Nadi, Fiji: Extreme heat is emerging as a serious climate-related threat to pregnant women, unborn babies and newborns, with health professionals reporting a growing number of heat-linked complications.

At the Pre-COP31 meeting in Fiji, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell warned that rising temperatures are creating a new and potentially dangerous pressure point for maternal and newborn health.

Health Professionals Report Growing Problems

A new survey of around 1,000 maternal-health professionals from Australia, Brazil, India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe found that 73% had seen an increase in heat-related cases or complications affecting pregnant women during the previous five years.

The findings also showed that 98% of respondents had cared for a pregnant woman whose health they believed had been affected by extreme heat, while 99% had cared for a baby they believed had experienced heat-related health effects.

More than 80% of the professionals surveyed said they were concerned that rising temperatures could increasingly threaten maternal, fetal and newborn health without stronger action.

Pregnancy Risks Increase During Extreme Heat

High temperatures can place additional stress on the cardiovascular system and make it harder for pregnant women to regulate body temperature.

Health experts are increasingly linking extreme heat exposure during pregnancy with premature birth, stillbirth, low birth weight and other maternal complications. Newborns can also experience dehydration, difficulty feeding, breathing problems and difficulties maintaining a safe body temperature.

These risks can become more serious when heat is prolonged or when women lack access to adequate cooling, drinking water and healthcare.

Poorer Communities Face Greater Risks

The impact of extreme heat is not distributed equally.

Women working outdoors, living in poorly ventilated housing or travelling long distances to healthcare facilities may have fewer options for escaping dangerous temperatures.

Health facilities themselves can also become vulnerable when electricity, water supplies or cooling systems are disrupted during extreme weather.

This means that climate change can compound existing inequalities in access to maternal and newborn healthcare.

Heat Can Affect Babies Before Birth

The threat does not begin after delivery.

A developing fetus can be affected when the mother’s body experiences significant heat stress. Research cited in recent climate-health guidance indicates that rising temperatures are associated with increased risks of premature birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The concern is particularly important as extreme heat events become more frequent and intense in many parts of the world.

India Included in Global Health Warning

India was among the five countries covered by the new survey.

The country’s large population, diverse climate zones and exposure to increasingly severe heat make maternal heat protection an important public-health issue. Indian health authorities and UNFPA have already developed guidance for healthcare providers and community health workers on managing heat risks during pregnancy.

The guidance highlights measures including hydration, cooling, early recognition of warning signs and timely referral of high-risk patients.

Calls for Climate Plans to Include Pregnancy

The latest warning is also leading to calls for governments to make maternal and newborn health a specific component of climate adaptation plans.

Experts say countries should strengthen heat-alert systems, train healthcare workers, improve cooling and water facilities and ensure pregnant women can access medical care during extreme heat.

The issue is increasingly being discussed as part of broader climate policy because reducing heat exposure can protect health while climate adaptation programmes can make hospitals and communities more resilient.

Climate Action Becomes a Health Priority

The warning from Fiji highlights how climate change is moving beyond environmental concerns and increasingly affecting fundamental health outcomes.

For pregnant women and newborns, extreme heat can create risks during one of the most vulnerable periods of life. Without effective adaptation measures, those risks could become more pronounced as global temperatures continue to rise.

The message emerging from the Pre-COP31 discussions is therefore clear: protecting people from climate change also means protecting mothers, unborn children and newborn babies from extreme heat.