Epsom Salt & Pregnancy

Many women who regularly enjoy a soothing Epsom salt bath often question whether they need to stop sprinkling the opaque crystals in their bath water once they conceive. In a healthy gestation, you can generally use small amounts of Epsom salts to treat certain common pregnancy ailments, but always check with your health care provider to verify that it's safe for your specific pregnancy situation.

The Basics

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is a chemical compound similar in appearance and structure to table salt. Epsom salt is commonly used as an ingredient in foot soaks and baths and as an oral treatment for constipation. Bagged or boxed Epsom salts are available at pharmacies, natural health stores and grocery stores. Expect to pay about $1 a pound for a package of Epsom salts.

Features

Magnesium, one of the main components of Epsom salt, is essential to maintaining your health during pregnancy and otherwise. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, magnesium promotes your health in a range of ways, including regulating enzyme activity and your body's levels of calcium, potassium and other important nutrients. During pregnancy, your body's need for magnesium increases. Although food and prenatal vitamins provide magnesium, your body also absorbs it when you soak in water with dissolved Epsom salts.

Uses

Swelling of feet and ankles occurs in many pregnancies, generally because of the increased volume of fluids during the second half of gestation. Soaking your feet in a tub of warm water and Epsom salts may help decrease the swelling and ease aches. Aviva Jill Romm, a certified professional midwife, past president of the American Herbalists Guild and author of "The Natural Pregnancy Book," recommends that pregnant women use ½ cup of Epsom salts dissolved in a small tub of warm water.

Considerations

If you choose to use Epsom salts to help ease normal swelling during your pregnancy, use them combination with other comfort measures for best results. Taking frequent breaks throughout your day, especially if you're on your feet a lot. If you do develop swollen feet, lie down and elevate your feet above the level of your heart for approximately 20 minutes several times daily to improve circulation. Watch your body closely and notify your obstetrician immediately if you see signs of swelling in other parts of your body, especially your face, which may indicate a serious pregnancy complication known as pre-eclampsia.

Warning

Although using Epsom salts occasionally as a saline-based laxative is generally considered safe during pregnancy, MayoClinic.com notes that taking Epsom salts orally as an over-the-counter treatment for constipation may cause a range of side effects, including bloating, cramping, nausea and diarrhea. Talk to your doctor before using Epsom salts to relieve constipation, especially if you're experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or have a history of miscarriages. Your doctor can help you determine the correct Epsom salt dosage and may recommend alternative constipation treatment options, depending upon your gestational stage and overall health.