Hello to Jane Bradshaw and your vetinarian  husband.
After reading the rabbit thread, I feel brave enough to ask about
some more comparative biochemistry. Our provincial newspaper
is advertising for farmers to apply magnesium now, to redress the
problems of lowered milkfat producton and metabolic disorders in
stock. I have always been interested in magnesium as a deficient
mineral in some pregnancies, as it is used as a treatment for pre
eclampsia,(though repeatedly stated that magnesium shortage  is
not the cause of pre-eclampsia.) In my farming background, I have
vivid memories of magnesium injections saving the lives of pregnant
sheep and cows.
Would our lactnetting vets, biochemists, physiologists,or dietitians
care to comment on the role of magnesium, and whether supplementing
mothers of low gaining human babies  with magnesium would help
anyone- or just the chemical companies as always.
Mary Grant RN, RM, IBCLC in rural New Zealand.