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FLORIDA - A new report reveals that pregnant women across the U.S. are facing more days of extreme heat, which may raise the risks of complications like premature births and stillbirths for South Florida mothers.
According to Climate Central, a nonprofit research organization, all 50 states have experienced at least a week’s increase in “pregnancy heat-risk days” over the past five years, which are defined as days hotter than 95% of historical local temperatures.
These days can heighten risks for preterm birth, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure.
The rise is most significant in the Southwest, where states like California, Colorado, and Nevada added 34 risky days.
Texas and New Mexico followed closely with 33.
Florida cities such as Miami and West Palm Beach now average over 30 dangerous days annually.
Globally, 90% of countries have seen the number of high-heat days for pregnant women at least double since 2020.
In some developing nations, climate change was found to be the sole cause of these added days.
Experts say the problem is especially severe for women with limited access to care.
Dr. Bruce Bekkar, a women’s health physician, emphasized that extreme heat is turning more pregnancies into high-risk cases, particularly among Black and Hispanic women.
Using its Climate Shift Index, Climate Central claims that every state would have seen at least 29% fewer risky days without human-caused climate change.
Researchers urge expectant mothers to stay hydrated, seek cool spaces, and talk to their doctors as temperatures rise.