Everybody needs magnesium, as it benefits our bodies in so many ways, from assisting calcium in osteoporosis prevention, to liver and kidney disease prevention, but consuming it is particularly crucial during pregnancy, since the health of your baby starts with the vitamin and nutrients you supply yourself with. Pregnant women not only need it in their diets, but should they end up with preeclampsia, they may find an IV full of it being used to treat their late term condition.
While it’s very hard to end up with a magnesium overdose when you’re obtaining it from foods, taking a supplement whether a magnesium citrate constipation remedy, as part of prenatal vitamin or on its own to combat deficiency, can cause side effects when improper type and dose of the mineral is taken over a long period of time. Magnesium citrate side effects can be exacerbated in women during pregnancy, as their bodies are already largely more sensitive due to the amount of work they are performing.
The first but probably least considered magnesium supplements side effects is its effects on other internal processes. For instance, most people know there is a link between magnesium and calcium, but you may find your body missing some of the latter because the pair competes for absorption. This can lead to less than stellar bones and is an interesting although likely longer term magnesium supplements side effects, still worth considering, especially when making purchasing decisions where comparing the ratio between the two is important.
Normal magnesium supplements side effects are similar for pregnant women and their less expecting counterparts, however they may be more pronounced in expectant moms. Nausea (which is, in itself a side effect of pregnancy) can certainly be worsened. Diarrhea is another common complaint on the back label list of magnesium supplements side effects that again can be made more severe due to pregnancy, but this side effect can be easily treated when slightly lowering the current dosage (and hence, adjusting the calcium dose to offset it, as well).
For pregnant women, being knowledgeable about the types of supplements you are selecting can help minimize side effects. For instance, iron deficient women should not take calcium magnesium zinc supplements for instance, because calcium can keep the body from properly absorbing iron, a nutrient often lost during pregnancy anyways. For the best assistance in choosing a supplement and dose that is right for you, talk to you health care provider, and read our other health articles. Your doctor will ensure that you are taking the proper dose in order to meet your needs and also mitigate as many side effects as possible.
