A south London council will hand pregnant women free vapes as part of a new anti-smoking campaign.
A woman’s greatest miracle is the gift of life growing inside them. But of what benefit would it be bearing a child under dangerous circumstances? Probably none! and that is why South London is changing the narrative for expectant women who are addicted to smoking.
A Council in South London (Lambeth Council) has particularly begun an anti-smoking campaign whose aim is to help save pregnant mothers and their unborn babies, by offering them free vapes. The campaign will also help the expectant women save a sum of up to 2000 euros annually which they would have otherwise used on smoking.
From the above brief, it may appear as though expectant women are being encouraged to smoke which begs the question is vaping dangerous when pregnant? Or is it even safe at all? Well, recent surveys and studies cast vaping as downright dangerous to health. However, a number of medical organizations conclude that vaping, through e-cigarettes, is indeed safer than smoking.
In terms of pricing, smoking might appear cheaper in comparison to the e-cigarette, but its dangers are at an all-time high. For instance, when an expectant woman smokes, the unborn child is at a risk of developmental problems like small head circumference, low birth weight, stillbirths, and other pregnancy issues.
But aren’t the above defects also likely to happen to expectant women who are vaping? Well yes, vaping can also cause miscarriages, problem with blood flow and even sudden death syndrome to infants. However, vaping only becomes dangerous to the unborn if its main component is nicotine. This is because nicotine is a toxic as well as an addictive chemical.
Luckily, the medical world notes that there is an alternative to nicotine when it comes to vaping. This alternative is Tobacco which has none of the effects mentioned. It is because of this that that women are encouraged to vape during their pregnancy. Other than it being safe for both the mother and the babies, it is the best alternative for smokers who are unable to quit smoking or harmful vaping.
True as vapes and e-cigarettes have fewer chemicals than those found in traditional cigarettes, they can also be harmful as indicated earlier on. But one should not forget that it is nicotine and not tobacco that is harmful. In fact, when unsure if a vape contains tobacco or not, one should look our or ask their retailers for the Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products as these are the safe and recommended vape options for smoke and vape addicts especially the expectant women.
It goes without saying that it would be better if pregnant women did not smoke or vape, but for those really struggling to quit, making the switch is the healthier option. Therefore, if a pregnant woman chooses to use an e-cigarette and if that helps them stay smoke free, they should not be discouraged from doing so. Our call is therefore to get more people onto tobacco and not nicotine as this will improve the health of many.
