Extreme temperatures could increase preterm birth risk

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

NIH researchers find more preterm births among women exposed to extremes of hot and cold.

Extreme hot or cold temperatures during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth, according to study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The study authors found that extremes of hot and cold during the first seven weeks of pregnancy were associated with early delivery. Women exposed to extreme heat for the majority of their pregnancies also were more likely to deliver early.