Pregnant in a Heatwave: Why Women’s Health Must Be in the Climate Conversation 

By Ella Campbell, Bristol Women’s Voice Volunteer 

This summer, heatwaves became a fixture of life in the UK, and we all found our own ways of coping, whether that meant cold showers, drawn curtains or clever tricks with fans. Everyone felt the discomfort of extreme heat in some way, but what about when that discomfort turns into a health concern? For those who are pregnant, that’s a real possibility. 

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I recently saw a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing, a documentary aiming to bring people together to better understand the climate crisis and encourage pressure on the government. Among the issues discussed was how rising temperatures disproportionately affect certain marginalised groups. But it left me wondering: what about women? 

There’s growing understanding that climate change is more than just an environmental issue. Often described as a ‘threat multiplier’, it intensifies existing social, political and economic inequalities, with the greatest impact falling on those with intersecting inequalities. Yet the implications for women’s health are little understood – a story we have heard many times. 

Recent studies reveal that one area of attention is pregnancy, with research beginning to explore if rising temperatures could impact pregnant women and their babies’ health. Worryingly, the results indicated that they absolutely can.  

Recurrent heatwaves in the UK are a relatively new phenomenon, and so the limited research is not surprising. However, as existing research highlights the potential health risks, further investigation is urgently required so that the UK government recognises and addresses the implications for women. 

While there is some limited research on pregnancy, there is next to no research on how rising temperatures may impact other aspects of women’s health, such as menstruation or menopause. If the potential risks to pregnancy demonstrate anything, it is that we cannot fully understand the implications of climate change for health without recognising and investigating in-depth female-specific health concerns. Without this evidence, policymakers risk overlooking critical health concerns. 

Pregnancy and the body’s ability to cope with heat 

Summer 2026 made us all familiar with discomfort during heatwaves, be that struggling to sleep at night or difficulties concentrating at work. However, the implications for women go beyond this discomfort. 

Pregnancy places considerable demands on the body whilst it supports a developing baby. When prolonged exposure to extreme heat is added to the mix, coping becomes more challenging. A review published in The Lancet Planetary Health in 2026 examined the responses of pregnant women to heat exposure in high-income countries. It found that physiological changes occur in pregnant women such as increases in core body temperature and heart rate. 

This tells us that heatwaves do impact pregnant women physiologically. And as extreme heat becomes more common, it raises important questions about the potential consequences for maternal and infant health. 

Research is beginning to explore these consequences. A 2024 review looked at 198 studies across 66 countries to examine this relationship between heat exposure and mothers’ and babies’ health. It found an association between heat exposure and pregnancy complications, including hypertensive disorders and gestational diabetes, and increased emergency hospital admissions. Other research is adding to the picture too, with concerns raised about possible links between heatwaves and stillbirths and lower birth weights. 

It’s important to recognise that these findings don’t mean every pregnant woman will struggle to regulate her temperature, as external factors such as hydration also play a part. Nor does it prove that heat directly causes complications such as hypertensive disorders, as there is simply not enough research yet. However, this growing body of research highlights that increasing heatwaves do pose a risk, and therefore the need for greater attention to this.  

Who is most at risk? 

During a heatwave, a pregnant woman will likely need to drink more water, rest more often and avoid prolonged exposure to high temperatures. But what happens if she works in a job where she cannot easily take breaks, cannot afford to take time off, lives in poorly ventilated housing, or has caring responsibilities that leave little time to rest? This is where existing inequalities become particularly important. A woman’s ability to protect her health depends not only on how her body responds to heat, but also on her circumstances. 

Bringing women’s health into climate conversations 

The evidence on pregnancy is still developing, but the potential links between extreme heat and pregnancy complications are concerning enough to indicate the need for further research.  

One way of framing the issue is through ‘feminist climate justice’. Supported by UN Women’s work on gender equality and climate change, this lens recognises the links between gender inequalities and the climate crisis. It calls for women’s experiences and needs to be better represented in climate policy and decision-making. 

In practice, this means ensuring that UK public health guidance considers the different risks people face during extreme heat. Pregnant women, for example, need appropriate workplace protections, access to healthcare, and practical guidance on staying safe during heatwaves.  

The climate crisis is often discussed in terms of rising sea levels, extreme weather and damage to the natural environment. However, the People’s Emergency Briefing highlights how climate change impacts on human health too. If we are serious about understanding and addressing these impacts, women’s health must be central to the discussion.  

At Bristol Women’s Voice, we are also starting to engage more in these conversations, and we want to hear more from you. If you’re a woman living in Bristol concerned about the gendered impacts of climate change, please tell us how you have been affected by the recent heatwaves by emailing us or messaging us on social media, and help us shape our future campaigning work.