The Importance of Magnesium in Pregnancy
Like with many nutrients during pregnancy, magnesium needs increase. Simply put by Dr. Mildred Seelig, “The formation of new tissue (maternal and fetal) during pregnancy requires higher magnesium intakes than that of the normal nonpregnant woman of comparable age.”
Needs increase in part because at the beginning of pregnancy, the womb is producing energy without oxygen. To create energy anaerobically, you need sufficient magnesium. Morley Robbins explains, “The oxygen concentration in the womb in the 1st trimester of pregnancy is ~1-3% — which is hypoxic! (i.e., “anaerobic!” which requires magnesium to produce energy). What is critical to understand is that there is high proliferation of tissue in an anaerobic environment.”
There are also very high levels of magnesium in amniotic fluid, nodding to its importance, as the developing baby is constantly swallowing this fluid.
A magnesium-deficient mother-to-be’s body will start breaking itself down to provide magnesium to her developing baby. Seelig explains, “When the dietary intake of magnesium is not sufficient to meet the demands of gestation, the maternal stores are mobilized and magnesium deficiency can develop.”
Magnesium deficiency during pregnancy is linked to:
High blood pressure
Preeclampsia
Leg cramps
Gestational diabetes
Morning sickness
Parathyroid dysfunction of mother and baby
Placental insufficiency
Low birth weight
Miscarriage
Seelig also states, “It may be relevant that magnesium-deficient animals have poor gestational success, with evidence of resorption at implantation sites in severely deficient animals, and smaller-than-control size of litters in less deficient animals.”
She also talks about several rat studies that demonstrated gestational magnesium deficiency:
Had trouble conceiving
Struggled to produce viable offspring
Produced small offspring
Offspring survival rate was poor
She also states, “...there are provocative findings that point to the possibility that [magnesium deficiency] is likely to be contributory, not only to complications of pregnancy, but to damage to the products of conception.” Magnesium deficiency can not only affect mama, but her baby too.
How can you get your magnesium up?
〰️First, work with an HTMA practitioner to determine whether you have a deficiency. If you’re deficient in magnesium, you’re likely deficient in other very important minerals.
〰️Consume magnesium-rich foods, like bone broth, milk, properly-prepared green leafy vegetables, cacao, herbs, etc.
〰️Consider magnesium supplementation, like epsom salt baths or magnesium chloride spray.
I’ll be talking more about magnesium and other critical minerals for conception in my upcoming course. Stay tuned!
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Not medical advice.
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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.
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References
Longo, L.D. (2016). Retrieved from: Sir Joseph Barcroft: one victorian physiologist's contributions to a half century of discovery. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728207/.
Nichols, L. (2018). Real Food for Pregnancy. United States.
Robbins, M. (2021). Iron Toxicity Post #81: If you’re 6-9 months Pregnant, YOU ARE NOT “Anemic!!!!”. Retrieved from: https://therootcauseprotocol.com/iron-toxicity-post-81/.
Rosanoff, A. Weaver, C.M. Rude, R.K.(2012). Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: are the health consequences underestimated?. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22364157/.
Seelig, M.S. MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF DISEASE: Early Roots of Cardiovascular, Skeletal and Renal Abnormalities. Retrieved from: http://mgwater.com/Seelig/Magnesium-Deficiency-in-the-Pathogenesis-of-Disease/preface.shtml.
Suliburska, J. Kocylowski, R. Komorowicz, I. Grzesiak, M. Bogdariski, P. Baralkiewicz, D. (2016). Concentrations of Mineral in Amniotic Fluid and Their Relations to Selected Maternal and Fetal Parameters. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26547910/.
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