For new mothers, ensuring their baby’s health and well-being is a top priority. If you’re a vaper and breastfeeding, you may wonder how vaping could affect your breast milk and your baby. This article explores the potential risks of vaping while breastfeeding and offers advice on how to make safer choices.

Does Vaping Affect Breast Milk?

Vaping introduces nicotine and other chemicals into your body, some of which can pass into breast milk. Here’s how vaping might affect breastfeeding:

• Nicotine Transfer: Nicotine can be detected in breast milk within minutes of vaping. While the concentration decreases over time, exposure can still affect your baby.

• Impact on Milk Supply: Nicotine can reduce prolactin levels, a hormone essential for milk production, potentially leading to a decreased milk supply.

• Irritability in Babies: Infants exposed to nicotine may experience irritability, restlessness, or difficulty sleeping.

Other Chemicals in Vapour

In addition to nicotine, vaping aerosols contain substances like propylene glycol, flavourings, and trace amounts of heavy metals. While the levels are typically low, the long-term effects on infants are not well understood, making caution advisable.

Tips for Reducing Risk While Vaping

If you choose to vape while breastfeeding, consider these strategies to minimise potential risks:

• Use Nicotine-Free E-Liquids: Switching to e-liquids without nicotine eliminates the primary concern of nicotine transfer to breast milk.

• Time Your Vaping Sessions: Vape immediately after feeding to allow time for nicotine levels in your body to decrease before the next feeding.

• Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration supports milk production and helps your body eliminate toxins.

• Avoid Vaping Around Your Baby: Protect your child from second-hand vapour by vaping in a separate, well-ventilated area.

Alternatives to Vaping While Breastfeeding

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT): Consider using patches or gum, which provide controlled nicotine levels and may pose less risk to your baby.

• Quitting Vaping: Breastfeeding can be an excellent motivator to quit vaping altogether. Seek support from a healthcare provider or cessation programme to ease the process.

Consulting Your Doctor

If you’re unsure about vaping while breastfeeding, consult your doctor or a lactation specialist. They can provide personalised advice based on your circumstances and help you make the best decision for your baby’s health.

Conclusion

Vaping while breastfeeding introduces potential risks due to nicotine and other chemicals in vapour. While switching to nicotine-free e-liquids and timing your vaping sessions can reduce these risks, quitting vaping entirely is the safest option for your baby’s health. If you’re struggling to quit, seek professional support to protect both your health and your baby’s well-being.