From last year’s wildfires to this year’s record snowfall and freezing temperatures, the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat — it is here, and it is hitting close to home. For too long, the effects of climate change on pregnancy and postpartum have been critically understudied. Now, researchers are uncovering a link between the climate-induced rise in temperature and negative health consequences for both pregnant people and their babies, and the results are concerning. A 2024 analysis of 198 studies across 66 countries has found that pre-term birth increases by 4% for every 1.8°F increase in the average temperature women are exposed to in the final month of pregnancy. In the next 25 years, temperatures are predicted to increase by 3.3°F, meaning pre-term birth could increase by an estimated 8%. Rising temperatures are also expected to increase gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders in pregnant people, stillbirths, low birth rates, and certain birth defects.
This Is an Environmental Justice Issue That We Can’t Ignore
Climate change exacerbates inequity, and we know that it will harm pregnant people who are already left out of traditional systems of care. A study in California found that temperature-induced pre-term birth is more than twice as likely for Black mothers as it is for white mothers. This is due to a combination of factors, including the increased likelihood of living in an environmentally-burdened community that suffers from a high combination of pollution exposure and socioeconomic/health vulnerabilities. Industrial facilities that produce pollution, such as metal recycling centers and oil refineries, are frequently situated in low-income communities of color due to lower land costs and diminished political resistance. This, in addition to poor urban planning, contributes to the formation of urban heat islands that increase temperatures even higher than global and local averages.
Low-income families are also more vulnerable during climate-induced catastrophes like the recent Los Angeles wildfires. We witnessed families lose everything – from housing to recently purchased baby supplies to precious keepsakes – and many have limited resources to rebuild. Our direct cash assistance model, which was developed and tested in the wake of the devastating fires and has met the immediate needs of nearly 200 families, has proven to be an effective tool for addressing urgent needs exacerbated by climate disasters. What we cannot prevent, but must mitigate, are the effects of air pollution and wildfire smoke.
According to the Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, the unique physiology of pregnancy increases vulnerability to environmental exposures such as air pollution and heat. Pregnant people experience:
- 20% increase in oxygen consumption
- 40% increase in minute ventilation
- 50% increase in cardiac output
Additionally, a dependence on functional transportation systems and health care institutions increase exposure to environmental factors. This means that pregnant and postpartum people are disproportionately impacted and at risk of health complications because of climate change.
We must take action to protect pregnant people and slow the progression of climate change
What you can do to help:
- Increasing awareness and education for pregnant people about air quality safety.
- Build DIY air purifiers to use indoors during wildfire season. 4th Trimester is proud to receive support from Clean Power Alliance with a donation of 30 DIY purifiers built specifically for our wildfire-impacted families.
- Volunteer with climate-justice organizations like TreePeople, building climate-resilient communities in Southern California.
- Contact your representatives and demand they support climate protection legislation or engage with climate advocacy groups such as the U.S. Climate Action Network.
