Pregnant women with high blood lead levels can transfer blood high in lead to the baby through the placenta, creating an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth or small baby.

You can also transfer lead to your baby during breastfeeding.

Following these guidelines can help you and your baby prevent lead poisoning.

• Talk to your doctor about possible job risks, if you work with or around lead, you may need a job transfer.
• Stay away from work areas during repair or remodeling of a house built before 1978.
• Scraping paint creates lead dust. Cleaning, painting, or remodeling in a room with lead paint can hurt you and you baby.
• Test your home and water for lead. Paint chips, water and soil can be tested for lead.
• Avoid eating non-food items, (such as soil, clay, plaster, paint chips and pottery).
• Talk to your doctor before using herbal medicines and traditional remedies or cosmetics.
• Have all household members who are exposed to lead through a hobby or job (construction, automotive, painting, pottery making) shower after working with lead and wash those clothes separately.
• Avoid using imported pottery and crystal for preparing or eating food.
• Eat foods high in iron, calcium and vitamin C such as, fish, beans, milk, yogurt, oranges and leafy green vegetables.

If any of these factors apply to you, ask your doctor for a lead test.