Magnesium in pregnant women and the newborn.

In this article the importance of Mg for pregnant women and fetal outcome is reviewed. The physiological changes of Mg-containing body fluids and of tissues are discussed. Mg supplementation during pregnancy seems to be necessary and the efficacy on maternal health and on the newborn are reported. Serum Mg levels decrease during pregnancy and there is a 25% increase of renal Mg excretion. Mg supplementation has a positive effect, with reduced incidence of hospital admission and preterm labour, while the gestational age of the fetus is longer. Convulsions may occur in newborns with hypomagnesaemia. Hypermagnesaemia of the newborn following MgSO4 infusions to toxaemic mothers has been reported.