Is it safe to vape and use e-cigarettes while I’m breastfeeding?

While it’s safer to vape and use e-cigarettes than smoke conventional cigarettes while breastfeeding (NHS 2022), experts don’t yet know enough about the risks of vaping and breastfeeding.

How can vaping affect my breastmilk and my baby?

Although vaping liquids have fewer toxins than tobacco, they still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals, which can pass to your baby through your breastmilk (The Women’s 2021).

Studies have shown that a baby’s heart rate and blood pressure can change when they’re exposed to nicotine in breastmilk (Mother to Baby 2023). Your baby is also more likely to be irritable or fussy and have a higher risk of:

• ear and lung infections
• vomiting
• diarrhoea

(The Women’s 2021)

 

How can vaping affect me as a breastfeeding parent?

Nicotine also lowers your levels of a hormone called prolactin, which your body releases to stimulate your breasts to produce milk. So having nicotine in your bloodstream could affect your milk supply (Perez 2023).

It's also thought that prolactin can make you feel more maternal, so you may miss out on the emotional effects of this milk-stimulating hormone (Georgescu et al 2021).

Should I stop vaping while I’m breastfeeding?

While it’s better for you and your baby to stop vaping, there's no need to stop breastfeeding just because you vape. Your breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby, and it's all they need for their first six months (NHS 2023).

Your breastmilk protects your baby against infections and has the perfect balance of nutrients to help them thrive. It's also a lovely way for the two of you to bond (NHS 2023).

As a precaution, vape after you've fed your baby. Waiting means that your milk is less likely to be directly affected by the nicotine in the e-cigarette (Perez 2023).

It's probably safer to vape outside. Although you only exhale tiny amounts of nicotine and other toxins, we don't know enough about the long-term effect on babies of passive vaping.

E-cigarettes usually contain a liquid mixture of artificial flavourings, nicotine, water, propylene glycol and glycerine. Propylene glycol is used in foods to keep them moist and as a carrier for medicine in inhalers. Glycerine is a slightly sweet, moistening food additive (The Women’s 2021).

As you draw on the e-cigarette, the liquid is drawn into a chamber. This heats the liquid and turns it into a vapour, which you breathe in. A hit of nicotine goes straight into your lungs and is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream.

You can check the nicotine levels in your e-cig by looking at the ingredients list. The government restricts nicotine levels in e-liquids to a maximum strength of 20mg/ml. Look for a brand that has a kitemark or CE mark, so you can trust what the label says.

If you're trying to quit tobacco, vaping can be an effective way to help you. But it's always worth discussing alternatives to kicking your nicotine habit with your doctor, your midwife, or health visitor.

You can get extra support and advice from the NHS SmokefreeOpens a new window service.

More breastfeeding advice and information:

• Find ways to help relieve sore breasts.
• How to cope with leaky breasts.
• Sleep and breastfeeding.