A pregnant woman's past or present exposure to lead puts her unborn baby at risk. During pregnancy, lead in the mother's blood can pass freely to her unborn child. High blood lead levels can affect the unborn child's developing brain and cause developmental problems. If a mother has been exposed to lead in the past it may have been stored in her bones and can be released, along with calcium, during pregnancy. To minimize the risk to you and your unborn child from lead, take a moment to educate yourself and keep your lead levels low to give your unborn child the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.