Pregnant woman: vaping is as dangerous as smoking during pregnancy

Some pregnant women replace their tobacco consumption with the use of an electronic cigarette. If the danger seems less, it is not according to a study carried out by a team of scientists from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colorado, in the United States.

Vaping during pregnancy: embryos “significantly reduced in size”

Scientists have studied the effects of vaping on mice. The research team exposed the mice to the equivalent of four e-cigarette cartridges per day, which yielded a total of 96 mg (4.0 mL x 24 mg/mL) of nicotine. They then looked at the impact this had on the pups’ bones, lungs and general development. Results ? Overall, embryos exposed to nicotine-containing vapor were “significantly reduced in size”. The researchers also found that e-cigarettes containing nicotine interfered with fetal bone and lung development. “Pregnant women are increasingly turning to vaping as a perceived safer alternative to cigarettes. However, nicotine impairs fetal development, suggesting that, like smoking, vaping nicotine can be harmful to the fetus,” says Associate Professor Emily Bates. She added that: “Nicotine passes through the placenta to the fetal circulation where it can accumulate to levels higher than in maternal plasma. This disrupts the development of several organs and systems.”

Electronic cigarettes and pregnant women: shedding light on public health messages

“The popularity of vaping among young people, the addictive nature of nicotine, and the lack of perceived risk suggest that vaping during pregnancy is likely to increase over time,” Emily Bates insists in the study’s findings. of maternal exposure to electronic cigarettes on fetal development is essential to inform public health messages and protect the health of the baby” according to the researcher. In France, the College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians as well as the Francophone Society of Tabacology recommend not to use the vaporizer, with or without nicotine, during pregnancy.“In the current state of knowledge, it is advisable to respect the precautionary principle” thus indicates an expert report on the management of smoking in the If you are pregnant and you have difficulty quitting smoking and/or vaping, do not hesitate to talk about it with your midwife who will direct you to a tobacco specialist in order to accompany you in a personalized way towards smoking cessation. Moreover, note that nicotine substitutes (patches, chewing gum, sucking tablets, etc.) are not contraindicated during pregnancy.