E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Patches During Pregnancy and Sudden Infant Death Risk

On 18 July 2018, Journal of Physiologypublished research suggesting maternal use of any tobacco product during pregnancy or breastfeeding may increase sudden infant death syndrome risk.

Another finding was that electronic cigarettes and nicotine patches are not safer alternatives to regular cigarettes during pregnancy. Nicotine appears to be the issue: excessive exposure of the fetus or newborn may pose serious health risks. Until now it was unclear that nicotine, responsible for tobacco's pleasurable and addictive effects, posed this particular risk.

-Related topic: The Newest Public Health Crisis: E-Cigarettes

Sudden infant death syndrome, also known as crib death, means unexplained death in infants younger than 1 year, generally under 3 months. Although unexplained, certain circumstances increase risk. Smoking is one, and preventing it is an important protective measure.

Some women wishing to quit during pregnancy turn to products such as e-cigarettes or nicotine patches. How switching affects sudden infant death syndrome is unclear.

According to the Journal of Physiology findings, rat experiments showed that maternal nicotine exposure during pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding disrupted offspring's autoresuscitation automatic response. This ability compensates for breathing difficulty due to oxygen deprivation, regulating heart rate and breathing when oxygen is low.

In human infants, becoming entangled in bedding during sleep, minor illnesses or airway obstruction can trigger autoresuscitation. In sudden infant death syndrome, this survival mechanism has been found not to function.

Because nicotine disrupts autoresuscitation, mothers should also avoid alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine patches.

Sudden infant death syndrome is a deeply distressing family tragedy. Translating animal studies directly to humans is not entirely accurate, but such research identifies possible risks and its findings should not be ignored.