ABSTRACT
Magnesium sulfate is one of the most commonly administered intravenous medications in pregnancy. The high frequency of usage arises from the fact that it has multiple indications including seizure prophylaxis in a mother with pre-eclampsia and the prevention of cerebral palsy in a fetus that is delivered prematurely. Pre-eclampsia is a disease that is unique to pregnant women and remains a mysterious disorder despite significant recent basic science advances. While magnesium is being administered, patients should be monitored closely for adverse effects and signs of toxicity, including assessment of respiratory rate, patellar reflexes, neurologic status, and urine output. Intravenous magnesium has a long and complicated history of clinical use in obstetrics. Its predominant role is in neuronal stabilization and the prevention of neurologic injury including both eclamptic seizures in the mother and cerebral palsy after preterm delivery in the neonate.
