smoke in the past. I simply stopped, because I care about my children. So if you want to discuss how to give up entirely I can help with that too

You want personal experiences so everyone can tell you how great you are. And you are doing better by not smoking cigarettes. If you are going to be a decent parent you need to try a bit harder and stop entirely. Why wouldn’t you? Yeah it’s a bit harder being addicted to cigarettes but people quit smoking all the time. Forever. Not doing so is pure irresponsibility and selfishness on your part. Woman up and take proper care of your children.

*Basically, you need to get whatever support you can to stop smoking entirely. You know cigarettes are very dangerous for your baby so they go.

E-cigs have not been around long enough to truly understand their effects. Studies are still being done and the more that come out, the more it looks like they are indeed very bad for human health too. So far better than traditional cigarettes but still not ok.

If you have to do either you must choose to vape, however it’s incredibly selfish not to quit entirely. If you can’t do this then how are you ever going to make the many sacrifices necessary to look after a child? It’s time to woman-up.*

This.^^ with bells on

I am 29 weeks pregnant and have vaped through out. I have a carbon monoxide level test every time i see a midwife at the hospital. Its always a big fat 0! Midwifes are very impressed, I've been told to not stop using mine. They would rather you vaped than smoked. Baby has always been good at every scan so they aren't concerened one bit. They told me if anyone ever said not to use it to ignore them. There isn't much research on them atm but they do know at the moment that they are a lot better than smoking. I switch between a ymg and a 3mg nicotine stregnth. If it stops you smoking its worth it. Good luck xx

@Iwasjustabouttosaythat

Ok I apologise, I take that back and that's great that you managed to quit permanently, as obviously I know how hard it is. I think what a lot of people are misunderstanding, is that my NHS trust are now prescribing e-cigs as a regulated aid to quit, not as a replacement of cigarettes, it is my intention to quit and this was the given method, which i know appears to raise a lot of eyebrows as I don't think every NHS trust across the nation are doing this yet? It seems as though if I was given NRT in the form of gum or patches (which apparently I didn't smoke enough, as they would be overdosing me with nicotine) there wouldn't be as much conflicting opinions! What method did you use to quit? Xxx