E-cigarette and pregnancy: is it dangerous?

Tobacco is advised against throughout pregnancy, as you know. Yet, according to Santé Publique France, 16% of women continue to smoke during their pregnancy. 

The question of using an e-cigarette while pregnant, on the other hand, raises more questions.

In 2020, a study put forward rather reassuring results for women who vape without touching cigarettes.

In 2025, a new analysis offers a more nuanced reading, with several biases noted by specialists. This difference in conclusions can sow doubt.

Discover, with complete objectivity, the factors to take into consideration!

Tobacco and traditional cigarettes in pregnant women: what risks and dangers?

Smoking during pregnancy exposes the mother and her baby to numerous risks that have been documented for decades. The fetus directly receives the substances from the inhaled smoke:

• Tar;
• Carbon monoxide;
• Irritant compounds;
• Fine particles…

These substances disrupt oxygenation, slow development and increase the rate of complications. Studies correlate active smoking with obstetric problems:

• Low birth weight;
• Increased risk of premature birth;
• Disruptions to lung development;
• Complications at the time of delivery;
• High nicotine exposure;
• Respiratory fragility in children.

Maternal smoking behaviour remains one of the most studied factors in perinatal health.

Even low consumption maintains harmful effects, as each cigarette inhaled transmits several thousand chemical compounds to the fetus. Passive smoking also plays a predominant role, with the particles emitted by traditional cigarettes invading the surrounding air and thereby prolonging exposure.

The message from healthcare professionals therefore remains consistent: the most effective risk reduction comes through complete cessation!

Is nicotine dangerous for pregnant women?

Nicotine stimulates nicotinic receptors, accelerates heart rate and promotes dependence. Yet doctors frequently prescribe nicotine replacement therapies to pregnant women because these products do not contain the combustion toxins associated with tobacco.

Research does not show a major impact of replacement therapies on fetal development, provided that doses are controlled and adapted. These therapies help to stabilise smokers, limit nicotine fluctuations and promote cessation. They are always used under professional supervision, with a personalised dosage.

Nicotine alone is therefore not considered the main cause of the risks observed in smoking. It is above all the combustion substances that pose a problem. This explains why nicotine replacement treatments are among the medical recommendations.

See our related article: Is nicotine dangerous?

Does the e-cigarette pose a danger to pregnant women?

The question of using an e-cigarette while pregnant is today mobilising researchers, health authorities and practitioners. Vapes, liquids and vaping devices do not contain tar or carbon monoxide. This is one of the arguments that motivated the first studies on the effects and use among pregnant women.

The 2020 study: more reassuring results

This British study groups data from exclusive vapers, smokers and dual users.

The results show that women who vaped exclusively gave birth to children with a birth weight comparable to that of non-smokers.

The results even show an average percentage higher than that observed in the smoking group.

Among dual users (tobacco + e-cigarette), the child's weight and percentile match those of smokers. This point confirms that vaping while continuing to smoke does not reduce risks.

The 2025 study: a more nuanced analysis

A more recent study, however, puts forward more cautious conclusions.

It suggests that vaping during pregnancy could lead to certain risks, but the study contains several methodological biases.

The study groups do not share the same socio-economic profiles, the data does not always clearly distinguish exclusive use, and the analysis includes variables that are difficult to isolate.

Professionals therefore highlight the need for further studies to better understand exposure to liquids, aromatic substances and particles emitted during vaping.

What should we take away from these scientific studies?

• The main danger remains tobacco. The presence of combustion, the toxins inhaled and the intensity of exposure cause risks to vary significantly;
• The combination of vaping + tobacco provides no risk reduction: vaping while continuing to smoke amounts to maintaining the same dangers as exclusive tobacco use.

E-cigarette and pregnancy: recommendations

In the face of these multiple studies, and despite current debates, medical recommendations remain stable. Every woman has a different journey, a unique relationship with tobacco and a varying level of dependence. Being supported by a healthcare professional remains essential.
Here are the guidelines retained in medical discourse:

1. First option: do not smoke or vape anything. This option ensures the complete absence of exposure to substances associated with tobacco, vaping and aromatic products.

2. Second option: use nicotine replacement therapies prescribed by a doctor. They stabilise nicotine intake, promote cessation, reduce fluctuations and have not shown a significant impact on fetal development.

3. Third option: vaping exclusively to stop smoking cigarettes if nicotine replacement therapies do not work.

The e-cigarette can then play a significant role in quitting, by avoiding combustion and reducing certain risks associated with tobacco. This option is not a perfect solution, but it sometimes proves useful for smokers who are struggling, in order to avoid continued tobacco use.

Dual use of vaping and smoking remains just as harmful as tobacco alone. The goal is therefore to completely eliminate traditional cigarettes so that risk reduction is real.

Using an e-cigarette while pregnant requires increased vigilance. Even if exclusive use appears to represent a less harmful alternative to a traditional cigarette, it requires personalised monitoring.

During pregnancy, the ideal strategy therefore involves medical support, with the professional:
• Assessing medical history;
• Proposing tailored solutions;
• Adjusting replacement therapies;
• Helping each woman find the safest path for herself and her baby.

As a result, in response to the question of using an e-cigarette while pregnant, a targeted and cautious approach is therefore recommended.

Studies diverge, but all are a reminder that tobacco remains the main danger. Exclusive vaping then becomes a possible option when replacement therapies fail.

To make the best choice, consult your doctor to choose the safest support for you and your baby!