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High-Risk Pregnancy
Magnesium Question
Just a quick question for anyone who has suffered with or is suffering with preeclampsia. In my last pregnancy, pre-e came on while I was 38 weeks pregnant. So, they induced me right away, and gave me magnesium. They told me I had a mild case. I was just curious for those that have had mild or severe pre-e, do they always give magnesium? I asked my OB, and she said yes. But, read elsewhere that women with mild, late onset of pre-e, dont need magnesium. Just curious what your experiences with this were. I really disliked being on it and trying to "birth" the baby. I just want to educate myself better this time, in case I were to get another late onset of this condition.
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Re: Magnesium Question
Almost always yes. Magnesium is a medication that helps prevent seizures in women with pre-e. However, in a study done at the University of Oregon (the MAGPIE trial), it stated that in order to prevent one seizure in women with mild pre-e, they had to treat many more women than they thought were safe and really necessary. Their recommendation was not to treat with magnesium in mild pre-e, but to continue to treat in severe pre-e.
This study has been widely criticized and downright ignored in many places. Why? Because no one knows who is going to seize who gets pre-e, and many of the women who do seize have lower "mild range" blood pressures. And oftentimes, blood pressures rise rapidly causing seizures within a matter of minutes before magnesium can be given to someone who "converts" from mild to severe disease.
So, this is why most providers will treat with mag regardless of the severity of the pre-e. I hope this helps.
I developed mild pre-e at 34 weeks and was induced at 37 weeks. I was dead set that I did not want magnesium. I asked each Dr that I saw at office visits and their answers varied as to whether they gave it in mild cases or not. Some did, some didn't.
Luckily, I was able to avoid it during labor. My blood pressure stayed low enough that they did not need to give it to me-I still thought it was somewhat high 160/90 at one point. I made my wishes about not getting it known to everyone who came in the room. I was adamant about it unless I absolutely needed it. My bp was taken every 15-20 minutes and I made sure I was laying on my left side which I knew lowered my bp.
The OB that was on call when I delivered was one that said she did give it even in mild cases. Not sure what changed her mind but I didn't have to have it.
I was on it, it stunk... labor over 30 hours. I also do not want to be on it again!
I have read that some places use it, some don't. I feel like MOST of the girls I have seen who had pre-e were on it, so that makes me think more people use it than not. I think it is the luck of the draw with your doc.
Ugh. Mag sucks. I had severe pre-e and had the magnesium sulfate for 24 hours after my emergency c-section. I once read that for women who are on it to treat premature labor, very few women can tolerate it longer than 24 hours.
Mag suppresses your central nervous system, so I can't imagine giving birth while on it. That blows my mind.
So, anyway, I'm no help with your real question, but just wanted to just commisserate that mag is horrible. I mean, I'm grateful for it, it probably saved my life, but holy schmoley it's awful!