Main findings Our systematic review showed a lack of evidence on the prevalence of vaping in pregnancy in England, the effects of vaping on smoking during pregnancy and following childbirth, and on the effects of vaping on maternal health or pregnancy outcomes. As in other populations, pregnant women who vape are likely to do so to stop smoking. Vaping in pregnancy is very rare among those who have not smoked. Pregnant smokers and health professionals are unsure about the relative risks of vaping for mother and baby and clinical practice on vaping in pregnancy varies.
6.2 Implications The lack of nationally representative data on vaping in pregnancy in England needs to be addressed through research programmes. More research is needed on the associations between vaping in pregnancy and smoking cessation and health outcomes. The common reasons for vaping in pregnancy are to stop smoking, prevent a return to smoking and reduce harms. So, any uncertainty about the harms or risks of vaping in pregnancy is likely to discourage vaping by pregnant smokers. The inconsistent attitudes of health professionals to vaping in pregnancy show that guidance is urgently needed. While they await the outcomes of ongoing research, health professionals can use guidance and recommendations from the Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group on vaping before, during and after pregnancy, for maternity and other health professionals. The guidance says that vaping should be supported if it helps women or households with children to quit smoking or stay smokefree and that regulated nicotine vaping products will always be preferable to smoking.