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Heat waves increase premature birth rates, which can lead to worse health outcomes for babies and affect their long-term health, new study found.
Black and Hispanic mothers, as well as those in lower socioeconomic groups, are particularly at risk of preterm birth after heat waves.
Heat extremes are occurring more frequently, lasting longer and increasing in intensity due to the climate crisis. Last year saw record temperatures, with July 2023 leading to the hottest day ever recorded for four consecutive days worldwide.
In addition, pregnant people are among the most vulnerable to heat stress and are more likely to experience heat stroke and heat exhaustion, according to the CDC. This may adversely affect their unborn babies.
“The [findings] suggest that there are populations that are unable to avoid the heat and are experiencing much greater consequences,” said Lindsey Darrow, study author and professor of epidemiology at the University of Nevada.
The researchers looked at 53 million births that occurred between 1993 and 2017 in 50 metropolitan areas of the United States. After four consecutive days of high heat, the researchers found there was a 2% higher chance of preterm births and a 1% increase in preterm births.
“The response was higher in subgroups that you might expect to have less access to air conditioning and less ability to avoid the heat,” Darrow said.
Preterm birth is the leading cause of death among infants and is associated with various respiratory and neurological outcomes throughout the child’s life. Heat can trigger premature contractions by releasing labor-inducing hormones, reduced blood flow, and dehydration, which can cause early labor.
A growing body of research shows that targeted advice on managing heat stress is critical for expectant patients. And 2022 study found that current guidelines for heat exposure among pregnant people remain sparse and inconsistent.
“During pregnancy, we err on the side of caution,” said Nathaniel DeNicola, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist who authored the 2020 report on air pollution and premature births.
“There needs to be more counseling in clinics and general materials on how to protect against dehydration and heat stress during extreme heat, which is becoming more common.”
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