Extreme Heat & Pregnancy Health Risks
Ghosh J.K., Beck C., (2025). Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Health Risks – Identifying areas with high heat impacts and low NICU access [Data Brief]. Heluna Health. September 2025.
513 counties (16.5%) experienced 20 days or more of extreme heat each year between 2019-2023.
Extreme Heat & Pregnancy Health Risks
Ghosh J.K., Beck C., (2025). Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Health Risks – Identifying areas with high heat impacts and low NICU access [Data Brief]. Heluna Health. September 2025.
379 counties (12.2%) are considered High Pregnancy Heat Risk areas, with high levels of extreme heat and low levels of NICU access.
>186,000 babies are born each year in these counties.
Notes: Extreme heat exposure and births data are from the years 2019-2023.
Extreme Heat and NICU Access
Currently, counties with Very Low or Low NICU access are more likely to have extreme heat exposures at Level 3 or higher, compared to counties with better NICU access.
When the earth reaches the 1.5°C global warming level (GWL), extreme heat will become more common. Very Low and Low NICU access counties will be more likely to have Level 4 or 5 extreme heat exposure levels compared to counties with better NICU access.
Ghosh J.K., Beck C., (2025). Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Health Risks – Identifying areas with high heat impacts and low NICU access [Data Brief]. Heluna Health. September 2025.
Extreme Heat & Pregnancy Health Risks
Extreme Heat & Pregnancy Health Risks
The 3 states with the highest proportion of births occurring in High Pregnancy Heat Risk counties are New Mexico (50.7%), Mississippi (35.0%), and Texas (22.5%).
Ghosh J.K., Beck C., (2025). Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Health Risks – Identifying areas with high heat impacts and low NICU access [Data Brief]. Heluna Health. September 2025.
20 states have one or more counties that are High Pregnancy Heat Risk areas
HIGH PREGNANCY HEAT RISK AREAS, BY RURALITY
Rural counties are more likely to be High Pregnancy Heat Risk areas compared to metropolitan counties.
Ghosh J.K., Beck C., (2025). Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Health Risks – Identifying areas with high heat impacts and low NICU access [Data Brief]. Heluna Health. September 2025.
Extreme Heat & Pregnancy Health Risks
Definition: High Pregnancy Heat Risk counties are those with high extreme heat exposures (2019-2023) and lower levels of NICU access.
HIGH PREGNANCY HEAT RISK IMPACTS, BY RACE/ETHNICITY
Among women of childbearing age, those who are NH AIAN or Hispanic are more likely to be living in High Pregnancy Heat Risk areas, compared to other race/ethnicity groups.
Ghosh J.K., Beck C., (2025). Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Health Risks – Identifying areas with high heat impacts and low NICU access [Data Brief]. Heluna Health. September 2025.
Extreme Heat & Pregnancy Health Risks
Definition: High Pregnancy Heat Risk counties are those with high extreme heat exposures (2019-2023) and lower levels of NICU access.
NH = non-Hispanic, AIAN = American Indian or Alaska Native, NHPI = Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander