Exposure to air pollution and extreme temperatures during pregnancy could increase risk of a delay in delivery, according to an analysis of nearly four lakh births in Australia.A prolonged pregnancy can have serious consequences for both the mother and child, with a need for medical interventions, including inducing labour. It can also increase risk of stillbirth, birth complications, and behavioural problems during early childhood.
While rising heat driven by climate change has been linked with premature births, researchers from Curtin University, Australia, said this is the first study to examine how climate exposure can affect a pregnant woman’s health.
“We know that being ‘born too soon’ — or preterm birth — has well-documented health risks, but little attention has been given to the risks associated with being ‘born too late’,” lead author Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu, from Curtin University’s School of Population Health, said.