Headline |
Heatwaves may increase the number of babies born early, scientists have warned, after finding a spike in early births when temperatures reach 90F (32.2F) or above.
Researchers at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), looked at birth records of 56 million Americans born between 1969 and 1988.
They found that a jump in temperatures led women to give birth an average of 6.1 days earlier than their due date, with some going into labour two weeks early.
Overall they discovered that birth rates increased by five per cent on days with a maximum temperature above 89F (32.2C).
