Generally, it is advisable to avoid vaping when pregnant, and also for the first few months after childbirth. But if you had vaped during pregnancy, did you do anything wrong? Would it have any impact on your child? Well, this is quite a sensitive one, but the details are well-explained in this article. 

It is important to note that all points addressed below are for informational purposes and not essentially a recommendation. To get recommendations, you should reach out to your doctor to propose what type of vape product you can particularly use based on your medical reports, if you can’t get yourself to stop vaping during pregnancy.

Is Vaping Safe During Pregnancy?

According to scientific research and clinical recommendations, pregnant women should not vape; this is because the nicotine-infused aerosol and other potential “harmful” chemicals included in the vape’s formula could hurt fetal development and increase the chances of a preterm birth or low birth weight compared to when the mother does not vape.

“But there are women who vape when pregnant and still have normal babies.” Yes, that’s true, but what’s also true is that different people have different bodies, in the sense that what might not affect another might affect you, and what might not affect you might affect another. This is why whenever a sensitive vaping question like this is thrown, the best answer is always to speak with your healthcare provider for their professional guidance.

It is understandable that a woman who loves vaping and views it as a perfect way to cope or relax after a stressful moment would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to quit vaping during pregnancy; for such situations, there are actually safer vaping alternatives, and if it must be a “vape,” then there are also non-nicotine vapes that such women can use.

If the woman is already nicotine-dependent, then perhaps she’d need to undergo a supervised nicotine withdrawal procedure, using licensed nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) products. Put simply, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that e-cigarettes and other nicotine products are not safe in pregnancy.

Can Vaping Harm a Baby During Pregnancy?

Several health authorities publish that when nicotine crosses the placenta, it reaches the developing fetus and can interfere with brain, lung, and cardiovascular development of the baby, triggering the possibilities of adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational-age infants.

Even so, some of the studies hint that the risks of vaping during pregnancy are similar to those for cigarette smokers; however, the topic of vaping vs smoking during pregnancy is a discussion we’d address below, right away. But generally, because nicotine alters neural development, vaping while pregnant is strongly advised against.

Smoking vs Vaping during Pregnancy: Which is Worse?

Pretty much a nuanced question, but really an important discussion to have. Generally, smoking is more harmful and hurtful than vaping and even carries heavier health consequences. This does not imply that vaping doesn’t have its own health consequences, especially when a vaper becomes addicted or develops nicotine dependency, but as I said earlier, this is nuanced—both can be harmful to health, in different “degrees.”

First off, cigarettes contain nicotine too – a core ingredient in vaping e-liquids and salts – plus many combustion-derived toxins (tar, carbon monoxide), which are clearly linked to poor pregnancy outcomes. E-cigarettes (vapes) do not combust but still deliver nicotine and additional aerosolized chemicals. Hence, practically, both are considered risky for a pregnant woman; the comparative risk depending on the product, dosing, and patterns of use.

If we’re talking non-pregnant women, then vaping can be a harm-reduction strategy compared with continued heavy smoking. In pregnancy, however, the calculus changes: nicotine itself is directly harmful to fetal development, so harm reduction by switching to e-cigarettes is not straightforwardly acceptable (for pregnant women).

What Happens If I Vaped Before I Knew I Was Pregnant?

Now, that’s the real concern of quite many women who seldom vape, but it’s not a big deal, trust me. At first, if you were just vaping on your regular schedule and about 2 weeks later or a month later, you discovered you were pregnant, all this while you were vaping, at first, you shouldn’t panic, nothing serious has spoiled. However, here’s what to do immediately after your discovery.

The moment you are confirmed pregnant, you should stop using vapes right away. This should be non-negotiable, but if you’re going to really find it difficult to stop, then open up to your prenatal care provider; they may recommend monitored NRT or cessation strategies.

That you vape a few weeks into pregnancy won’t really cause harm to your child. Most risks associated with vaping during pregnancy are caused by consistent vaping throughout the pregnancy period. The priority is to minimize your exposure to harmful nicotine products and chemicals.

How to Quit Vaping While Pregnant?

Is that possible to achieve? Sure, it is, even if somehow you’ve become an addict. The standard strategy combines behavioral support plus, when appropriate, licensed nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) under medical supervision. Of course, this depends on your level of exposure and addiction to vaping.

In most cases, you may be told to switch to lower-nicotine products that do not produce aerosols, such as nicotine pouches or gums. For seldom vapers, it could be easy to stop vaping entirely during the pregnancy period. Most importantly, whichever process you’ll be taking to stop vaping during pregnancy, make sure to avoid unregulated and OTC products; only use original, regulated products, whether it is vapes, gums, pouches, or lozenges.

Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives to Vaping

Well, nicotine pouches are considered “better” than vapes for pregnant women; you might want to try them out. These pouches allow you to control the exact amount of nicotine you consume daily and do not deposit any aerosol toxins in the body. Similar to these pouches are nicotine gums, which appear as regular gums but contain nicotine.

Nicotine gums are chewable, but nicotine pouches are not meant to be chewed; that’s the major difference between the two product types, which are recommended for pregnant women who want to halt vaping in the meantime. Of course, there are “nicotine-free” vapes pregnant women might care to try out, but one of the main reasons it is recommended to stop vaping during pregnancy is due to the aerosols produced by vapes; even a nicotine-free vape produces that.

If you’re a Geek Bar fan, you can go with the Geek Bar G-Pulse nicotine pouches; they come in different flavors and nicotine strengths. There are other nicotine pouch brands, including the popular Zyn and Tyson 2.0. These are a good start. But remember to follow your prenatal care provider’s recommendations if you were placed on clinical assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I switch from cigarettes to a vape while pregnant?

While that might sound “cool” to the ear, it is not advisable—you shouldn’t be smoking cigars in big 2025 anyway, c’mon! But then, this isn’t to judge you. Just don’t switch from cigars to vapes simply because you’re pregnant and seeking “safer” ways to cope. Please discuss this with your healthcare provider and hear their recommendation. For us, we’d recommend nicotine pouches or gums.

Is NRT safe in pregnancy?

Yeah, sure, but only when recommended by a healthcare professional and monitored by a licensed health practitioner. A clinician will choose the appropriate product and dose suitable for you, based on your diagnosis report.

I vaped a few times before I knew I was pregnant. Will my baby be okay?

One-off exposures are unlikely to cause an adverse outcome. The most important step is to stop further vaping and engage with prenatal care the moment you become aware of your condition. Your baby should be fine at birth if you stopped on time.

Does secondhand vapor exposure affect pregnant women?

Secondhand exposure is less well quantified than secondhand smoke; it's only sensible to avoid other people vaping around you and not to walk into rooms where plenty of people are puffing. If you keep inhaling secondhand vape aerosols, it might as well cause the same harm as if you were the one vaping.

Conclusion

The summary of the whole thing is, “vaping during pregnancy is not safe.” Nicotine and other inhaled aerosols from vapes can cause harm to fetal development and lead to birth complications. If you’re a frequent vaper and then you just discovered you’re pregnant, it is advisable to stop right away and open up to a healthcare professional for assessment of your level of exposure already and recommendations on how you can clean up. We wish you the best!