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Does vape nicotine go into breast milk?

The Impact of Vape Nicotine on Breast Milk
As the popularity of vaping continues to rise, many new mothers are left wondering about the implications of using e-cigarettes, particularly regarding the transfer of nicotine into breast milk. The question of whether vape nicotine enters breast milk is crucial for breastfeeding mothers who use these products and for healthcare providers advising them.
Nicotine Transfer to Breast Milk
Research indicates that nicotine does indeed pass into breast milk. When a mother vapes, the nicotine enters her bloodstream through the lungs and subsequently can be found in her breast milk. Studies have shown that nicotine levels in breast milk can peak approximately 1-2 hours after vaping, which raises concerns about the potential exposure of infants to this substance during breastfeeding.
Health Risks for Infants
The presence of nicotine in breast milk poses several health risks for infants. Nicotine is a known neurotoxin that can affect brain development in young children. Infants exposed to nicotine through breast milk may experience increased heart rates, irritability, and potential long-term developmental issues. Furthermore, the aerosol from e-cigarettes contains not only nicotine but also other harmful chemicals and flavorings that could adversely affect an infant’s health.
Recommendations for Mothers
Health organizations, including the CDC, recommend that mothers who use tobacco or e-cigarettes should ideally quit smoking and vaping altogether. If quitting is not an option, they advise that breastfeeding can still continue, but mothers should be encouraged to minimize exposure to nicotine by timing their vaping sessions to avoid breastfeeding immediately afterward. This approach aims to reduce the concentration of nicotine in breast milk during feeding times.
Conclusion
In summary, vape nicotine does transfer into breast milk, posing potential health risks to breastfeeding infants. While breastfeeding remains beneficial, mothers who vape should consider the implications of nicotine exposure and seek guidance on how to mitigate risks. Ultimately, the best course of action for both mother and child is to strive for a smoke-free environment.

How does nicotine affect a mother and baby?

Smoking doubles your risk of abnormal bleeding during pregnancy and delivery. This can put both you and your baby in danger. Smoking raises your baby’s risk for birth defects, including cleft lip, cleft palate, or both. A cleft is an opening in your baby’s lip or in the roof of her mouth (palate).

What happens to a baby when the mother vapes?

Most electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) contain nicotine, which permanently damages a baby’s developing brain and many other organs.

Is 0 nicotine vape safe?

Vaping overall, even without nicotine, can have harmful effects. Vaping, the act of vaporizing a liquid to inhale, is an increasingly popular alternative to cigarette smoking. However, it could damage health by irritating the lungs and throat and introducing toxins into the body.

Can I quit vaping while breastfeeding?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, there’s no safe amount of tobacco or nicotine vaping product use. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals reach your baby through the placenta. After birth, it reaches them through your breastmilk. It’s never too late to quit.

Can you vape while on birth control?

As a general rule, people who are 35 years or older who smoke tobacco products or vape should not use birth control methods with estrogen.

How long after smoking nicotine can I breastfeed again?

About 90 minutes after smoking, the level of nicotine in the mother’s blood and milk decreases by about half. Your baby will probably want to nurse frequently in the early weeks, so you may not always be able to wait that long between smoking and the next feeding.

What does nicotine do to a fetus?

The effects of nicotine are seen in every trimester of pregnancy, from increased spontaneous abortions in the first trimester, to increased premature delivery rates and decreased birth weights in the final trimester.

How long to wait to breastfeed after drinking?

Breastfeeding and alcohol
Breastfeeding mothers who have consumed alcohol can wait 2 hours (per drink) before breastfeeding. This time will allow alcohol levels in her breast milk to go down. If the mother cannot wait to feed her infant, she can feed milk that was previously expressed when the mother was not drinking.

Does nicotine in breast milk affect babies?

Infants spent significantly less time in active and quiet sleep and woke from their naps sooner. These changes being attributable to nicotine exposure is suggested by the finding that, with greater relative doses of nicotine delivered to infants in their mothers’ milk, sleep disruption was greater.

How long does vape nicotine stay in breastmilk?

Can Nicotine Get into Breast Milk and How Long Does It Stay There? Nicotine can be present in breast milk for a few hours after smoking or vaping.

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

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