Meconium ileus and magnesium

[Guest guest]

Yeah, it's me again. I'm a bit embarrased to admit to my extensive magnesium

library...

Anyway, just a few tidbits of interest regarding meconium ileus (MI) and

magnesium deficiency (MgD)...

Studies on preemies indicate they have MgD. Mg accumulates most in infants in

the last two months of pregnancy, so it stands to

reason MgD might be present.

MgD is also implicated in a host of gastric disorders, and has been described in

childhood and adult meconium ileus equivalent

(MIE). The treatment for MIE is often N-acteylcysteine. Too much NAC can deplete

Mg further. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Anyway, proactive pregnant (and pregnant wanna-be) moms might consider having

their Mg levels checked at their OB exams.

Though... remember that plasma Mg levels don't paint an accurate picture of true

deficiency. However, if the test does come back at

the lower end of " in range " you can probably pretty well raise your hand and

join the MgD group. If the test comes back " low out of

range " then you doggone better get some Mg into you or you risk premature labor.

Discuss it with your OB-GYN because you'll want to monitor Mg during the final

month. Too much Mg can slow or halt labor

contractions. But MgD itself poses a risk to maternal well-being and health...

and studies show fetal MgD poses a risk of birth

defects, especially cardiac defects... and though few studies exist on the

correlation between MgD and MI, I'm willing to bet that low

maternal and/or fetal magnesium levels go hand in hand with meconium ileus.

Remember... calcium constricts, magnesium contracts. The intestines must be able

to constrict and contract in a wave-like manner

to push out bowel movements. If the wave-like motion is stuck in the constrict

mode, then fecal matter gets stuck in the intestines,

and CF fecal matter can be quite sticky, depending upon how much mucus is being

overproduced during inflammation.

Kim

> Hi Jen, I'm glad to hear you thinking about trying again. Leila was also born

with meconium ileus, but our story is much different. I

had a regular office ultrasound at 18 weeks and the technician thought she saw

echogenesis in the bowel (indicating meconium ileus).

A week later we had a level II scan, and the doctor totally poo-pooed what the

tech saw. He said he wasn't impressed (his actual

words!). When I asked him what it meant he said it could indicate Down's or CF.

He proceeded to show me on U/S all the reasons

she didn't have Down's then asked me if we had any family history of CF. I said

no, of course, and he said " Well, you don't have to

worry about that, then! " . Stupid doc. Anyway, I was a day overdue with Leila

and they decided to induce me because I was so large.

Actually, Leila was only 6lbs. 14oz., but I had an incredible amount of

amniotic fluid due to the blockage. We could immediately see

something was wrong with her abdomen because it was abnormally swollen/shaped

funny. She spent 15 days in the NICU but did

very well. After 2 gastrografen enemas she passed the plug on her own. She

required a central line, but had no other complications.

My clinic said the chances of having another child with meconium ileus is 75%.

This sounds high to me, so who knows if that is

accurate. It sounds like Ashton had an extremely rough time. I wanted to tell

our story because it was so much easier. There must

be a range of severity even within meconium ileus's. I wish you the best of

luck and hope you never see that complication again.

>

> Keeley

> mom to Hadley, 3.5 yrs. nocf, Leila, 17m. wcf, and baby boy due June, nocf

>

> meconium ileus information please

>

>

> Hello all. Thanks for the diaper creme information. Ashton's butt

> is looking better.

>

> I have a question for anyone with an answer. My 2 1/2 yr old was

> born 11 weeks premature due to a complicated meconim ileus blockage

> that required major surgery. We are thinking of conceiving naturally

> but the thought of CF and meconium ileus scares the heck out of us.

> We tried twice using IVF and genetic testing on the embryos but I

> didn't get pregnant. So now we are considering just going for it.

> I read somewhere that if you have one child with meconium ileus,

> there is a 39% chance another child wcf witll have the same problem.

> Does anyone have any experience with this? Did any of you have a

> child with meconium ileus and if so, how was it detected and

> treated? Does anyone know of a way to prevent it? We are just

> desperate for hope at this point but we also have to be very

> realistic. Our son nearly died from this so we have to be very

> cautious.

>

> Thank you!

>

> mom to Ashton 2 1/2 wcf

>

>

>

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>

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