Maternal vaping linked to SUDI cases involving bed sharing
Maternal vaping is emerging as a potential risk factor for sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), according to New Zealand researchers who say their findings highlight the need to reassess public health messaging around vaping in pregnancy and bed sharing. The work is published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.
A recent study in New Zealand has raised concerns about a potential link between maternal vaping and sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), particularly when bed sharing occurs. Researchers from the University of Auckland and the University of Otago analyzed 66 SUDI cases from 2022 and 2023, finding that nicotine exposure through smoking or vaping was reported in nearly three-quarters of the cases.
In 85.8% of the cases where direct bed sharing occurred, maternal nicotine exposure was present. While the study does not prove that vaping causes SUDI, it suggests that the risks associated with nicotine exposure may be comparable to those of smoking during pregnancy. The researchers emphasize the need for a pregnancy-specific nicotine policy that discourages both smoking and vaping in pregnancy, and supports mothers to achieve a nicotine-free status as early as possible.
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