Smoking during pregnancy can lead to complications, but new research suggests vaping may pose fewer risks.
A study from Queen Mary University of London unexpectedly found that pregnant vapers were able to quit smoking without evidencing harm to their pregnancy or baby's health.
Vaping Helps Pregnant Smokers Quit
The researchers discovered that women who used nicotine replacements (patches or vapes) after their first trimester gave birth to babies with similar weights to babies of non-smokers.
Additionally, babies of vapers had significantly higher birth weights compared to babies whose mothers continued smoking.
Lead author Professor Peter Hajek concludes:
“E-cigarettes helped pregnant smokers quit without posing any detectable risks to pregnancy compared with stopping smoking without further nicotine use. Using nicotine-containing aids to stop smoking in pregnancy thus appears safe.”
This contrasts common advice that vaping or smoking in pregnancy should be completely avoided.
Study Suggests Nicotine Not the Key Pregnancy Risk
The study data implies that chemicals in cigarette smoke, not nicotine itself, primarily drive smoking's pregnancy risks. As Hajek notes:
"The harms to pregnancy from smoking, in late pregnancy at least, seem to be due to other chemicals in tobacco smoke rather than nicotine."
Other findings showed vaping lowered respiratory infections, possibly due to vape ingredients having antimicrobial effects.
Authorities like the Mayo Clinic currently warn that nicotine from vapes or cigarettes can still damage fetal development. But this study's conclusions prompt re-evaluation of potential nicotine versus smoke chemical impacts.
Comparing Outcomes Across User Groups
The research tracked 1,140 pregnant smokers from English and Scottish medical centers aiming to quit smoking.
Participants fell into categories of "smokers," “abstainers” using nicotine replacements, “reducers” cutting smoking by 50%, and dual users of both cigarettes and nicotine products.
Saliva analysis verified smoking/vaping status and exposure levels. Abstainers using nicotine replacements saw a 38% drop in nicotine biomarkers. Dual users and reducers conversely increased exposure.
Among participants, vapes proved more popular than patches for quitting smoking during early pregnancy.
Wider Implications and Next Steps
The authors highlight the need to study women who only vape and never smoked, as this practice grows more prevalent.
For now, the suggestion that vaping could provide a safer alternative for pregnant smokers challenges existing guidelines. The startling results warrant additional investigation to conclusively determine nicotine versus smoke impacts in pregnancy.
If verified, this research could hold immense promise in reducing smoking-related risks for many mothers and babies.
