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Sodium Use During Pregnancy |
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Pregnancy Exercise -
Nutrition
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Sodium Use During Pregnancy.
I've heard I should be careful with my sodium intake during pregnancy. What is sodium?
Sodium is a chemical that works to maintain the proper amount of fluid in your body. During pregnancy, it can also affect your baby's system. Sodium is found in salty foods (such as potato chips and dill pickles) and in processed foods, from soups to meats. You need some sodium; you just don't need too much of it. Read food labels to discover just how much you're getting! How much sodium should I take in each day?
During pregnancy, keep your consumption of sodium under 3g (3,000mg) a day.
How can too much sodium hurt me or my baby?
Too much sodium causes water retention, swelling and high blood pressure. Any of these can be a problem for you and therefore for your baby.
I don't know what foods contain sodium. What should I avoid?
You can't avoid something unless you know where to find it. With sodium, that can be tricky. It's in the salt shaker and in salty-tasting foods, such as pretzels, chips and salted nuts. You may be surprised by the amount of sodium in foods that don't taste salty.
Sodium is found in canned and processed products, fast foods, cereals, desserts and even soft drinks and some medications! See the chart on the opposite page for a listing of the sodium content in a variety of foods. Read labels!
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