Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy is responsible for an increased rate of stillbirths, complications during labour, premature birth, miscarriages, birth defects and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Based on the latest evidence, e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than cigarettes and are an effective aid for quitting. However, it is important to use UK e-liquids which have been regulated by the MHRA and never home-made or illicit vaping substances.
Many women who smoke during pregnancy are using e-cigarettes as an aid to quit or cut down and members of the midwifery team may be asked for advice.
Resources
These resources have been designed by the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group to inform health professionals and support conversations with pregnant women who smoke and are inquiring about e-cigarettes. The resources will be updated in line with any updates to NICE guidance, significant evidence updates or in the event that a medically licensed e-cigarette comes to market. The ‘Infographic for pregnant women‘ was developed in collaboration with Tommy’s.
Disclaimer: None of the Challenge Group’s resources have input from organisations with vested interests in the vaping or tobacco industries.
- Use of electronic cigarettes before, during and after pregnancy: A guide for maternity and other healthcare professionals (A4)
- Use of electronic cigarettes before, during and after pregnancy: Key messages for health professionals working with pregnant women and their babies (A5)
- E-cigarettes in pregnancy: Infographic for pregnant women and families (A5) [Also available (online only) in the following languages: Regular version: Bulgarian | Polish | Punjabi | Romanian | Urdu Print version: Bulgarian | Polish | Punjabi | Romanian | Urdu]
- E-cigarettes in pregnancy: Infographic for pregnant women and families (A4)
To request physical copies of the infographic and key messages document please email: admin@smokefreeaction.org.uk
Please note: These resources should be ordered by maternity units to be used consistently across the service. If we get very small requests we may need to follow this up with your service manager.
Additional resources
- Hajek P et al. Electronic cigarettes versus nicotine patches for smoking cessation in pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. 2022
- Hartmann‐Boyce J et al. Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation. Cochrane database of systematic reviews. October 2020.
- ASH Factsheet: Use of e-cigarettes among adults in Great Britain: 2021
- PHE. Vaping in England: evidence update March 2020 (reviews the literature on vaping among pregnant women)
- ASH Briefing: Electronic cigarettes
- ASH Factsheet: Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain: 2019
- NCSCT. Electronic cigarettes: A briefing for stop smoking services. 2016
- PHE. Evidence review of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products 2018.
- Hajek P et al. A Randomized Trial of E-Cigarettes versus Nicotine-Replacement Therapy. 2019
- ROSPA: Use of e-cigarettes (vaping) in the home: advice for parents
- Tommy’s: Smoking in Pregnancy Costs Calculator
- Royal College of Nursing: Guidance on smoking cessation and e-cigarettes
- Royal College of Midwives: Position Statement – Support to Quit Smoking in Pregnancy
- ‘Making the Switch’ – short films for smokers considering a move to vaping
- NFCC. E-cigarette use in smokefree NHS settings. 2018
NCSCT Training
Challenge Group response to inquiry on e-cigarettes
In December 2017 the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group submitted its response to the House of Commons Committee on Science and Technology Inquiry into e-cigarettes. You can read the submission here and learn more about the inquiry here.
Webinars
Nicotine in pregnancy (March 2019)
This Challenge Group webinar presents evidence concerning the safety and effectiveness of the use of nicotine in pregnancy, including e-cigarettes.
Speakers
00:00 – 04:00 – Hazel Cheeseman, ASH
04:00 – 25:30 – Professor Linda Bauld, University of Edinburgh
25:30 – 47:00 – Professor Peter Hajek, Queen Mary University of London
47:00 – 01:15:44 – Panel discussion joined by Jo Locker, Senior Tobacco Control Manager at Public Health England and Louise Hand, Project Manager Smokefree Trust at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust
Use of e-cigarettes in pregnancy (March 2017)
Professor Linda Bauld from the University of Stirling provides an update on the latest evidence about the use of electronic cigarettes in pregnancy, which is followed by a question and answer session with experts from Public Health England, the Royal College of Midwives and Improving Performance in Practice.