Magnesium levels don't necessarily get high, but the body's need for it increases significantly in pregnancy because it's vital for fetal growth, bone/teeth development, muscle relaxation (including the uterus to prevent preterm labor), blood pressure regulation, and managing pregnancy symptoms like cramps, insomnia, and constipation. Many women have low magnesium intake, so supplementation supports both mother and baby, helping prevent complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth.
Magnesium plays a crucial role in bone formation and in the metabolism of proteins and fatty acids, helping pregnant women alleviate fatigue, weakness, and pregnancy-related obesity.
Yes, magnesium can cause headaches, but usually only when you have too much (hypermagnesemia) from high-dose supplements or impaired kidneys, while a deficiency in magnesium is a common cause of headaches and migraines, making magnesium supplementation a popular treatment for prevention. So, headaches can signal either too little or too much magnesium, depending on the context.
Hypermagnesemia occurs primarily in patients with acute or chronic kidney disease. In these individuals, some conditions, including proton pump inhibitors, malnourishment, and alcoholism, can increase the risk of hypermagnesemia. Hypothyroidism and especially cortico-adrenal insufficiency, are other recognized causes.
If metallic magnesium is inhaled (such as in the workplace) it can cause metal fume fever.
You generally need 350 to 400 milligrams (mg) of magnesium daily during pregnancy, depending on your age (e.g., 350 mg for ages 19-30; 360 mg for 31+; 400 mg for teens), but it's crucial to talk to your doctor for personalized advice, as individual needs and food intake vary, with too much causing diarrhea and low blood pressure, while food sources like greens, nuts, and seeds are best.
Very high doses of magnesium can lead to magnesium toxicity, which can cause hypotension, vomiting, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, cardiac arrest, and other signs and symptoms. A few cases of fatal hypermagnesemia have been reported.
Foods high in magnesium are leafy greens, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains. A doctor can check your magnesium levels by a blood or urine (pee) test. If you have low magnesium levels, your doctor may recommend taking a supplement.
Consider taking magnesium (400 to 800 mg daily) or riboflavin (400 mg daily) supplements. These can be taken at the same time. You can also try these methods to relieve headaches: Rest in a quiet, dimly lit room.
The side effects of magnesium include nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, arrhythmias, dyspnea, hypotension,... To minimize the risk of side effects and drug interactions, magnesium supplements should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.
Together, these findings support a link between magnesium deficiency and migraine and suggest magnesium deficiency as an independent risk factor for migraine occurrence. However, other research studies have found normal magnesium levels in the blood serum of migraine sufferers [75,76].
Objective. Magnesium (Mg) sulfate is effective in preventing eclampsia in patients with severe pre-eclampsia. The accepted therapeutic levels range between 4.8-8.4 mg/dl.
Food Sources
Magnesium is found in plant foods like legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fortified cereals. It is also in fish, poultry, and beef.
A meta-analysis of RCTs in 2022 showed that oral magnesium supplementation during pregnancy significantly reduced the risk of PE (RR: 0.76, 0.59–0.98) (7 studies, n = 2,653, moderate quality evidence) [82].
Bone Health: Adequate magnesium supports the development of strong bones and teeth in the growing baby. Blood Sugar Control: Magnesium helps regulate blood sugar levels, which can be beneficial in preventing gestational diabetes.
To prevent or relieve mild headaches during pregnancy without taking medicine, try the following:
The symptoms of too much magnesium (hypermagnesemia) include nausea, headache, muscle weakness, and trouble breathing. Hypermagnesemia is quite rare. Most people with higher-than-normal blood levels of magnesium have kidney failure.
Bananas are the richest fruit in magnesium. If eaten dried, its magnesium content is higher. More generally, dried fruits such as figs, dates and apricots are an important source of magnesium. Recipe idea: Try a banana-spinach smoothie.
For drinks high in magnesium, opt for mineral waters, fruit juices (especially orange, cherry, watermelon), plant-based milks (soy, almond), and homemade concoctions using raw cacao, coconut milk, or magnesium powders mixed with water or smoothies, with hot chocolate (made with raw cacao) and herbal teas (like nettle) also being good choices.
Providers treat hypermagnesemia with IV fluids and IV medicines like diuretics and calcium gluconate. Diuretics like furosemide help your kidneys get rid of magnesium. Calcium gluconate can help with your breathing. You may also need dialysis to help quickly remove magnesium from your body.
Drinking water can provide a baseline lifetime contribution to dietary magnesium intake. The removal of essential minerals like calcium and magne- sium from water by softening can result in lower life- time intakes of those essential elements without their replacement from the diet or supplementation.
Magnesium-Rich Foods
For pregnancy, the best magnesium supplements are easily absorbed forms like Magnesium Glycinate (great for sleep/relaxation, gentle) or Magnesium Citrate (good absorption, helps constipation), while Magnesium Oxide is poorly absorbed. Always consult your doctor before starting any supplement, as they can advise on the right type and dosage (around 350-400mg daily), often finding it helps with leg cramps, sleep, and blood sugar, but dietary sources are key.
Many women find that by restoring their magnesium levels through diet and supplementation, morning sickness symptoms can reduce.