Extreme Heat Exposure During Pregnancy Can Raise Risk of Severe Delivery Complications

Pregnant people exposed to extreme heat are at higher risk of developing life-threatening complications during labor and delivery, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association last week. The research adds to a growing body of evidence showing the impact extreme heat has on a pregnancy, while also making a distinction between long-term exposure and events like heat waves.

The study found significant associations between both short- and long-term exposure (usually defined as 30 days of more) of environmental heat during a pregnancy and severe maternal morbidity. Researchers found that a high exposure to extreme heat through the duration of the pregnancy or in the third trimester was associated with a 27% increase in these risks. Read more from PBS here.