As a new parent, there’s so much to take in, and now here’s something else to think about; can you vape while breastfeeding? Well, you certainly can, but what goes along with that? What effects does it have on your breastmilk and your baby?
Doing what’s healthy for your baby is your focus. Maybe you’ve been cutting back or trying to quit smoking, and vaping is working for you right now. Is there a middle road here, where you can vape, and protect your baby, too?
Nicotine use during breastfeeding is a complicated issue. There’s a lot to learn about the risks and alternatives, if you decide to forego vaping while you breastfeed. Part of the decision involves whether vaping is safer than smoking; the importance of timing; expert opinions; and judgment-free guidance.
The balance of parenting and nicotine use
If you vape, you might wonder if it’s safe to continue while breastfeeding. The answer isn’t simple. Nicotine is a powerful substance that can affect your body and your baby’s development. As a breastfeeding mother, your choices directly impact your child’s health.
Why this question matters
Breastfeeding provides numerous benefits, including essential nutrients, antibodies, and bonding opportunities. Introducing nicotine into your system can affect your milk and, consequently, your baby.
What Happens If You Vape While Breastfeeding?
Vaping releases nicotine into your body, and this nicotine can pass into your breastmilk.
Please note: Not all vapes contain nicotine. Maybe one way to cut down on nicotine risk to your baby is to use less nicotine, if you’re not ready to quit altogether. Non-nicotine vapes could be a good occasional alternative to give you a way to vape, and not always use nicotine.
Nicotine in breastmilk
Nicotine enters your bloodstream quickly when you vape. From there, it can transfer into your breastmilk. The amount of nicotine in your milk depends on how much you vape and when you vape, relative to breastfeeding.
Short- and long-term effects on infants
Infants exposed to nicotine through breastmilk may experience irritability, poor feeding, and sleep disturbances. Long-term effects are less certain, but studies suggest potential risks. These risks include greater risk of several diseases and disorders. You should weigh these possibilities carefully when considering vaping while breastfeeding.
Is It Safer Than Smoking?
Vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking. It avoids combustion, which produces dangerous chemicals like tar and carbon monoxide. Vaping still delivers nicotine and other substances into your body that can affect your breastmilk. While vaping may reduce some harm compared to smoking, it’s not risk-free.
Combustion vs. vapor
Smoking burns tobacco; vaping heats a liquid to produce vapor, which usually contains fewer harmful chemicals, but does include additives and flavorings. These may not be safe for infants. Thus, while vaping might be less harmful than smoking, it’s not a totally safe choice for breastfeeding mothers.
Timing Matters: Pump & Dump?
If you vape while breastfeeding, timing is key. You can reduce risks to your baby through the concept of “pump and dump” and knowing about the half-life of nicotine.
Understanding half-life of nicotine
Nicotine gets cleared from your system about every two hours. The timing of your vaping and breastfeeding sessions influences how much nicotine your baby receives. Vaping just before feeding exposes your baby to higher nicotine levels than vaping afterward.
Best practices if you vape
Try vaping right after a feeding. The nicotine levels get a chance to drop before the next session. The safest option is to avoid vaping entirely. “Pump and dump” (expressing breastmilk then discarding it) isn’t advised. Nicotine stays in your body for hours, making it hard to know when your milk is free of it. Timing vaping and feeding is one alternative to reduce risk, if you decide to keep vaping.
Alternatives for Mothers
You could talk to your doctor about other alternatives to vaping while breastfeeding; there are multiple ways to handle nicotine cravings.
Nicotine gum, patches
Nicotine replacement therapies, like gum and patches, avoid the extra chemicals found in vape liquids. Yet, they still introduce nicotine into your body. This can pass into your breastmilk. If you opt for these therapies, talk to your healthcare provider.
Counseling and support programs
Counseling or support programs can help you quit nicotine, if you choose. This is the healthiest choice for you and your baby. Hotlines, support groups, and online programs are there to assist you.
Expert Opinions
OB-GYNs, the CDC, and La Leche League are some of the organizations that provide insights on this subject.
La Leche League encourages breastfeeding mothers to avoid nicotine. They discuss that vapes can reduce the amount of nicotine in breastmilk. They note that breastfeeding while using nicotine is preferable to not breastfeeding, and minimizing nicotine use can protect your baby.
The CDC recommends avoiding all nicotine forms during breastfeeding, highlighting potential risks. OB-GYNs typically advise quitting nicotine entirely. They can offer resources and support to help you stop, prioritizing both your health and your baby’s.
Make Informed Choices & Explore Options with I Love Ecigs
It’s a personal choice on handling nicotine cravings and caring for your child. You can do both, if that’s what you want. Ideally, quitting altogether eliminates risk. Talk to your doctor and try some of the support groups we mentioned above, if you’d like to learn more.
Considering quitting or reducing nicotine? Explore options built for your journey. Buy quality brands like Logic, Jinx, Juul, Blu and Vuse on I Love Ecigs’ website. View our product line for a great vapes selection!
