2. Climate Change and Pregnancy (with Dr. Adelle Monteblanco and Julia Rothschild)

Let’s talk climate change and reproductive health. Join us as we discuss the latest literature on climate change's impacts on pregnancy with our co-producer Julia Rothschild. Then, we’ll dive into clinical pearls with Dr. Adelle Monteblanco, Asst. Professor of Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University, and talk about her recent project training maternal health workers to effectively advise their pregnant patients about heat. We close out this episode with what healthcare professionals can do to protect pregnant patients from climate change, at both the patient and policy levels.

For rack cards, brochures, and urine charts to use in your clinic (in English & Spanish), check out Dr. Adelle Monteblanco’s website! Have questions for Dr. Monteblanco? Email her at Adelle.Monteblanco@mtsu.edu and follow her on Twitter @adelle_dora.

*Note, the ACOG recognizes that climate change disproportionately affects women. However, as our episode focuses on pregnancy, we use the terms “pregnant patient/people/individuals” in acknowledgement that not all pregnant individuals identify as women.

Hosted by Sarah Hsu

Written by Julia Rothschild

Edited by Liana Haigis

Episode Transcript

Referenced Resources:

Maternal ambient air pollution, preterm birth and markers of fetal growth in Rhode Island: results of a hospital-based linkage study

Association of Air Pollution and Heat Exposure With Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Stillbirth in the US: A Systematic Review

US: Heat Emergency Plans Missing Pregnancy, Racial Justice

Effects of prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutant PM10 on ultrasound-measured fetal growth