Vaping while pregnant puts unborn babies at risk, researchers warn

VAPING during pregnancy could put unborn babies at risk, researchers warn.

E-cigarettes are considered a safer alternative to smoking but they can contain nicotine which is known to stunt babies' development.

And tests by experts at Durham University show the effects are as bad after vaping as after smoking conventional cigarettes.

Vapers’ babies were unable to grasp a finger in their hand and were not startled by having head support removed.

They were harder to settle and more irritable than non-smokers’ infants.

NEGATIVE IMPACT

The study is the first known research into the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on babies.

Lead author Suzanne Froggatt said: "Nicotine can cause widespread negative effects on the central nervous system, subsequently affecting brain development, with animal studies indicating the devastating effects within the brain.

"Although e-cigarettes might expose the mother to fewer toxins than cigarettes, given the uncontrolled amount of nicotine in e-cigarette consumption and the effects on the fetus which can be seen post-natally, we don't believe that mothers should be encouraged to use e-cigarettes during pregnancy."

E-cigarettes are often considered less harmful than cigarettes for pregnant smokers because despite still containing nicotine, they don't produce toxins like carbon monoxide.

The study, published in the journal E Clinical Medicine, looked at the neurobehavioural outcomes of more than 80 one-month-old babies born at least 37 weeks into pregnancy.

The cohort included 44 born to mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy, 29 who smoked cigarettes and ten who smoked e-cigarettes.

Overall, babies' birthweight, gestation period and head circumference did not differ between those whose mothers smoked e-cigarettes during pregnancy and those who did not smoke at all.

Babies of mothers who smoked traditional cigarettes during pregnancy had significantly lower birthweight and head circumference in comparison.

But babies exposed to nicotine in the womb - either from cigarettes or vapes - did have a greater number of abnormal primitive reflexes.

They were also slightly less able to self-regulate compared to the babies of non-smokers, influencing how consolable they are after crying, self-quieting skills and hand-to-mouth movements.

'BE AWARE'

Babies with fewer self-regulation abilities are often more irritable and have difficulty consoling themselves or being consoled by others.

The study also found that higher amounts of nicotine correlated with reduced motor maturity in babies, such as how floppy or rigid a baby is when held.

Despite their small sample size, the researchers suggest their findings are a robust indication that nicotine exposure from smoking e-cigarettes could slow fetus development.

The team added that their findings suggest the effects of other forms of nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches, might need further research.

Study co-author Professor Nadja Reissland said: "Mothers should not be encouraged to use e-cigarettes during pregnancy.

"Public health policymakers need to be aware that e-cigarette use is not risk free."

The team said their findings suggest the effects of other forms of nicotine replacement therapy on foetal development might also need further research.