Vaping while pregnant

[dogenddave]

I have just had a young mum into my shop wanting to buy a Riva kit from me, she is smoking about 20 cigs a day.

She then told me she is having another baby and was it perfectly safe to use an e cig during her pregnancy.

I cannot see a problem, as we all know there is non of the nasty stuff in a vape stick that there is in a cig, but when you are giving advice to someone I need to be certain. I have searched the internet but can find very little on the subject. E cigs must be a far better option for her. Anyone on here got any thoughts on the matter?

Paul
Vapourshack

[alvoram]

This is a young life we're talking about, so I wouldn't want to even guess without evidence...

However it does seem the NHS are usually willing to allow pregnant ladies to use NRT, after speaking to a Doctor, that's all I can find I'm afraid...

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1756.aspx?CategoryID=53&SubCategoryID=534

[dogenddave]

I advised her to consult her GP, the trouble with that is they don't know much at all about e-cigs.

She knows she needs to stop smoking cigs, but has tried various things. But as with the same as most of us on here the craving for nicotine is just too great.

I am certain e cigs have to be a better option, but there is a little niggle in the back of my mind. I don't want to give her the wrong advice.

[vereybowring]

As we know, ideally she doesn't use anything during the pregnancy as smoking, caffeine and many other things are best avoided altogether.

I haven't looked into it at any depth but using an e cig in moderation has got to be better than using analogues.
As has been said they do allow lower strength NRT as far as I'm aware but talking to a gynaecologist about it is essential rather than a GP since they are more expert on the risks.
She may have to download and print out e cig information to take along to explain what it is since most practitioners are still clueless about e cigs.

[dogenddave]

It looks athough we are all on the same wavelength here.

I have to be honest, until this young lady came into the shop, the problem of vaping and being pregnant never crossed my mind.

[maccafan]

Wholly agree with Verey.

I would say no because nicotine increases blood pressure. I am no medical person but I do know that you can get a condition called pre-eclempsia which manifests itself with high BP and can result in mis-carriage.

Even things like everyday vitamins can be dangerous to the fetus.

[Jemima]

I think most will say a def no to analogues, and it's way better to not do either. But in real life it's not always that easy. If it was me and it was the e-cig or the analogue, the e-cig would win every time.

If she is already smoking and you have no idea how far along in the pregnancy she is, harm reduction is the better option if cold turkey is not an option.

[alvoram]

Apr 2, 2012 14:20:27 GMT Jemima said:

I think most will say a def no to analogues, and it's way better to not do either. But in real life it's not always that easy. If it was me and it was the e-cig or the analogue, the e-cig would win every time.

If she is already smoking and you have no idea how far along in the pregnancy she is, harm reduction is the better option if cold turkey is not an option.

Exactly what we all want to say.... but haven't got the balls to commit to...

[dogenddave]

She is going to carry out a bit of research herself, and get medical advice. I asked her to let me know the outcome.

I have to agree with Jemima that harm reduction is a better option, and it will have to be her decision if she wants the ecig. I am not copping out, but I am no doctor and I cannot say these will not harm her baby.

What a dilemma ???

[domesticextremist]

I suppose the main concern would be if the nicotine can
get into the babies bloodstream and make it an addict.

I have no idea if that is the case but if it were, the same would
apply to NRT.

Otherwise the two options are carry on smoking (really bad),
go cold turkey (probably best in the long run, but stress on the
mother can affect the foetus too).

I'm no medic, but I'm not sure we can expect them to give an
unbiased or informed answer either.

[Gordy]

to be blunt having a baby should give her enough incentive to give up any kind of smoking and not want to add any additional risks into the equation

[shamreez]

head read a thread in UKV where the same was answered.

There is a member in UKV who had vaped during her pregnency after getting confirmation from her GP

[Chrissie]

On most of the vendors websites or hand outs, they do say e-cigs are not recommended to be used during pregnancy.

However, as others have said, if she can't give up smoking, then harm reduction is a better option.

[Gordy]

Apr 2, 2012 15:26:21 GMT Gordy said:

to be blunt having a baby should give her enough incentive to give up any kind of smoking and not want to add any additional risks into the equation

having said that ...the lesser risk i agree would be vaping a low nic ...sure we dont know what its doing to OUR bodies long term but i guess its only the short term effect of possible higher blood pressure and the chemicals that are passed on to the baby that are important here and the only thing i can see is the nicotine that is possibly harmful

[Perpetua]

I wonder if using a nicotine patch and vaping zero nic juice, so she feels as if she is still 'smoking', is a possible option?