Spending time outside can be good for your health, but if you?re pregnant during the summer, the heat can increase the risks for you and your baby. You might recall rapper Nelly?s early 2000s hit, “Hot in Herre!” Sure, you can sing and dance to the music, but no one really expects it to be to be ?that hot? on a regular basis when not in party mode ? even during the summer. Well now, it?s time for a wake-up call.
Yes, It?s Hot and Getting Hotter
In 2023, NASA  recorded the Earth?s hottest year on record. The extreme heat rolled through in heat waves, wildfires, intense rains, and coastal flooding. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched the nation?s first health-based heat forecast, HeatRisk. Meet the HeatRisk Index
HeatRisk offers an easy color-number system to check daily temperatures by zip code. The color-number combination indicates the severity of heat and the air quality. If you?re sensitive to heat, the index can help you decide if it?s safe to go outdoors, especially during the hottest part of the day.
Like a weather forecast, the HeatRisk Index for the day allows you to plan and dress accordingly. HeatRisk and the Air Quality Index (AQI) are displayed as:

Green ? good air quality (0-50); air pollution levels cause little to no risk for most people
Yellow ? moderate air quality (51-100); some risk for people sensitive to air pollution
Orange ? unhealthy ai...