'I'm pregnant but I can't stop vaping - it's really stressful to quit'

25 January 2024 , 09:46

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The mum claimed she can't stop vaping despite being 18 weeks pregnant (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A mum-to-be has admitted she can't stop vaping and is wondering if she is harming her unborn baby with her habit.

The mum shared her "moral dilemma" as she opened up about her issue. While she's unsure if it's unsafe, she claimed she simply can't stop.

As the effects of vaping are still unknown it's advised that all pregnant women avoid vaping, and the NHS states: "E-cigarettes are fairly new and there are still some things we do not know." The health body does state that vaping is "much less risky than smoking" but this mum-to-be has still left people fuming.

Jasmine, who is 18 weeks pregnant, called into the Australian talk show with Kyle and Jackie O for their 'Am I Going To Hell?' segment, where she explained: "I'm actually dealing with a pretty heavy moral dilemma. I'm 18 weeks pregnant, and I'm still vaping." After hearing the woman's concerns, host Kyle asked if that was allowed, as reported by Kidspot.

Jackie responded by saying she's sure people are told to "not do it" but had read an article stating there were no "detectable risks" and that it doesn't "affect the baby".

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Jasmine then claimed it's really "stressful" to try and quit. However other radio listeners were not impressed with the confession. One person said: "They are only finding out about these things as they come… you have to think smoking has been around for a long time…when I was born, you could smoke in the hospital."

Whereas another was a little more blunt and said: "How dare you… so many people are trying to get pregnant…and you would just risk everything…you might as well do drugs. The fact you've even called and know it's a moral dilemma…how dare you."

Current evidence on e-cigarettes indicates they are much less risky than smoking, as the NHS website further adds: "Cigarettes deliver nicotine along with thousands of harmful chemicals. E-cigarettes allow you to inhale nicotine through a vapour rather than smoke. By itself, nicotine is relatively harmless."

But it is advised to stop smoking altogether, as experts at Mayo Clinic have urged: "While use of e-cigarettes might expose a growing baby to fewer toxins compared with those from regular cigarette use, nicotine exposure of any kind is harmful to a baby. If you're pregnant and you smoke or vape, quitting is the best way to give your baby a healthy start. Begin by consulting your health care provider for advice or seek counselling."

If you need support to stop smoking you can visit the NHS Stop Smoking services, which can offer 1-to-1 or group sessions with trained stop-smoking advisers and may have a pregnancy stop-smoking specialist. More information can be found here.

Niamh Kirk