IS IT SAFE TO USE E-CIGARETTES IN PREGNANCY?

It’s common knowledge that smoking in pregnancy is bad for your baby’s health.

Smoking in pregnancy can restrict the essential oxygen supply to your baby. So, as a result, their heart has to beat harder every time you smoke. When you quit smoking, you improve your own health, and reduce the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth as well as the risk of your baby being born prematurely or underweight. The risk of cot death (SIDS) is also much less if you give up smoking while pregnant.

Stopping smoking also helps your baby later in life, as children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from asthma and other serious conditions. The earlier in pregnancy you quit the better for you and your baby but even if you only stop smoking in the last few weeks of pregnancy, this will still benefit you both.

The effects of passive smoking in pregnancy are also dangerous. So - even if you don’t smoke yourself - you should try and avoid inhaling other people’s cigarette smoke. Also, it may be more difficult to stop if someone around you smokes.

But, just like at any other time, quitting smoking in pregnancy is difficult. That’s why so many prospective mums turn to e-cigarettes to help them give up.

But, what exactly are these devices and is it safe - for you and your baby - to use them during pregnancy?  

What are e-cigarettes and are they safe?

Smoking e-cigarettes (also known as vaping) has become increasingly popular in recent years. With an e-cigarette, you inhale nicotine as a vapour rather than smoke. They are seen as a better alternative to cigarettes as they don't burn tobacco, so don't produce tar or carbon monoxide – which are two of the most damaging elements in cigarette smoke. E-cigarettes heat a solution that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine, and flavourings.

Because they don’t produce tar or carbon monoxide, e-cigarettes are a much safe alternative to actual cigarettes. According to Public Health England, they are around 95% less harmful than smoking.

Is it safe to use e-cigarettes in pregnancy? 

Many mums use e-cigarettes in pregnancy to help them quit the habit and protect their baby.

The NHS states that using e-cigarettes in pregnancy to help you stop smoking is much safer for you and your baby than continuing to smoke. However, unlike some other nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), such as patches and gum, e-cigarettes are not available on NHS prescription. This is possibly because not enough research has been done into using e-cigarettes in pregnancy, although this situation may change with time.

Using nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy

Just like e-cigarettes, there are many other products that contain nicotine but none of the damaging chemicals found in cigarettes. So, they provide you with nicotine without the harmful effects produced by cigarette smoke.

These are a much better option than continuing to smoke, which is why so many of these products – such as patches, gum, inhalator, nasal spray, mouth spray, oral strips, lozenges, and microtabs – are available on NHS prescription.

You can also buy them over the counter at a pharmacy, but you should speak to a health professional – such as your midwife, GP, pharmacist or a specialist stop smoking adviser – before you use them. 

Support for quitting smoking in pregnancy

Quitting smoking is not easy, but there is lots of free support available through the NHS. There will be a stop smoking service near to you, where you can have a one-to-one appointment with an adviser, and group sessions with other people who want to give up. You can also get access to affordable NRT products like gum and patches (but not e-cigarettes.)

These services will help you to quit smoking in pregnancy, and will continue to offer you support for several months after.

Your midwife or health visitor will give you advice on what services are available in your area to help you quit while pregnant and after the birth too. You can also access over the phone support from the Smokefree National Helpline on 0300 123 1044 or visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree for more information, tips and details of your local stop smoking services.

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