How Heat During Pregnancy Affects Baby Gender: Excessive heat during pregnancy can affect not only the health of the mother but also the sex ratio of the children born. A recent study has found that when pregnant women are exposed to high temperatures during pregnancy, the chances of giving birth to boys may be reduced. This research has been done on the basis of data from the Demographic and Health Survey of India and Sub-Saharan Africa.

What came out in the research?

In the study “Temperature and Sex Ratios at Birth” published in the journal Demography, the research analyzed data of about 5 million births related to more than 90 surveys. During this, an attempt was made to understand the effect of local temperature and heat in different stages of pregnancy. According to research, on days when the maximum temperature remains above 20 degrees Celsius, the number of births of boys was seen to be less. In Sub-Saharan Africa, this effect was more visible in the first trimester of pregnancy, whereas in India, the chances of birth of boys were found to be less due to increase in temperature during the second trimester. This effect was seen more especially in older women living in rural areas.

Read this also – What should be the diet during pregnancy from the first month till delivery, know from the expert

When does the birth of boys decrease?

The study also found that when the temperature is between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, the chances of having a boy can decrease by about 0.014 percentage points. Researchers believe that due to excessive heat, some natural miscarriages occurring during pregnancy may be more common in boys. Dr. Vidya Venugopal, public health expert of Chennai-based Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, says that these results are not surprising. According to him, when the body temperature increases by one or two degrees more than normal, it becomes a fever-like condition. The body of pregnant women is already more sensitive, so excessive heat can give rise to many health problems.

The risk of these things may increase

According to experts, due to excessive heat during pregnancy, the risk of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, premature delivery and birth of low birth weight children can increase. For this reason, researchers have appealed that concrete steps should be taken to keep pregnant women especially safe in areas affected by heat waves.

Read this also- Should fruits be eaten immediately after a heavy meal or not, what do experts say?

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

Check out below Health Tools-
Calculate Your Body Mass Index (BMI)

Calculate The Age Through Age Calculator