Salt sensitivity during pregnancy and after

[countrymomma2]

Hi, I had pre-e with my first born. He was born at 29 weeks. Looking back, I unknowingly developed pre-e about 1 month earlier. With my second I paid much more attentiona and knew the signs/symptoms to watch for! I started to have an increase in bp at around 22 weeks. With my Dr's agreeing I put my self on bedrest and cut out ALL soduim except what was naturally found in food...example soduim in bread, ceral, milk, etc. Absoultley NO extra salt what so ever!! I made it all the way to 37 weeks and 6 days with baby number 2!!! I probably would have made it to my c-section date, but I kinda slacked off on the bed rest and low soduim diet towards the end. I went back to a normal diet after she was born! @ 2 years later I have noticed...what I believe to be salt sensitvity. My hands swell at night, especially bad, if I eat something with a lot of salt in it. I've seen two doctors over the issue, and they have ruled out everything, saying I simply have too much sodium in my body...found in blood work. I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience. I would love to try for a number 3, but am a little concerned over the salt/sodium issue. I want to make sure I get enough soduim for a healthy pregnancy..for me and baby, but I know I can't do too much salt..it just doesn't work well with my body for some reason. I am not sure if I am simply salt sensitive or what, but I am having a lot of trouble getting any straight answers. I can handle being salt sensitive, but when it comes to pregnancy, a baby, pre-e, and salt I need more info and just can not find it anywhere!!!?? Any help, stories, advice concerning the issue would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

[caryn]

Some chronic hypertensives are salt-sensitive, and benefit from low-sodium diets - that might be what's going on with you!

The official stuff on salt in pregnancy says that there is no benefit to preeclampsia from salt restriction, but that chronic hypertensives who are salt sensitive are likely to benefit from lowered sodium intake simply because it reduces their baseline pressures. Has an internist talked to you about this at all?

[countrymomma2]

Hi, thanks for the reply! As far as I know I am not chronic...my pressures run normal while I'm not pregnant. My last reading last week was 120/72....what is an internist? I have seen my obgyn and mfm. Thanks

[caryn]

Hmmm. I said that because almost everyone who's had preeclampsia or PIH more than once is an unmasked chronic hypertensive, even if your pressures return to normal outside of pregnancy - it's just that it hasn't shown up in your non-pregnant life yet because you're young. That's not always what's going on, however, which is why it's a question for an internist. Internists are specialists in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic adult diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

My regular doc is an internist, and then I see an OB/GYN for girl stuff.