A recent study revealed a possible link between air pollution to harmful pregnancies. Experts claim that prolonged exposure commonly leads to pregnancy complications. It also affects the health of the mum and the baby inside her womb.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Why Pregnant Mums Need Clean Air
- Study Links Air Pollution to Harmful Pregnancies
- The Effect of Air Pollution on Pregnant Mums
Why Pregnant Mums Need Clean Air
Pregnant women need to get good care before, during, and after their pregnancy. It plays a vital role in helping the baby grow and develop. Aside from that, it also keeps both the mum and baby to be healthy.
Maintaining a healthy pregnancy serves as one of the best ways to achieve a successful birth. Aside from good prenatal care, it is essential to keep the pregnant woman’s environment to be healthy as well.
It is vital to keep pregnant women away from any kind of pollution, which could relatively affect their pregnancy. Because of this, mums need to equip their homes with tools and stuff that help provide better air quality.
Study Links Air Pollution to Harmful Pregnancies
Scientists revealed how exposure to traffic-related air pollutants causes cellular changes in a mum’s placenta. This occurrence often leads to pregnancy complications. It also affects the health of both the mum and the baby.
Image source: iStock
Cellular Changes
Researchers say that cellular changes come from exposure to air pollutants related to immune activation by foreign substances. The pollutants often enter the body and attack the blood from the lungs.
The study assesses how exposure to air pollution can negatively affect the placenta. The negative effect leads to adverse outcomes in pregnancy.
This immune response attracts some of the placental cells that maintain the placenta structurally. Moreover, it affects the blood flow from the mum to the infant.
Additionally, there has been an identified inflammation in the mucosal liking of the uterus triggered by pollution. According to Dr Sherin Devaskar, the lead author of the study and physician-in-chief of UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital,
“The cellular changes we have observed could provide the missing link between exposure to air pollutants and adverse pregnancy outcomes,”
The study also emphasises the need to examine the timing of exposure as it poses different effects on pregnancy.
Placenta and Its Importance
The placenta is essential for a successful pregnancy. It helps maintain the health of both the mother and the baby. The auto-destruction of placental structures disrupts the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy. Aside from that, it could also affect the nutrient supply of the baby.
Additionally, auto-destruction of placental structure could increase the potential of adverse pregnancy consequences or outcomes. It includes preterm labour or uteroplacental insufficiency as encounters in pre-eclampsia.
The Effect of Air Pollution on Pregnant Mums
Air pollution triggers negative effects on pregnancies. It could possibly lead to preterm birth, a low birth weight, stillbirth, or congenital abnormalities. Meanwhile, exposure to any kind of air pollution during pregnancy often results in negative outcomes.
Moreover, contaminants in the air can cross the placenta. They also affect or attack the placenta itself. Because of this, they cause a disruption in the baby’s development.
Image source: iStock
Air pollution comes in many forms and can be indoors or outdoors. Some types of air pollution include the following:
- Outdoor air pollution formed by smog
- Air pollutants caused by vehicular traffic
- Indoor and outdoor pollution caused by fire and smoke from tobacco or cigarettes
- Occupational hazards, such as working outdoors or in areas with toxic chemicals
- Construction materials like asbestos
- Toxic smell from cleaning supplies a paint
- Allergens like moulds and dust
Image source: iStock
What Are the Potential Effects of Air Pollution on Pregnancy?
At present, researchers have yet to discover the specific negative cause of air pollution on pregnant women. Aside from that, doctors do not know why air pollution causes harm to some pregnancies but not others. Some potential effects of air pollution during pregnancy include the following:
Preterm Labour
Pregnant women residing in polluted areas may be more likely to experience early or preterm labour. We listed some of the related risks below:
- Light infant weight after birth
- Underdeveloped lungs following the labour
- Untimely death of the baby during or shortly after birth
Stillbirth or Miscarriage
Stillbirth refers to the baby’s death late in pregnancy, commonly after 20 weeks of gestation. Moreover, some studies linked air pollution to harmful pregnancies resulting in stillbirth or miscarriage. The unclean air also usually triggers stress in pregnant mums.
Low Birth Weight
Exposure to air pollution may disrupt a baby’s development. This affects your baby’s growth in the womb. You must prepare for labour with a possibly small baby. Aside from that, low birth weight is a risk factor for developmental delays, numerous health issues, and death after birth.
Parental Health Concerns
Parental exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased likelihood of pregnancy-related problems.
Lung Development Issues
Prolonged exposure to air pollution often negatively affects the baby’s lung development. It is also linked to longer-term respiratory issues, including asthma and allergies.
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