UK Heatwaves Pose Major Risk to Pregnant Women and Newborns
Experts are sounding the alarm bells about the dangerous effects of heatwaves on pregnant women and newborn babies in the UK. According to new research from Climate Central, pregnant women and infants are experiencing twice as many dangerously hot days in the UK. Between 2020 and 2024, an average of 26 days per year saw temperatures rise to health-threatening levels for pregnant women.
Global warming is partly to blame for this increase in dangerously hot days, with half of them attributed to the effects of climate change. The impact of heat on pregnancy is an area of research that is rapidly expanding but still lacking in comprehensive studies. Some parts of the world have already observed a higher risk of adverse outcomes such as stillbirths, low birth weight, premature births, and birth defects associated with heat exposure during pregnancy.
Studies have also linked heat exposure in mothers to various health issues, including high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, breastfeeding difficulties, and poor mental health. However, experts emphasize the need for more research to fully understand the extent of these impacts. Dr. Chloe Brimicombe from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine highlighted the increased risk of preterm births in the UK due to rising temperatures, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of climate change on human health.
Newborns are particularly vulnerable to heat due to their small bodies, which heat up rapidly and struggle to regulate temperature. Amy Woolfson, a mother, shared her experience of postnatal care in a ward where temperatures reached alarming levels shortly after giving birth. She expressed her concerns about the safety of her newborn daughter in such extreme heat, highlighting the distressing reality of climate change impacting even the earliest days of life.
The study also sheds light on the challenges faced by UK hospitals during heatwaves, with many struggling to operate effectively in high temperatures. Record-breaking heatwaves in recent years have led to canceled operations, staff shortages, and inadequate cooling measures in hospital facilities. The aging infrastructure of hospitals, coupled with insufficient ventilation and cooling systems, presents a significant obstacle in providing adequate care during extreme heat events.
Climate Central’s research compared the number of heat-risk days for pregnant women in the UK with those in a simulated environment without the influence of global warming. The findings revealed a substantial increase in the number of days posing a risk to pregnant women, particularly in the east of England. However, the impact of climate change on maternal and infant health is more pronounced in hotter and economically disadvantaged countries, where access to healthcare is limited.
Dr. Kristina Dahl from Climate Central emphasized the urgent need to address climate change to protect maternal and infant health globally. She warned that the consequences of climate change on pregnancies will only worsen if immediate action is not taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The study, although not yet published in a journal, employs rigorous methods and has been reviewed by independent professionals, suggesting the validity of its findings.
Experts urge the government to invest in hospital infrastructure, improve heat-health plans, and establish early warning systems to mitigate the impact of heatwaves on vulnerable populations. A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the challenges posed by outdated hospital buildings and committed to addressing critical maintenance and upgrades to enhance the resilience of healthcare facilities in the face of climate change.
