Air Pollution causing miscarriages among pregnant women

By Dr. Shweta Goswami 

Mail Today

We all are witnessing the worsen air quality these days. Every year after Diwali, India suffers air pollution problems. It is so obvious that air pollution triggers major health issues in adults as well as children. According to a recent report of WHO, Air pollution is linked to one in 10 deaths of children under 5. The greater the exposure to fine particulates emitted by fires, vehicles, and industrial smokestacks the greater the risk is for pregnant women and the baby inside her womb. Every time the pregnant woman is exposed to air pollution, it increases the risk of problems for her child.  

Air pollution contains harmful substances like car exhaust, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold that can affect breathing and harm your health. Constant exposure to high air pollution increases the risk of miscarriage and early labor in pregnant women and also results in low birth weight. Actually fetal development is very sensitive to environmental factors; particularly high blood pressure which is associated with increased morbidity and

mortality causing a lot of problems for mother and the unborn child including pre term delivery/pre mature baby. A premature baby is a baby who is born too soon, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Some research shows that being exposed to certain air pollutants during pregnancy may affect your child’s intelligence later in life.  

The Asian Age

It will be good if a pregnant woman limits her outdoor activity, stay inside and stay hydrated during an inversion. This is how you can protect yourself from air pollution during pregnancy: 

1. First of all as mentioned above too, limit your outdoor activity especially these days. On alert days, just do not go outside early in the morning or after sunset. Don’t be physically active outside. 

2. Wear a mask if you have to step out during an emergency or your regular doctor’s visits 

3. Keep yourself hydrated, increase your intake of fluids a lot 

4. If you live near a source of air pollution or if you have a health condition like asthma, talk to your health care provider about how to stay safe from air pollution.