SodiumNutrition library
LibraryBlood markersVitamins & minerals
Sodium
Serum sodium reflects extracellular fluid balance — pregnancy alters volume and renal handling.
Hyponatraemia or hypernatraemia usually signals water balance or illness rather than salt intake alone. The app tracks dietary sodium against potassium for balance, not serum concentration.
How to read it
Interpret with blood pressure, oedema, and renal function. Sudden large shifts need urgent review.
Trimester context
| Stage | For the mother | For the baby |
|---|---|---|
| First trimester | — | — |
| Second trimester | Physiological haemodilution can modestly lower sodium — use pregnancy-adjusted ranges. | Maternal vascular volume supports placental exchange. |
| Third trimester | Pre-eclampsia workup includes sodium only as part of the broader electrolyte panel. | Stable maternal status supports term growth. |