Pregnant mothers, young children, and older adults are at higher risk of heat-related illnesses.
(PRUnderground) July 13th, 2025
Heat-related illness risk is higher in some individuals, including older adults, young children, and pregnant mothers.
Being pregnant can put women at a higher risk for developing heat-related illness sooner, because their body has to work harder to cool down not just mom, but her developing baby as well.
“Exposure to heat can negatively impact the health of pregnant women, increasing risk for high blood pressure or more serious hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and pregnancy complications,” said Leah Moses, a certified nurse midwife and the advanced practice provider director of women’s health at Intermountain Health.
“Heat can place added stress on the heart and cardiovascular system, which is already undergoing normal physiologic changes during pregnancy, including increased blood volume, cardiovascular output, and heart rate,” she added.
Ways to keep cool when you’re pregnant
- Wear loose, lightweight clothing
- Exercise in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler
- Reduce sun exposure during hottest time of the day
- When outside, stay in the shade as much as possible
- Stay in air-conditioned places when possible and use fans
Stay hydrated
Pregnancy can also make you more likely to become dehydrated. When you’re pregnant you need more water than average. And if you’re dehydrated, you won’t be able to cool yourself as well by sweating.
“Water plays an important role in the healthy development of your baby. It helps form the placenta and helps with blood flow through the umbilical cord, which is what your baby relies on to receive nutrients during pregnancy. Water is also critical to form the amniotic sac early in pregnancy,” said Moses.
Dehydration is not always the cause of low amniotic fluid, but recurring dehydration is dangerous to development and can lead to serious pregnancy complications, that may include neural tube defects, low amniotic fluid, inadequate breast milk production, and even premature labor or ineffective contractions that are not true labor. Some of these risks, in turn, can lead to birth defects due to lack of water and nutritional support for your baby.
- It’s recommended that pregnant women drink 8-12 glasses of water per day, think almost a gallon. If you’re breastfeeding or pregnant and tandem breastfeeding, try to increase this amount.
- Carry a water bottle and drink often throughout the day
- Limit beverages high in sugars, sodium, and caffeine
- Check your urine color. If it’s light yellow or clear, you’re probably drinking enough water
Heat can make air quality worse. Check the air quality index. An AQI of more than 100 is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Some pregnant women are sensitive to an AQI above 50. Use a reliable local air quality report to know if you should change your schedule to stay indoors during bad air days. Talk to your doctor or midwife if you have asthma or questions about air quality.
Check for symptoms of heat-related illness
- Unusually heavy sweating
- Headache
- Cramping
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness or Weakness
- Nausea and dizziness
Call your provider if you experience one or more of these symptoms.
“While one episode of heat-related illness can usually be fixed, In some cases, increased internal temperature and fever during pregnancy have been linked to birth defects and other pregnancy complications,” said Moses.
When to seek medical care for heat-related symptoms
- Headache unrelieved by getting to shade, increasing hydration, and consuming protein snacks and taking Tylenol
- Cramping in a pattern or sharp, persistent cramps
- Shortness of breath especially without exertion
- Weakness to the point of feeling faint or passing out
- Nausea enough to not keep food or fluid down for 8 hours
For more information about prenatal care or to find a midwife or OB-GYN visit the pregnancy and baby page on intermountainhealth.org.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, over 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/.
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