Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Extreme Heat Raises Risks for Pregnant Women and Newborns
Very hot weather can be dangerous for people who are pregnant and for newborn babies.
A survey asked 1,000 doctors and midwives in five countries about what they had seen.
Nearly all said they had cared for mothers or babies affected by extreme heat.
More than two thirds had seen complications in the past five years.
Some reported babies growing less, having trouble feeding, or becoming dehydrated.
The UN climate chief plans to warn leaders about these dangers at a climate meeting in the Pacific.
He says leaders should act to protect mothers and babies as the climate gets hotter.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell is expected to warn that extreme heat is increasing risks to pregnant women and newborns.
A Wellcome-commissioned survey of 1,000 midwives and doctors in five countries found nearly all had cared for mothers or babies affected by extreme heat.
More than two thirds of surveyed health professionals said they had seen heat-related complications in the past five years.
About a third reported cases including low birth weight or restricted growth, feeding difficulties, dehydration, or heat-related illness.
The warning is planned for the pre-COP31 summit in Fiji and Tuvalu, ahead of next month's UN climate summit in Turkey.
- Who
- UN climate chief Simon Stiell, health professionals, pregnant women and newborns.
- What
- Stiell is expected to warn that extreme heat is increasingly linked to pregnancy and newborn health complications.
- When
- The warning is scheduled for Monday at a pre-COP summit; the article says COP31 will be held next month.
- Where
- The pre-COP summit is in Nadi, Fiji, and the remote coral atoll Tuvalu; COP31 is scheduled for Turkey.
- Why
- A survey found that health professionals in five countries had seen complications they attributed to intense heat, as climate change makes extreme weather more intense.
- Survey size
- 1,000 midwives and doctors
- Survey countries
- United Kingdom, Australia, India, Brazil and Zimbabwe
- Health professionals reporting complications
- More than two thirds had seen heat-related complications in the past five years.
- Survey findings
- Nearly all respondents had cared for mothers or babies suffering effects of extreme heat.
- Reported conditions
- Low birth weight or restricted growth, feeding difficulties, dehydration and heat-related illness
- Survey commissioner
- Charitable foundation Wellcome
- Upcoming climate summit
- COP31 is scheduled for next month in Turkey, according to the article.