WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Women who are exposed to spells of uncomfortably hot or cold temperatures during the first seven months of pregnancy have a greater likelihood of giving birth to preterm babies, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) said in a report on Wednesday.
"Our findings indicate that it may well be prudent to minimize the exposure of pregnant women to extremes in temperature," National Institutes of Child Health human development epidemiologist Pauline Mendola said in a press release explaining the report.
A pregnancy is considered full term at between 39 and 40 weeks, according to the release. Preterm birth occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy and increases the risk for infant death and long term disability.
The researchers theorized that the stress of temperature extremes could hinder the development of the placenta or alter blood flow to the uterus, both of which could potentially lead to early labor.
