Introduction
Technological innovations and globalization have led to dramatic and unexpected climate changes. An exponential rise in fossil fuel ignition has paved the wave for depleted air quality. The quality of the respired air can have direct reflections on the health of human beings. Similarly, there is a dramatic rocketing of the earth’s temperature in accordance with abnormal climate shifts, as a consequence of global warming. These drastic changes are directly connected with the health of human beings in general, and more particularly in expectant women who are approaching their delivery date. Exposure to impaired air quality and drastic alterations in the climate can have direct reflections on the health of both the baby in the womb and the mother.
How Do Air Quality and Climate Change Impact and Influence Perinatal Care?
The perinatal period extends from the late pregnancy period (from the 22nd week of gestation) to one-week post-birth of the baby. It is a highly crucial and eventful period that entails the need for perinatal care. Maternal exposure to drastic shifts in climatic conditions and polluted air during this period can bring grave negative impacts on the fetus (baby in the womb). Air quality is evaluated by assessing the proportion of particulate matter, and other chemical components like ammonium ions, nitrogen oxides, nitrates, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, sulfate particles, and carbon monoxide.
Likewise, when the maternal body is subjected to extreme temperatures, as a consequence of climate changes, it can bring about certain perinatal and maternal complexities. Instances of early or premature delivery and compromised birth weight of the baby are the frequent encounters associated with sudden drift in the climate. Certain studies have figured out the scope for precipitating birth defects as a response to maternal subjection to extreme degree temperature, which can be either on the colder or hotter side. Enhanced incidences of abnormalities in the newborn baby were also recognized as an outcome of high-temperature exposure to the expectant mother.
Perinatal exposure to pathetic air quality directly reflects the immune status of the developing child. Such babies are reported to have impaired immune responses. The respiratory health of a child in the long run will be remarkably impaired by perinatal exposure to unsatisfactory air quality and abnormal temperature. Hence, there is an unequivocal interconnection of climate change with undesirable perinatal outcomes. Therefore, additional stress should be employed to tackle the aftermaths of sudden climatic drifts and air pollution.
In addition to the negative effects on the baby, it can also bring about troubles for the expectant women. Air pollution and climate changes enhance the incidences of pregnancy-influenced maternal illnesses like elevated maternal blood pressure (hypertension). It can also give rise to complications or troubles in the pregnancy. Kidney failure is reported in expectant women when subjected to extreme temperatures.
What Are the Pregnancy Outcomes Associated With Exposure to Compromised Air Quality?
When pregnant women get exposed to compromised air quality for a significant period of time, it can bring in various negative outcomes in their pregnancy. The baby in the womb is highly sensitive to the deteriorated air quality. It can remarkably impair the growth and development of the baby within the uterus. The minute particulate pollutants and the toxic gaseous components in the air critically impair the baby’s development. Some of the grave pregnancy outcomes associated with compromised air quality include the following:
-
Stillbirth: In stillbirth, the baby will be delivered lifeless, which is a highly devastating and distressing situation. Various studies have been conducted across the globe to expose the association of stillbirth with maternal exposure to air pollution. The studies derived certain conclusions suggesting that around 50 percent of stillbirths are the potential outcome of diminished air quality. Air pollution-induced stillbirths tend to develop more often in expectant mothers who are over the age of 35, while younger mothers are more resistant to it. Air pollutants like sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and ozone are reported to precipitate stillbirth.
-
Low Birth Weight: It is a condition in which the baby will be delivered with a body weight appreciably lower than what it should be at birth. If the baby’s birth weight falls below five pounds and eight ounces, such babies are then categorized as low birth weight babies. Babies with low birth weight often fall behind in the intended growth and development and often possess compromised immune status, which predisposes them to various forms of infections. Particulate matter, including dust in the air, remarkably impairs the quality of air, which when exposed to expectant women can influence the weight of the baby.
-
Preterm Birth: Air contaminants in the form of toxic gasses or particulate matter are capable of evoking premature delivery of the baby in which the baby will be given birth even before the estimated date. Preterm births give rise to premature babies lacking intended growth and development.
-
Spontaneous Abortion: Very few instances of miscarriage were also reported in association with exposure to polluted and contaminated air. Though it is less frequently encountered in association with air pollution, it can be mentally traumatic for the mother. It is reported in expectant mothers who are in the inceptive stage of pregnancy.
-
Neonatal Death: The unexpected sudden death of the newborn baby is another disheartening pregnancy outcome that can happen as an after-effect of perinatal exposure to air pollution. However, there are only a few reports concerning neonatal death in response to air pollution.
-
Small for Gestational-Age (SGA) Baby: The weight of the baby during each stage of pregnancy is predetermined. Sometimes the baby’s weight elicits a considerable shortfall from what is estimated to be normal for that particular stage. Such collapse in the desired weight as per the gestational age (pregnancy term) gives rise to babies who are much smaller than a normal baby of the same gestational age. Maternal encounters with poor air quality can bring in babies who are small for their gestational age.
Conclusion
Environmental factors can also have deleterious effects on the perinatal health of the baby as well as on the expectant mother’s health. Air quality and climate change are two crucial and highly influential environmental factors that can have direct implications on health status. Pregnancy and infancy are delicate periods in one's life, which enhances the susceptibility to develop hazards on encountering compromised air quality and abrupt and drastic weather changes. Pronounced perinatal care is required to prevent the baby from developing complications in response to these environmental factors. Extreme climatic conditions are known to precipitate perinatal complications like low birth weight infants and preterm babies.
