The Effect of Magnesium on Maternal Mood, Cognitive Function, and Birth Experience

This prospective observational study of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
(gestational hypertension or preeclampsia) seeks to evaluate a number of markers of maternal
postpartum well-being, including maternal mood, breastfeeding, cognitive function,
maternal-infant attachment, maternal perception of control, and postpartum pain between women
who did and did not receive magnesium prophylaxis in the peripartum period.

This project will include 300 women recruited from the obstetrical service at Prentice
Women's Hospital. Women will be included if they are at least 34 weeks gestation, have a
singleton pregnancy, and have been diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy
(either gestational hypertension or preeclampsia). Women will be exposed to magnesium for the
indication of preeclampsia at the discretion of their obstetric provider.

Intrapartum baseline magnesium serum levels will be drawn for all women. For women who are
receiving a magnesium infusion, serum magnesium levels will be repeated during the magnesium
infusion (after receipt of the bolus infusion). For women who elect to receive neuraxial
analgesia, CSF will be obtained and central magnesium levels drawn at the time of epidural
placement.

Prior to discharge from the hospital, baseline demographic and clinical data will be obtained
via chart review. Surveys will be administered to assess potential confounders of depression.
A baseline self-reported depression survey, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Self
Report (QIDS-SR) will be administered followed by a structured clinical interview for
diagnosis (SCID), the gold standard for psychiatric research diagnosis. Women will be
contacted at two weeks and again at six weeks postpartum and the QIDS-SR will be
administered. For women with positive screens, a phone-based MINI will be performed.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or immediately postpartum women

2. Age 18 and over

3. Singleton gestation

4. Diagnosis of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy

5. Gestational age of at least 34 weeks

6. English-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Women not meeting the above criteria

2. Prior receipt of magnesium during pregnancy

3. Intrauterine fetal demise or neonatal demise

4. Chronic hypertension