The findings suggest that expecting mothers can lower their chance of premature birth by spending time in the sun during early pregnancy.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that women who receive more sunlight during their first trimester had a lower risk of developing placental issues, which can result in premature birth and infant loss.

Women who receive the least amount of sunshine have a 10% greater chance of giving birth prematurely than those who receive the most.

Preterm birth complications – defined as infants born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy – are the largest cause of death in children under the age of five. Preterm birth survivors have a higher rate of handicap, including learning deficits and visual and hearing impairments, than term birth survivors.

The Scottish researchers studied data of maternity care for almost 400,000 moms and over 500,000 infants born after 24 weeks of pregnancy. They compared maternity records from 2000 to 2010 for all single live births in Scotland to postcode-specific meteorological records from the same time. Sun exposure throughout the second trimester appeared to have no effect on the probability of preterm birth.

The researchers believe their findings – which were not influenced by other risk variables like as age or smoking – could help shape prenatal counselling. However, the team notes that additional research would be necessary to fully understand the link between sunshine and premature birth. Experts are already examining whether artificial light might improve maternal health, which would assist parents who live in areas with minimal sunlight.

Previous studies have shown that when the sun’s rays strike the human skin, our blood vessels release a chemical called nitric oxide, which helps lower blood pressure. This indicates that exposure to sunshine boosts overall health because the benefits of blood pressure reduction much outweigh the risk of developing skin cancer.

Sunlight also contributes directly to the formation of vitamin D, which is necessary for the development of an unborn baby’s bones, teeth, kidneys, heart, and nervous system. Earlier studies from the same group established a correlation between sunnier places and fewer COVID-19 deaths, as well as that higher sunshine exposure lowers blood pressure and resulting in fewer heart attacks.

“The role of sunlight is an exciting new avenue for research into preterm birth prevention. This study is important because it provides further data reminding us that sunlight has health benefits as well as risks,” said Dr. Sarah Stock from Edinburgh’s Usher Institute in a university release.

This research is published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Reproductive Health.

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