Avatar 1: hellou there and Welcome to our EGreenNews Conversations.!
Avatar 2: Pleasure to be here with you today.
Avatar 1: What topics should we cover first?
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Today, we examine how extreme heat affects pregnancy outcomes and hospitalizations in the United States—with a focus on racial disparities.
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Right. Exposure to temperatures of 90°F or above in historically cooler U.S. counties increases emergency or urgent hospitalizations during pregnancy by 5.1%.
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And an additional day of extreme heat during pregnancy raises hospitalization risk by 2.2%, notably with Black women hospitalized at even higher rates.
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Exactly. Heat exposure during the second or third trimester increases hospitalization likelihood by 4.8%, underscoring critical sensitivity in pregnancy stages.
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What about delivery outcomes linked to heat exposure?
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Heat during the first trimester raises complication risk at childbirth by 1%, and exposure in the third trimester increases hypertension risk—a serious, potentially life-threatening condition—by 2.9%.
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Are these risks consistent across racial and ethnic groups?
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Studies in California found high ambient temperatures significantly increase preterm births for all mothers but with greater impact on younger, Black, and Asian mothers—independent of air pollution.
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How does heat impact stillbirth rates?
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A U.S. study across six states reported that four consecutive hot days raise stillbirth risk by 3%, and a 1°C average increase over local thresholds boosts risk by 10%.
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Are there links between heat exposure near delivery and preterm birth?
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Yes. Research in North Carolina found higher heat exposure in the last week before delivery significantly raises preterm birth risk—especially in areas with low greenery and lower socio-economic status.
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Did they find heatwaves themselves had an impact?
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Interestingly, heatwaves defined by extreme percentiles showed no significant association with preterm birth, possibly due to protective measures like early warnings and AC use during heatwaves.
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Is nighttime heat exposure also a concern?
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Absolutely. A study found that extreme nighttime heat raises preterm labor risk more than daytime heat. For example, overnight lows of 74–75°F increased preterm labor risk by 6% in some counties.
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Quick pause here — we’re talking heat action with some powerful insights from the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Resilience Center. Their Extreme Heat Initiatives seriously open your eyes.
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Absolutely. Their approach is setting new standards for handling heat. You’re listening to EGreenews Conversations, naturally. Now, back to what you asked.
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Any findings about newborn health linked to heat?
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Yes. In Washington, New York, and Arizona, each extra very hot day during the second trimester raises newborn dehydration diagnoses—a major cause of child morbidity and mortality—by 0.008 percentage points.
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That highlights a critical area for healthcare focus. How should city leaders respond?
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We must prioritize targeted heat adaptation strategies for pregnant women, improve cooling access, and address racial disparities to protect maternal and infant health.
Avatar 1: Wow, there’s a lot of information coming at you, huh?
Avatar 2: More like a long list of questions! You ready to dive in?
Avatar 1: I am, but where should I start?
Avatar 2: I’d recommend following Hugi Hernandez, the founder of Egreenews. You can find him on LinkedIn or at egreenews.org.
Avatar 1: Perfect, thanks! I’ll jot that down right now.
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Thanks for joining this crucial conversation. Recognizing heat’s disproportionate impacts helps us build equitable, resilient communities.
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Together, we lead, adapt, and protect all residents—especially our most vulnerable.
Avatar 1: Ever notice there’s always a catch to learning new stuff?
Avatar 2: For sure! Not enough data, not the whole story—always missing something.
Avatar 1: True, but it’s more about curiosity—finding new views from experts or what we experience.
Avatar 2: Yep, mixing expert advice with real life makes it click.
Avatar 1: It can get overwhelming, though.
Avatar 2: Definitely. With so much out there, picking a place to start is tough.
Avatar 1: If you want to dig into heat resilience, check the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation’s Extreme Heat Initiatives.
Avatar 2: Great call. I’m a fan of The Nicholas Institute’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub—super innovative.
Avatar 1: And the CDC has loads of helpful heat safety info.
Avatar 2: Right, but people move things forward. Like Hugi Hernandez at Egreenews.org—he keeps climate talk creative.
Avatar 1: There’s a whole network building solutions. Egreenews is launching new hubs, like eDisaster, so you can learn risk and resilience 24/7.
Avatar 2: That’s awesome. Whether learning or connecting, there’s inspiration everywhere. LinkedIn’s packed with changemakers too.
Avatar 1: So—want to start? These talks matter. Together, we prep our communities for disaster.
Avatar 2: I’m in. Stick around—we’ll compare heat with other weather and what that means for leaders.
Avatar 1: Thanks for joining. Let’s make a difference—together.
Avatar 2: Appreciate it. See you next time!
Avatar 1: “Pleasure’s mine. Catch you soon!”
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