PREGNANT women are set to be offered free vapes to help them quit smoking under a new council scheme.
Lambeth Council estimate that the service will save parents £2,000 a year through not having to buy tobacco and also reduce the chance of harm to unborn children.
The South London council said that using e-cigarettes can help soon-to-be mums go smoke free.
A council spokesperson said: "Smoking during pregnancy is the leading risk factor for poor birth outcomes, including stillbirth, miscarriage and pre-term birth.
"We are now planning to support the use of e-cigarettes for women who choose that route as their preferred aid for quitting tobacco, since this is less harmful compared to smoking.
"We recognise that while it is best for pregnant smokers to stop smoking without continuing to use nicotine, if this is difficult, and if they choose to use e-cigarettes it can help them become smoke-free."
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They added that data shows that women from low-income households are more likely to smoke and that thousands fall into poverty each year due to the habit.
Councillor Ben Kind unveiled the scheme, saying that it was "is aimed at improving the health of the family and saving money in the process".
A study for King's College, published in September, found that "vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking", according to the BBC.
However, the NHS said that little research had been carried out into the safety of vapes in pregnancy.
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Vapes work by heating liquids, which contain tobacco, to produce flavoured vapour, which the user inhales.
The NHS website says: "It is not known whether the vapour is harmful to a baby in pregnancy."
Instead, the health service recommends that mum used licensed nicotine replacement products like patches and gum to kick the habit.
Both the NHS and the government have online resources to help people trying to quit.
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There are also numerous licensed therapists and products which aid people to stop smoking.
If you are trying to stop smoking you can contact your GP and be referred to a support service.
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