Warning to pregnant women as risk of complication soars in summer months
BEING pregnant in the summer is no fun and the heat can just feel relentless.
But experts have now warned of a complication that could impact millions of women – especially as summer draws on.
Researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health said there is an increased risk of miscarriage during the summer months.
Analysis of 6,104 participants in North America found that they had a 44 per cent higher risk of early miscarriage during this time.
Early miscarriage refers to the eight weeks within pregnancy when a baby is lost.
The medics said this was especially common in late August compared to six months earlier in the February.
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Study author Dr. Amelia Wesselink said seasonal variations can give hints as to the cause of miscarriage.
“We found that miscarriage risk, particularly risk of ‘early’ miscarriage before eight weeks of gestation, was highest in the summer.
“Now we need to dig into that more to understand what kinds of exposures are more prevalent in the summer, and which of these exposures could explain the increased risk of miscarriage.
“Few studies have examined the association between heat and miscarriage risk, so this is definitely a topic that warrants further exploration.”
The study, published in , was based on information given by women who enrolled on the BUSPH-based Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO).
The participants conceived within 12 months of enrolling and had to provide information on pregnancy loss of any kind.
This included the date of loss and how many weeks pregnant they were when they miscarried.
Medics believe that the heat is driving increased risks during the summer.
Dr Wesselink added: “We know that heat is associated with higher risk of other pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery, low birth weight, and stillbirth, in particular.
“Medical guidance and public health messaging — including heat action plans and climate adaptation policies — need to consider the potential effects of heat on the health of pregnant people and their babies.”
Sadly, miscarriages are common, and among those who know they are expecting, it’s estimated one in eight pregnancies will end in tragedy.
When to seek urgent medical attention
Miscarriages can be distressing and if you're pregnant you should always contact a midwife or doctor if you feel unsure of your symptoms.
Miscarriages can sometimes be caused by an ectopic pregnancy, which is when the pregnancy develops outside the womb.
An ectopic pregnancy is a serious condition and could lead to internal bleeding – so it’s important you seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- persistent severe pain in your tummy on some side
- vaginal bleeding or spotting
- pain in the tip of your shoulder
- feeling faint or fainting
- lightheaded
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first three months, with a “late miscarriage” defined by the charity Tommy’s as between 14 and 24 weeks.
The NHS says that many more miscarriages will happen before a person is even aware they’re pregnant.
n most cases, they cannot be prevented, but there are some signs you can look out for.
The NHS says the most clear sign a woman is having a miscarriage is bleeding, varying from light spotting to heavy blood clots.
But bear in mind, some bleeding during the first three months of pregnancy is normal and does not necessarily mean a miscarriage – contact the maternity team or GP as soon as possible.
The other four symptoms of a miscarriage are:
- cramping and pain in your lower tummy
- a discharge of fluid from your vagina
- a discharge of tissue from your vagina
- no longer experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy, such as feeling sick and breast tenderness
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There are many reasons why a miscarriage can occur, but the majority are not caused by anything a mother has done.
Most of the time a woman won’t find out why she suffered one, which can make the ordeal more distressing.