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Mana is the life energy of elves that allows it to function. These elves are similiar in design to human beings. When an elf becomes pregnant, the developing fetus feeds off of its mother's mana, abosrbing it into itself and allowing it to grow. This is minimal during the first few months, with more mana being necessary at the later stages. During this time, the elf is unable to use magic. This prohibition ends after the child is born, with mana storage rising to normal levels.

Occasionally, a condition known as mana leakage occurs during this process. This happens when mana being fed to the fetus is not absorbed completely, with some of it leaking back into the mother. This is dangerous to the mother, and child, and can lead to the death of both parties. If not caught in time, this can lead to a number of effects, such as:

1. Mana poisoning of the mother




2. Child born with abnormalities, such as disfigurements.




3. Hot flashes, in which mana fatally overheats the body.

Why would a elf's own mana be dangerous to her?

Too much of a good thing in the wrong place.

Mana causes cell growth. The elf's biology controls the flow of mana to the right places in the body, allowing faster tissue regeneration, muscle strain healing, etc.

But if mana just leaks into the body, any tissue it comes into contact with begins to grow uncontrollably, creating large tumors made up of useless new cells. The tumor grows, and outer layers prevent mana from reaching the inside, so the cells on the inside eventually die from starvation and the tumor rots from the inside, leaving behind lumps of dead tissue that block blood vessels and prevent organs from functioning normally.

Magical microbes then feed off of the spilled mana and cause infections in the dead tissue. The immune system can't stop the mana-charged bacteria, and the elf goes into sepsis.

Because this powers MAGIC.

Normally when using mana you kind of shape it with the spell before you send it away, giving you control over its effects. But if mana leaks randomly it is going to cause random magical effects. Most of these are benign but this kind of leakage will happen for the remaining months of the pregnancy, increasing the likelyhood that something bad for the mother and child can happen.

The vastly different outcomes make it hard, but it could still work.

The properties of mana change after absorbed into sentient beings (the elves especially).

The mother, after absorbing the mana, adds its personal wavelenght/attribute to the mana. During pregnancy, the mother either cleanses her property out while channeling it to the fetus or the fetus is attuned to the mothers attribute, able to absorb it. (This can serve as several mother-child plot devices later on).

Outcome 1:
If it leaks out of the fetus, it already has a different biosigniture/property to the mana, similiar but different to the mother's.This causes something similiar to bloodpoisoning if enough is built up, interfering in various ways with the mother. Same as the problems with human pregnancy when the mother - child have different Rh bloodtype.

Outcome 2:
Mana being necessary for healthy growth, the lack of sufficient mana during pregnancy naturally causes disfigurements and abnormalities. No need to dwell on it. Its the same for humans, in the past or in poor regions if the mother didnt get enough nourishments the child will have problems. Just like after birth and during growing up. Bone and body shape disfiguration. Sad example, look up Etiopian kids pictures. Bloated stomachs, thin limbs from constant starving.

Outcome 3:
The mother's and fetus's mana attribute/wavelenght are opposites. After mixing in the body, they clash wich each other, causing micro explosions, frictions whith each other. The mothers body not equipped to handle the extra inner heat, its over her natural tolerance level to cool herself down.

Sidenote:
Mana being a fantasy element, you can basically shape it anyway you want, you just have to be careful to not cause any inconsistances with it during the story. That being said its easier to compare it to well known real world phenomens, at least parts of it, for ease of description.