Are there e-cigarette risks for pregnant women?

Recent research carried out on mice reveal that chemicals produced from ‘vaping’ could possibly cause developmental problems in unborn babies.

In Britain, pregnant women are strongly advised to give up smoking altogether, but alternatives to tobacco, such as e-cigarettes, are considered a healthier substitute and are even available on the NHS.  There has been a rise in pregnant women who take up e-cigarettes, however they may still be running significant risks with the well-being of their unborn children.

The mice that were exposed to low levels of e-cigarette vapour over the course of their pregnancy and during the first few weeks in the lives of their offspring, found significant differences in brain activity, sperm counts and behaviour of their babies compared to unexposed mice.

Patrick O’Brien, a spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “Nicotine replacement therapy can help some people quit and is free on the NHS for pregnant women. E-cigarettes are becoming a popular alternative to tobacco smoking, but what is in them is not controlled. Some have been found to contain harmful substances as well as nicotine, as this study demonstrates.”

The study results alongside the rise in pregnant mums opting to turn to e-cigarettes highlight the need for further research into this issue.

If you have any concerns or questions about quitting smoking please see our “Be Healthy” page and you speak to your midwife for more advice and support.

For more on this story see here