Ambient temperature and fetal growth
Edward Stojakovic © Creative Commons
A study has found that high ambient temperatures during pregnancy were associated with higher risk of small for gestational age (SGA) and lower fetal growth. The study used data from over 29,000,000 births across the U.S. between 1989-2002. Temperatures were estimated across the entire pregnancy and in each trimester. County-specific definitions of warmer-and-colder-than-average temperatures were determined using a spatially refined gridded climate data set. Low temperatures were associated with a small decrease in birth weight but not with SGA. Associations were more strongly associated when temperature was averaged across second and third trimesters and in areas with cold or very cold climates.
Modified on April 07, 2021