Vaping During Pregnancy: Is it safe?

Your future ‘bundle of joy’ is worth more than a cloud of vapour–Agree? There is a rise of electronic cigarettes among young adults. Thus, vaping during pregnancy is a trending topic today. However, the side effects of vaping during pregnancy have reached dubious conclusions with different schools of thought. Needless to say, the poor fetal effects of cigarette smoking during pregnancy are well-known and maybe remotely applicable to vaping, as both use nicotine. Pregnancy is a tough time with anxiety, stress, mood swings and apprehensions; for many vaping might just help them calm down.

Vaping is when you inhale vapour rather than smoke. It entails inhaling and exhaling vapour from an electronic cigarette or other similar devices. Electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes or e-cigarettes, are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid solution, such as vape juice or e-liquid, to produce an aerosol or vapour that the consumer inhales.

Not all vapes have nicotine. Some vaping devices and electronic cigarettes have zero nicotine, making people feel safe. Therein lies the fallacy. Zero-nicotine-vapor also contains potentially harmful agents, namely:

• Traces of carcinogenic nitrosamines
• Small levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde that are cancer-causing
• Toxic metals include cadmium, nickel, and lead
• Harmful flavouring agents: Ingredients include acrolein, vanilla, pulegone, propylene oxide, acrylamide, formaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzaldehyde, eucalyptol, ethylvanillin, citral, and crotonaldehyde.

• Irritation

Vape juice, including nicotine-free shisha pen puffs, can cause irritation and potentially cancer-causing compounds when heated.

• Inflammation

Nicotine-free vaping triggers an immune system response. This happens as the chemicals, especially the E-juice flavouring compounds, cause inflammatory responses in the lungs or throat, affecting immune system function.

• Toxicity

The inflammation of toxins and allergens may eventually cause cell death in the lungs. Flavoring additives in e-cigarettes can harm heart blood vessel cells, leading to vascular conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

Though scientific research shows mixed results, gynecologists and obstetricians still ask to avoid vaping.

A UK study found that pregnant women using e-cigarettes had babies born with the same birth weight as those who did not smoke. This suggests e-cigarettes and nicotine patches as stop-smoking aids may not impact intrauterine growth, a key adverse effect of smoking in pregnancy. The study also found no adverse effects or poor pregnancy outcomes after the first trimester of vaping. However, the study was small, with nearly 1,200 participants, and recommends not smoking or vaping and decreasing usage in a step-down fashion, aiming for zero usage before pregnancy but definitely during pregnancy and postpartum.

Despite this, there is limited research on vaping and e-cigarettes during pregnancy. Thus, it is NOT wise to render it safe. Why?

• Exposure to heavy metals and cancer-causing agents can lead to long-term pulmonary or lung disease, worsening asthma, cancer, and increased susceptibility to pulmonary infections.

• The fetus thrives on oxygen transport from the parent, so exposures that decrease this transport will increase risks for fetuses.

While any decrease in tobacco inhalation is likely to improve pregnancy outcomes, continued inhalation with unregulated nicotine amounts is unlikely to be better for a patient than cessation or a controlled stepwise decrease of nicotine. Many clinicians are worried that research that shows zero impacts may give a false sense of reassurance, as there are more effects beyond birth weight.

The effects of vaping during pregnancy may not be well-documented, but the harmful impact of smoking, tobacco use and nicotine on your child’s health has been well-known for years. Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre, with its 16+ years of experience, and a team of renowned psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, caregivers, therapists, dieticians and trainers, offer personalized treatment for every type of addiction. We understand that addiction, especially during the challenging 9-months of pregnancy can be difficult to quit. Thus, we first find out your innermost fears, anxiety and root cause for impulsively smoking. Once we know that we begin with therapy that is less medicine focussed and more dependent on talk therapy, group sessions, social activities, diet planning, cognitive behavior therapy and more, we ensure, your husband and family are a part of the therapy and the whole family enjoys the pregnancy together. If you or a loved one is struggling to quit smoking or vaping during pregnancy, feel free to reach out. Let us see how best we can support you.