So I am only about 5 - 5.5 weeks, but I cannot get enough salt/salty foods. I’m worried about getting too much salt! I can’t get enough green olives, pickles, salty homemade soups, salsa and tortilla chips, etc. What do you mom Berries think, should I give in to my cravings or hold back so not to OD on salt?
[name]Don[/name]'t do it!! I am not a salt lover and I ate fairly healthy throughout my pregnancy and I still had swollen feet & legs at the end! It was really uncomfortable. If you must indulge I guess you could counter it with foods that combat bloat and have a lot of water content.
I never craved salt… but I would just eat it (you don’t need to eat massive portions, but if salt is what you want, I’d go for it). [name]Just[/name] make sure you drink lots of water and eat lots of veg and fruit to weigh up for it!
Some people do have sodium deficiencies. Can you talk to the doc about getting your vitamin levels checked?
Thanks. I’m sure I do not have a sodium deficiency, I have always been more of a salty person than a sweet one (haha). I’m just worried about over doing it like Taz said becoming prematurely swollen. I did not have much swelling at all with [name]Callum[/name], but then I wasn’t craving salty stuff like I am tis time around. Plus, my OB doesn’t see me until I’m 10 weeks and I feel dumb calling before then with a silly question like this. I will make sure to drink plenty of water anyway - that is another thing I can’t seem to get enough of, maybe the two are related?
You’re fine. Puffy ankles and swelling in pregnancy is caused by mechanical compression of the veins by the big uterus, and since your uterus is still tiny and your baby is still microscopic, you do not need to worry. It would take an extraordinary amount of salt intake to overcome a healthy person’s natural sodium balance mechanisms, which are a complex interplay between the adrenal gland, the kidney, the carotid body and the brain. Sodium is the single most important cation in the body and is very, very tightly regulated; deficiencies are caused by specific diseases/injuries which are rare, unmistakeable and life-threatening. So enjoy!
I think it all depends on your blood pressure. If you already have low readings (significantly under 120/80) then I would be less restrictive. Above that line I would obviously be more cautious as that could be in the range of prehypertension. For example, my BP is usually like 90/65 and I get light headed a lot (this is my norm) so I try to eat a lot of salt in my daily diet to help keep it up. Sometimes cravings are cravings for a reason, otherwise they’re picas (craving ice is never good), or you’re just pregnant. Stay very hydrated and just watch for swelling; this early in the pg I don’t think it can cause significant harm. Later the dr will of course monitor your BP really closely, but until then have a bag of chips. 
@blade - Thank you for your (as always) in-depth answer!
@poppy - I also have pretty low BP, so I’m not too worried about that!
Thanks!
I was the same at that stage. Couldn’t bear anything sweeter than an underripe banana! I was craving things I never do (and never eat), like chips and fried rice.
It let up around week 7, though, so I was only on a salt kick for a couple of weeks. My cravings normalized but are still almost always savory as opposed to sweet - though I did wake up from a dream a few days ago where I’d eaten an ice cream cake roll, and that was all I wanted! I wouldn’t worry about it too much, things will change soon anyway (then probably change back, then change again, and again… what a ride!)
Congratulations!