According to the study, heat significantly increases the risk of late preterm birth. Climatologists warn: 2023 could be the warmest year since records began

According to a study, hot summer days significantly increase the risk of a late preterm birth between the 34th and 37th week of pregnancy. Temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius increase the risk by up to 45 percent, the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) announced on Friday.

From 30 degrees Celsius, the risk increases by 20 percent. “It was noticeable that the expectant mothers clearly got through one or two warm days”, explains study leader Petra Arck. But if there were more days without cooling, more preterm labor would have started. This was particularly the case when high humidity increased the perceived heat.

For the study, Arck and her team analyzed data from more than 42,000 patient records who had given birth in the UKE over the past 20 years. They compared the calculated and actual dates of birth with the climate tables of the Hamburg weather service. They focused on the months of March to September, when temperatures were exceptionally high.

Soon every sixth child will be born prematurely?

According to current climate forecasts, nearly every sixth child could be born prematurely by 2033 due to rising temperatures. That is twice as much as today. What consequences this will have for the health of the newborns is unclear, the statement said.

A baby is considered premature if it is born before the end of the 37th week of pregnancy. Between the 34th and 37th week is the period of a so-called late premature birth. A delivery before the 37th week entails an increased risk of later health problems. The lungs, among other things, are not yet fully grown at the moment.

Heat is considered very stressful for expectant mothers. Because the abdomen presses on the main vein, not as much blood reaches the heart. The effect is enhanced by heat. This affects the supply of nutrients to the growing baby. (saw/sda/afp)