A study released on 5 October 2026 suggests that extreme heat is an increasing concern for maternal and newborn health, with implications for healthcare systems and climate adaptation worldwide. The study involved a survey of 1,001 healthcare professionals across different parts of the world such as Australia, Brazil, India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. 98% of the professionals surveyed stated that they had cared for a pregnant woman whose health they believed had been adversely affected by extreme heat.

The findings were released in Fiji at the launch of Birthright, a global campaign addressing heat risks to pregnancy and newborn health. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), spoke at the event as government representatives from more than 50 countries gathered for the Pacific Pre-COP31 meeting ahead of the United Nations climate conference scheduled for November in Antalya, Türkiye.

Between 17 September and 1 October 2026, the survey conducted by Wellcome, a global health research foundation, gathered responses from obstetricians, gynaecologists, doctors, midwives, nurses and other professionals involved in pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care. According to the published results, 73% of respondents reported an increase in pregnancy-related health problems they associated with extreme heat over the previous five years. The figure was 76% for health complications affecting foetuses or newborns.

Previous studies have linked extreme heat during pregnancy to premature births, low birth weight, stillbirth and other health complications. Despite these risks having been documented for years, Wellcome warns that pregnant women and newborns remain overlooked in climate adaptation plans and healthcare policies.

The survey also found that 99% of respondents had treated a foetus or newborn they believed had been affected by extreme heat. Meanwhile, 27% reported pregnant women and their families facing difficulties in travelling or reaching care, while 24% said their healthcare facilities had experienced disruptions to electricity, water, cooling or other essential services.

The report highlights unequal access to protection from extreme heat. Pregnant women who work outdoors or lack adequate ventilation, affordable cooling and reliable water may have fewer ways to reduce their heat exposure, making it difficult to follow medical advice to avoid heat.

In its call to action, Wellcome urges governments to include maternal and newborn health in national climate plans, improve training and resources for healthcare workers and develop clinical guidelines for protecting mothers and babies from extreme heat.

As governments prepare for COP31 in November, the findings underscore the need to better incorporate the health risks faced by pregnant women and newborns into climate adaptation policies.

Antenatal follow-up, Ethiopia (Photo: UNICEF Ethiopia / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])