Vaping and Smoking During Pregnancy

Nicotine and other chemicals in vaping and smoking products harm your health and your pregnancy. Toxic nicotine reaches your unborn baby through the placenta. If you’re able to quit vaping and smoking and you avoid breathing in vape aerosol and tobacco smoke, you will improve your health and give your baby a healthier start in life.

Benefits for you

When you’re able to quit for your own reasons, you're more likely to quit for life.

Quitting will help you:

• lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and health risks
• improve your chances of living a healthier, longer life
• break the cycle of addiction
• save money for other things
• be a healthy role model for your children

Benefits for your baby

When you quit and avoid vape aerosol and tobacco smoke:

• Your baby has a better chance of being ?born at a healthy weight. A smaller baby from vaping or smoking doesn't mean easier labour and birth. Smaller babies are more likely to have health issues and stay in hospital longer.
• Your baby is more likely to be born full-term. Babies born too early (premature) often have trouble breathing at birth.
• Your baby has less risk of being born with a health problem, miscarriage, stillbirth, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Your baby’s brain and lungs are more likely to grow healthy and strong.
• Your baby is less likely to have breathing illnesses and infections.
• Your baby is less likely to have lifelong issues with memory, learning, attention, behaviour, and mental health.

Reducing harm? and quitting

Vaping and smoking release nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals into the air. These toxic chemicals stick onto indoor surfaces. Over time, people breathe in or touch the harmful chemicals.

There are ways to reduce harm

• Make your home and vehicle vape and smoke free. Keep outdoor use away from doorways, windows, air intakes, and your family.
• Wash surfaces, walls, bedding, toys, and curtains to remove the chemicals.
• Before vaping or smoking outside, put on clothing like a jacket to be a barrier to the chemicals. Take it off when you come inside. Wash chemicals off your hands and face before cuddling your children.

Ready to quit

No matter how far you are in your pregnancy, the health benefits of quitting start right away for you ?and your baby.

Where to get help

When planning to reduce and quit, visit albertaquits.ca or call the AlbertaQuits Helpline (1-866-710-7848) for help. Learn more about free quit support options in Alberta.

Counselling and NRT

When pregnant, counselling alone is the recommended first option to help you quit. If you think you might need medicine to quit, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or other options.

Using less

If you can’t quit all at once, try using lower-nicotine vape liquid or smoking fewer cigarettes per day.

Note: "Tobacco" on this page refers to commercial tobacco products, like cigarettes sold in stores. It does not include the traditional tobacco used by First Nations and some Métis groups for ceremonial purposes and as a sacred medicine.

"Nicotine products" does not refer to or include medical nicotine replacement therapies.

To see this information online and learn more, visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca/health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=custom.ab_vaping_smoking_pregnancy_inst.

For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.

Current as of: June 4, 2026

Author: Tobacco, Vaping and Cannabis Program, Primary Care Alberta

This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.