The Climate Question How does extreme heat affect pregnancy?
Sep 21, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Tulip Mazumdar, a former BBC Global Health Correspondent who reported extensively from India, shares haunting stories of pregnant women from Tamil Nadu impacted by extreme heat. She reveals findings from a troubling study showing that heat exposure almost doubles the risks of miscarriage and related complications. Tulip explores solutions to mitigate these risks, including behavioral changes and cooling strategies, emphasizing the role of employers and the government in safeguarding maternal health.
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Loss After Working In Paddy Fields
- Sandhya worked whole days in the sun while pregnant and ignored rest until severe pain and bleeding occurred.
- She later learned her baby had died and now wonders if the work in heat caused the loss.
Lifetime Field Work And Miscarriage
- Sumathi worked in fields since age 12 and earned about 400 rupees a day while pregnant in extreme heat.
- During the study she experienced a miscarriage and described the emotional collapse afterwards.
Heat Doubles Key Pregnancy Risks
- A study followed 800 women and found outdoor heat exposure doubled risks of stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight and miscarriage.
- Researchers adjusted for workload and health markers and still found heat as an independent risk.