Effects of lead exposure during pregnancy
A pregnant woman's exposure to lead puts her unborn baby at risk. When she breathes or swallows lead, it goes into her blood. The lead then passes through the placenta into the baby and into the baby's developing bones and other organs like the brain.
A pregnant woman's past exposure to lead can also hurt the unborn baby. During pregnancy, calcium in her bones goes into the bloodstream, and when calcium leaves the pregnant mother's bones, so does lead. Calcium also comes from a new mother's bones to make breast milk. So breast milk may also contain lead.
Effects of lead exposure on pregnant women
A pregnant woman's blood lead level (BLL) tends to be higher during pregnancy because lead in her bones and teeth gets released into the blood. High levels of lead in the blood can increase the chances of:
- miscarriages,
- stillbirths, and
- illnesses during pregnancy
Women found to have an elevated blood levelshould receive additional risk reduction counseling based on their responses to the risk assessment. There is currently no medical treatment universally recommended for women with elevated lead levels during pregnancy; however the Regional Resource Centers are available for consultation on individual cases.
Effects of lead exposure on unborn children
A slightly elevated blood lead level can cause developmental problems in unborn children. Children exposed to lead before birth may be born with damage to organs like the brain. They may be born early or underweight. They may not be fully developed when they are born, or they may die before or during birth.