Vaping in early pregnancy

[Imanta]

I found out that I am pregnant at around 5 weeks. It was unplanned pregnancy and I was vaping nicotine heavily until the day I found out.

I am considering to terminate the pregnancy because of the vaping I've done. I am worrying about the damage I've done. I've read that those first weeks are the most sensitive to nicotine. But at the same time I am not sure if this is the right thing to do.

If I keep it I will keep worrying all through the pregnancy and blaming myself. Would you do an abortion in a similar situation?

Will appreciate any experience.

Found out I was pregnant at 6 weeks. Had been vaping nicotine throughout and drinking alcohol. No idea I was pregnant.

Had a scan at 8 weeks as midwife thought I could be further along. All good with baby.
Another scan at 12 weeks and 20 weeks. Again, all good.

I’m now 35 weeks pregnant and other than baby measuring small, he’s super healthy and no concerns. Reckon he’ll be around 7.5lbs when born.

Remember, some women go through entire pregnancies not realising they are even having a baby and continue with their lives and habits as normal. Some women choose to continue smoking throughout- obviously I’m in no way recommending doing so. But I don’t think having vaped for the first 5 weeks and being unaware will have caused any damage as you say.

Your absolutely fine op!
A lot of people drink, smoke, etc before they know their pregnant it’s very common as you obviously didn’t know yet!

I wouldn’t do an abortion because of this no.

Hi @Imanta don’t stress too much, I believed I was 7weeks pregnant a couple of weeks ago when I fainted in the supermarket and was sent to hospital to be checked out and found out during scan not only was I 11 weeks but pregnant with twins. Before I found out when I thought I was pregnant I was smoking and drinking aswell as eating loads of rubbish (not that the eating rubbish has changed) so far my babies are doing ok. I had the biggest guilt trip I’ve ever had, kept telling myself I’d hard my babies but the sr told me a lot of people don’t realise they are pregnant and carry on with their normal lives. Don’t beat yourself up over it what matters is you have now realised and changed your ways . The choice obviously is still yours if this is not a situation you want to be in and feel the times not right for a child only you can make that decision
Sending love x

I'm on baby number 5 , my last pregnancy being 3 years ago , I was a smoker and went to smoking cessation classes in the hospital , I was advised to use patches aswell as vaping to help me stop smoking which I did my baby was absolutely fine ,I'm currently vaping I'm 5 weeks and will continue vaping as per advice giving in my last pregnancy .

Thank you all for your replies! That sounds very reassuring!

Star865, do you mind me asking, do you vape nicotine juice or just 0 nic?

Last couple of days I felt like something is not right but I just continued vaping. I wish I listened to my intuition. I am really mad with myself.

Oh don't worry. The fact you have stopped is great and there is no need to terminate just because of a bit of nicotine consumption.

I smoked quite a lot before finding out about our eldest at 6wk. I stopped once I found out and the pregnancy went well. She's a moody 15 year old now.

Don’t be mad at yourself op honestly, it literally happens all the time when you don’t know your preg!

@Imanta bear in mind that if you're 5 weeks pregnant then the embryo is actually only 2 weeks old as they count the 5 weeks from your last period. In that time it's had its own yolk sac for nutrients and no placenta - so I doubt there's been any impact of your nicotine on the foetus yet!

Just think how many people don't find out they are pregnant until this stage and drink, smoke, take drugs until then but still have perfect babies.

I use nicotine in mines 18mg , please don't worry about it .

@Star865

I use nicotine in mines 18mg , please don't worry about it .

This is exactly how much I used! I do feel much better now.

What @Juno231 said, OP.

And just to add, remember our mum's and grandma's generation were unaware of the dangers of smoking in pregnancy and many continued to smoke like chimneys throughout - we're all still here and doing ok! I'd be astonished if any damage has been done and no, would absolutely not terminate because of this. Its great that you've now stopped though, well done, relax and enjoy your pregnancy x

The stress of stopping can be worse for the baby and I know its bad but my other 3 kids I smoked on and off with them as I just couldn't give up , this was 13 years ago and I feel terrible for it but as others said aswell plenty of children have been born especially years ago to mothers who smoke there was even smoking rooms in the hospital which seems crazy to think of , as far as I know vaping in pregnancy is better than smoking cigarettes, so please don't beat yourself up or think you have caused any damage to the baby , I plan to cut my nicotine down bit by bit in my vape till I get to 0 mg but I won't stress myself over it .

OP I really wouldn't worry, I was 6wks before I found out I was pregnant, I had been smoking until I found out and had a few nights of heavy drinking as well and he's now a healthy, happy 11yr old.

Nicotine in itself is not hugely harmful, it's all the other carcinogenic material in cigarettes which are the real issue.

You've given up now, don't beat yourself up about it at all and enjoy your pregnancy x

I really wouldn't worry OP. I've vaped for years, between 11-16mg usually. When I found out I was pregnant I cut down to 3mg but found it hard. My midwives are aware & they didn't seem concerned. I'm 13 weeks now & baby is fine. I also saw this poster at the hospital which reassured me.

Not quite the same but my husband vapes regularly indoors and i guess i passive vape by breathing it all in, son was born fine and the 20 week scan i just had was fine also