Magnesium during pregnancy and breastfeeding
The body’s magnesium requirement is higher during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to a number of different factors. But maintaining the right magnesium supply is essential for the health of the mother and child. So doctors frequently prescribe magnesium products such as the Biolectra® magnesium range from the onset of pregnancy until breastfeeding stops.
At a glance: the daily magnesium requirement during pregnancy and breastfeeding
* Recommendation from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (German Nutrition Society) (DGE):
- Pregnancy: 310 mg
- Pregnant women under 19: 350 mg
- Breastfeeding mothers: 390 mg
Higher magnesium requirement during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women aged 25 and over normally need around 300 mg magnesium per day – as recommended by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (German Nutrition Society). But how much magnesium is required during pregnancy? The magnesium requirement increases to around 310 mg per day during this period.1
One of the reasons for the higher requirement is that: Hormonal changes increase the amount of magnesium eliminated via urine, making a magnesium deficiency more likely during pregnancy. This should be avoided, because: Magnesium performs a number of essential functions in pregnancy that affect both mother and child.
Did you know, for example, that the unborn child stored up to 7 mg magnesium per day in the last three months of pregnancy? That’s because: The child grows and triples its body weight during this period, so it needs more minerals. This makes it absolutely clear that: Magnesium is essential in pregnancy.
The magnesium requirement is even higher during breastfeeding: During this period, it should be around 390 mg magnesium a day. Breastfeeding mothers transfer some of the mineral to their child.
Pregnant? Magnesium performs a variety of functions
Magnesium has many functions in the body during pregnancy. For example, the mineral helps to reduce fatigue and exhaustion, which is a real relief for many expectant mothers.
An adequate magnesium supply is also important for maintaining normal protein synthesis (formation of new proteins) and supporting cell division, process that are important for the child’s development.
Magnesium during pregnancy: Its functions
Magnesium …
- … helps to reduce fatigue and exhaustion
- ... supports cell division in mother and child
- ... is of benefit for vital muscle function
- ... is important for normal protein synthesis
Biolectra® magnesium covers your requirement during pregnancy
Maintaining an adequate magnesium intake is important for preventing an inadequate supply of magnesium during pregnancy and the potential consequences such as leg cramps. So pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should ensure they have a diet that is rich in magnesium. That’s normally not a problem if you have a balanced and varied diet. But in practice it’s not always possible to get your higher daily magnesium requirement during pregnancy. So, there may be some situations where it can be a good idea to supplement your diet with a magnesium product. So many doctors prescribe a suitable magnesium product right from the onset of the pregnancy.
Taking Biolectra® Magnesium 400 mg ultra Direct in conjunction with a diet that is rich in magnesium is a simple and easy way to take your recommended dose of magnesium and ensure you have an adequate magnesium intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding:
- it covers the higher magnesium requirement during this special period
- it is pleasantly fruity, in orange or lemon flavour
- it helps to maintain electrolyte balance and muscle function
But remember: Although magnesium product is well tolerated by the body, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should still consult their gynaecologist before taking magnesium products.
