I didn’t have some grand preconception plan – the truth is I was scarfing down magnesium and soaking in long, hot Epsom salt baths because I was constipated. *ahem*
Real glamorous, huh?
But no matter, prior to pregnancy, I was already tanking up on magnesium, and I was more than willing to keep it up (although, I did switch from a pill form to magnesium lotion) just to see if there was a connection between magnesium and morning sickness.
{this is the magnesium lotion I use}
READ: The Ultimate Guide to Morning Sickness Remedies
The short answer is that while my morning sickness was not 100% eliminated, I still call it a win! But, because I know some of you are desperate right now, here’s what I did without any sciencey stuff…
By the way, here’s where I tell you that I am not a health care professional. I’m just a mom who has had morning sickness for a total of 3 year (!!!) of her life…
Magnesium for Morning Sickness (My Regimen)
- Soak 20 minutes in Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) bath
- Rub a dime-sized amount of magnesium lotion on calves.
You do not have to put the lotion on your calves. I do this because I have struggled with Restless Legs in the past. (Read about my battle with RLS during pregnancy here.)
The reason I chose magnesium lotion over spray was because people often itch with the spray, but I have since found that this spray from Pink Stork does not make me itch, so I sometimes use it on my wrists as well.
Is Morning Sickness Caused by a Magnesium Deficiency?
When you are throwing up nonstop, it’s pretty easy to be a skeptic. I know I was. No way could magnesium be why I was throwing up so much. But, I want you to read this article with an open mind: The REAL Cause of Morning Sickness.
Now, I don’t believe magnesium is the full cause of morning sickness (it has never completely obliterated my morning sickness symptoms), but when your body is depleted of valuable vitamins and minerals, you will feel sick. And I knew from my RLS issues that magnesium was definitely an issue for me.
Magnesium and Vomiting
Last pregnancy, I was consistently following the above magnesium morning sickness regimen, and I only threw up 10 times. To some people, that is not a victory – to me, it was a HUGE victory! That’s pretty major stuff for someone who has been through Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) and many, many Nausea-Vomiting Pregnancies (NVP).
READ: The Ultimate Guide to Morning Sickness Remedies
Now, I will be flat-out honest here…sometimes NOT throwing up scares me. Those of you who have had miscarriages might know what I mean because for me, throwing up typically means a healthy baby, so not throwing up is a little unnerving.
An update…
When this post was originally written (early 2016), I wasn’t quite to the place in my pregnancy where morning sickness kicks in high gear, so I couldn’t give a full verdict on the outcome of using magnesium in pregnancy to help with morning sickness. But now that I am past all of that, I can tell you that this pregnancy followed pretty closely to the last one where I used magnesium consistently. I think I threw up a total of 15 times, with several days of “ok” in between. I was still nauseous, but I could eat. Nights were usually worse, and I think I would have had better results if I had used the magnesium spray more consistently.
Which Magnesium Should I Take?
If you think you can manage a pill form, go for it! (I know I could not have done it.) I’m not a magnesium expert, so my advice is to look through the list at the bottom of this post to help you determine which magnesium would be best for you. I’d lean toward the malate to get your levels up quickly.
And even though I am not pregnant anymore, I still take magnesium because I have continued to be deficient and it affects my heart (PVCs) and Restless Legs (RLS) symptoms. Magnesium Taurate is considered one of the best for this purpose. It is very interesting to me how much magnesium affects the function of your body. It’s no wonder it could be the key to your morning sickness!
What has your experience been with magnesium and morning sickness? And a quick note…you can make your own magnesium lotion (here’s a recipe), but I’m lazy. If you have more gumption than I do, feel free to try it! I am linking below to the bath flakes recommended for making your own as well as the other magnesium products I use.
Lindsay says
I get hyperemesis every pregnancy, and it lasts until about a week before I deliver. This last pregnancy was the first time I felt that it was managed well. My routine included a blood thinner (Lovenox) for Factor V, and I feel that was a huge factor in how well I felt overall. I was also on progesterone shots, which helped keep me from having as many contractions, which lessened my vomiting. I was also on Phenergen, Unisom, B6/B12, Zofran, and was admitted twice for dehydration so I received fluids. I also did Epsom salt baths, and was on magnesium in the hospital a few times for early labor. This time around, I only lost 19 pounds and gained 12 back. Every other pregnancy, I’ve lost 19 or more pounds without any weight gain at all. Also, this pregnancy resulted in a healthy baby instead of a miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm NICU baby!
Amy says
Wow, Lindsay! What a trial. That’s great you were able to gain some this last pregnancy!
Alison says
I had a twin pregnancy at 39 (babies 8&9). I credit magnesium, dr. Brewer’s pregnancy diet, and proper hydration with healthy full term girls.
I use Calm, which is the drink powder. The B vitamins also really helped with morning sickness. The magnesium also really helped with the awful leg cramps I get during pregnancy.
Lindsay says
Hi Alison,
Did you take the calm powder drink throughout your entire pregnancy?
Thank you!!
Andrea says
Just got our tub of flakes in the mail last week to make our own lotion. I used the lotion and Epson salts in last pregnancy, but I don’t think I was diligent enough. We do use the lotion for one of our little guys, on his feet. We have had children with magnesium issues, and tried the spray. The one we purchased, not the same as yours, really burns the skin. Ouch. As in, Mommy could not handle the pain and I cannot believe we used that on our child type of ouch. So the lotion, we use it too, just not for pregnancy. Maybe some day… says the 43 year old Mama. I also take oral magnesium every day. Oh, and we threw the magnesium spray in the trash.
And yes, it is VERY difficult when you a) are used to being sick in pregnancy and b) have had miscarriages to be okay with not being sick. Praying for you and baby (and I always throw in the whole family!).
Amy says
Thank you!
Jenni says
Honestly, I have been blessed to not have morning sickness for most of my pregnancies. I might get a twinge of nausea every now and then, but that’s it. I can see why you might be worried if you associate not being sick with miscarriages, but I hope and pray that this is not the case with this one for you :).
That said, I have appreciated magnesium for its calming effects. I haven’t taken much lately – there’s some in my multivitamin (200 mg I think) and I seem to be benefitting a lot more in my pregnancy right now from adding in iron. I was taking extra iron before I got pregnant because I just felt anemic, and it seemed to be helping. Then I got my blood work done for pregnancy and they said that my iron was barely above the lowest range of normal. I can’t imagine what it would have been if I were pregnant and not taking extra supplements.
Looking forward to the updates!
Amy says
I’m really hoping my B vitamins help me stay on top of my anemia. My issue with anemia is related to B deficiency, but they always just keep pouring the iron to me. Now I realize I need to couple it with the B to really make this work. I hope your iron stays positive!
Lauren says
Do you take B6 and B12? Which ones are you taking?
Amy says
I started with just B12 because I was taking it for anxiety and other B12 deficiency symptoms; however, I am going to be adding in B6. I really like Seeking Health brand.
rebecca says
ooh- I wasn’t familiar with Bs and iron relating. I always have trouble with anemia during pregnancy and can’t handle the iron supplements they always try to get me to take… I will have to look into this!
Rach D says
I find Floradix Iron works really well for me! I have digestive issues & it never ever constipates. It also includes some B’s & C. (for absorption, but also good in pregnancy)
Rebecca says
I’m done with the being pregnant phase of my life but I wish I had known about magnesium when I was pregnant! I remember throwing up all through my pregnancies, even up to the day before delivery. I also worked with my first 2 pregnancies and it was so hard! I don’t think I was hyperemesis (back then I don’t even know that it was a diagnosis, every time I would speak to my ob about being so sick, he always said it was a good sign, try to eat protein, don’t let your stomach get empty…etc.). I will say we have benefited from magnesium in the past few years though using the all natural mag. lotion from http://www.realtraditions.com I apply it to my youngest who suffers from restless sleep, as well as myself. I had read several years ago that most everyone is deficient in magnesium in this country and the list of side effects from lacking magnesium were astounding and sounded like most everyone I know. I think everyone should use a mag. supplement, not just pregnant people, after viewing that list! And a little goes a long way, especially because you can build up the supply in your body and just maintain.
Amy says
I agree!
Diana says
Thanks for this post, Amy! I’ve been looking forward to reading it, and I’ll be linking to it later this week. 🙂
Magnesium is definitely part of my pre-conception regimen. I do magnesium spray, a magnesium supplement, a glass of Natural Calm when I remember it, and I try to do Epsom Salts once a week. (I’m really bad about that last part – it is so hard to find half an hour of free time!) I also do a bunch of other stuff (probiotics, etc.), but magnesium is a huge part of my plan.
Just an FYI that the best price I’ve found on Epsom Salts is through Azure Standard – last time I checked, they had a 50# bag for around $45.
So excited to get to see your newest this coming fall! How exciting!! 🙂
Amy says
That’s good to know about Azure!
Lauren says
Which probiotics do you take and why? Just curious about them during pregnancy!
Mrs.Momof7 says
I have also had incredible success with Magnesium. Eating a whole foods, low junk food diet, and taking Natural Calm Magnesium powder in water has (in the past) greatly reduced my nausea and vomiting. I know for a fact that I have been magnesium deficient, it was so severe it lead to long term chronic constipation. Before I found out what was going on I had massive problems with nausea and vomiting, including Hyperemisis Gravidarum, like you mention. l also have struggled with RLS. One interesting point, if I am taking good doses of magnesium and the RLS comes back after being gone for a while… I have discovered that it is a Potassium issue, and a grapefruit before bed has helped me over come it at that point. magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium are all linked together in a careful balancing act within the body. I have discovered that when I consume too much calcium, my RLS comes back (pregnant or not)… I believe this is due to the imbalance of calcium to magnesium. So I up the magnesium, or lower the calcium and it comes back into balance. Now, what puzzles me is, WHY do so many of us struggle with electrolyte imbalances?
Congratulations on another baby!!
Amy says
Some people theorize that our soil is so depleted that we no longer get these nutrients from our food. I was also told by my cardiologist that he sees electrolyte issues in people who eat a low carb diet.
Mrs.Momof7 says
Well, out of those two options, I’m going with depleted soil, because neither I nor my husband are low carb eaters, and yet we both have electrolyte imbalances. I also happen to know that 1 gram of sugar requires something like 60 grams of magnesium to process. I have also noticed that when I eat sugar, my magnesium seems to be lower. But hey… that’s a pretty small test sample.
Amy says
Whoa! Now that’s an interesting factoid! Yikes!
rebecca says
I really hope your regime helps through the next few weeks!
I find it such a battle that I am truly encouraged to hear of other women having many pregnancies and also fighting through the tough sickness and still trusting God to have more children. Sometimes I feel alone in this, so I am encouraged by other brave women who continue to do this!
Now that I am through 12.5 weeks I can finally start handling life again! I have also struggled with HG and NVP for most of my pregnancies, but have had some breaks for certain months, but sometimes right up to delivery day.
I am considering this a HUGE blessing that now at 12 weeks I stopped throwing up already!!! THANK YOU LORD. this is truly amazing to me. I still am fighting nausea/food aversions, etc. but keeping it down is worth smiling about. I even ate meat and vegetables instead of gingerale and pretzels!
PRAYER is still my mainstay. And the comfort of God’s word does wonders to get me through the day 🙂
May you be TRULY blessed with great health and wisdom to keep up the regime that will give you the strength and energy you need
Blessings!
Rebecca
Amy says
Thank you, Rebecca! And so glad your morning sickness has abated!
Blessedx7 says
We are trying to add another little blessing to our family and have struggled for almost 18 months. I’ve been reading and have found a lot of information about magnesium and conception.
My question is what brand magnesium did you use before falling pregnant with this sweet little one? Were you only doing mag lotion or were you using a pill form?
I’m curious bc i am considering add it to my every day supplements.
Thank you so much for your encouraging posts and wonderful information.
I pray you have a blessed, uneventful pregnancy with a precious little bundle to snuggle!!
Amy says
I was just taking a cheapo brand from WalMart, but I would encourage you to get something better than that. Ancient Minerals is a well respected brand, thus the reason I went with them.
Ruth Henderson says
Epsom salts are really inexpensive if you get them at your local feed mill. They sell them as fertilizer. It’s been a while since I got a #50 bag, so I won’t quote a price, but I know it is very economical. It works great for rowdy or angry seeming little boys and menstruating teen girls too!
Congrats on #10! I’m in my 11th pregnancy and this time I’m doing the magnesium oil topically, Natural Calm drink and Plexus products using their Biocleanse (magnesium). I would say that using the Plexus products nearly eliminated my morning sickness this time around. I’ve been very impressed. I was quite the skeptic and had no intentions of getting on it and found out my hubby was sneaking it into my morning kefir and I was noticing such a difference for a few weeks before he told me he was doing it! He then told me he wanted me to take their four main products and I will say this is my most pleasant pregnancy and I have had the most energy and comfort, yes, even at 42! Just now embracing the 3rd trimester and feeling quite blessed. Thanks for another good article!
Bridget says
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
I was wondering if you are new to magnesium or if you also took it before or early on in your pregnancy with Aspen? Or, maybe you naturally are foods high in magnesium? I’m just wondering because I’m currently 17.5 weeks pregnant with baby 6 (pregnancy 7) and I was surprisingly less sick this time than last time. I’ve never had HG, but I’ve gotten more sick with every pregnancy (but this one). I was on THM before becoming pregnant this time, so I’m thinking that maybe my THM diet was naturally higher in magnesium (ate a lot of nuts, yogurt, spinach salads, and cashew milk) and that is the reason why.
Bridget says
I accidentally put the wrong email address on the above comment. This comment has my correct email address!
Amy says
I used magnesium a lot with Aspen too and had a much better pregnancy. I basically did the same routine with her. However, I do think better diet = better morning sickness, but I think it is more of a protein connection than anything.
Lisa says
I am saving this for the next time I get pregnant (hopefully soon) I have had 8 pregnancies and sick with every one except the one miscarriage. And not have nausea with the miscarriage. Not feeling sick always made me nervous too!!! Thank you for sharing and I look forward to your updates!
Joanne says
I’ve had 7 babies so far and I guess I’m fortunate as I’ve never had morning sickness. I did take Magnesium once though, but it was for leg cramps. Good luck with the pregnancy Amy. x
Cat says
This was really interesting. I’ve four healthy pregnancies and the first three I had terrible all day sickness, weight issues, etc. The fourth I starting taking a b-complex, and magnesium/calcium/zinc combo before getting pregnant and it was like you experienced. I had very little nausea and I threw up just a few scattered times the entire pregnancy. I was pretty sure I’d lose that baby because it was so different but here he is about to hit eight months. Reminds me I better get back on the mommy health track.
Miriam says
You might want to read…”Take Two Crackers and Call Me in the Morning! a real-life guide for surviving morning sickness”.. an e-book..
heather schulz says
I am pregnant with my 8th baby. I have had morning sickness for all of them for the first 14 weeks, which includes constant nausea all day, fatigue, and lots of laying around. So I figured this one would be the same. I am 6 weeks and just started feeling the morning sickness really kick in. I had looked into Magnesium oil and had it ordered, but had not received it yet, so in desperation, I tried epsom salt spray. Within a minute I felt a huge relief! I folded all of my laundry, made a meal, ate it all, and didn’t even nap all day. I sprayed it all over my body three times that day. Now, I have the flakes and spray them 4 times a day to keep nausea at bay and also help with energy. It is much nicer than the epsom salts, not drying and doesn’t leave a salty film on the skin. As my hormones continue to rise until about week 11, I will continue to spray as often as needed. I am thrilled with the results! I only wish I had magnesium oil for my first 7 pregnancies.
Laura Walton says
How often do you do your magnesium regimen? I am 7 weeks tomorrow and just got the lotion in the mail. I have been doing the epsom slat foot soak. I find it helps, but it is short lived, until I soak or use the lotion again. Maybe it is just because I am so early on?
Amy says
It IS short lived – I use it as much as needed.
Reggie says
This is the only pregnancy I’ve had consistent nausea with, and also the only one I had to stop certain vitamins with for a month or so. I stopped taking iron and my calcium/magnesium combo as they were causing constant constipation. During the month or so I was off them, my nausea was definitely worse and my immune system greatly lowered. I got sick pretty easily. Wondering now if separating the calcium and magnesium into separate pills would have helped.
Amanda Wells says
Milk thistle too! If you can keep a pill down it really helped me at the beginning of this (my 9th) pregnancy (at 35 weeks now). I have never vomited from morning sickness but get pretty queasy and It also really helped with the first trimester fatigue. I took Jarrow brand that I got on Amazon and it was a lot more effective than taking 2 of the cheap stuff from Walmart. Milk thistle is an herb that improves liver function and the theory is that the flood of extra hormones is one of the causes of morning sickness – – if your liver is working at its best then you won’t feel those extra hormones as much.
Also I see many ladies here benefiting from B vitamin supplements – also crucial to motherhood in my experience. But you need to take them all together – – they work better together. Get a B complex and if you struggle with depression you might want to add extra niacin (B3).
6000 – 8000 mg of vitamin c daily is my other pregnancy secret. Keeps my skin looking good, boosts energy, keeps me well when my kids aren’t, and I’m never constipated. Start slowly, 1000 mg/day and work up to higher doses. I promise you won’t regret it! (diarrhea is how you know you’ve reached your limit)
Amy says
Thank you for these tips!
Claudia says
I started taking a cal-mag supplement (drink form) because my doctor recommended it to keep up with a nursing baby and a new pregnancy. And my morning sickness all but vanished. It took me a few missed days to catch on to the connection. Thank God for a happy accident!
Amy says
That’s amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Char says
Which cal magnesium supplement did you take? Nursing, pregnant and nausea so I want to buy the right one
Amy says
I know a lot of people like Natural Calm powder.
Char says
Which cal magnesium supplement did you take? Nursing, pregnant and nausea so I want to buy the right one
Jessica says
This is my second pregnancy and I had been taking magnesium prior to becoming pregnant due to being on the keto/ LCHF diet and needed some help with constipation. Since I had taken magnesium with my previous pregnancy for leg cramps, I continued with it before seeing my DR. I have not had any morning sickness! With my first I had a fairly easy pregnancy, only having morning sickness for 3 weeks and never throwing up, but I totally think that using the magnesium has helped me not really feel any symptoms! It has been a blessing! I had been curious if magnesium was the reason, but after reading this blog I am convinced! Thank you!
Amy says
That is fantastic! Congratulations!