If you're like many pregnant women, you worry that you'll inadvertently consume something that could harm your developing baby. While it's certainly true that there are many toxins that could affect a fetus -- mercury among them -- you're not at all likely to be exposed to mercury by taking prenatal vitamins.
Mercury
Mercury is a heavy-metal element and potent neurotoxin, meaning that it damages the brain and spinal cord. Because a developing baby's brain is so sensitive to toxins, babies and fetuses are particularly susceptible to the damaging effects of mercury. As such, pregnant women should stay away from any and all potential sources of mercury.
Mercury in Vitamins
If mercury was present in prenatal vitamins, it would absolutely hurt your baby. However, you can rest assured that there are no ingredients in prenatal vitamins that have been shown to be contaminated with mercury. Whether you're taking over-the-counter prenatal vitamins or prescription vitamins, you won't put your developing baby at risk. In fact, prenatal vitamins are a great way to ensure that you and your baby are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to support proper growth.
Calcium
One of the minerals not typically included in prenatal vitamins is calcium. You need calcium to maintain your skeletal system, and your baby uses it to build bone. Calcium isn't absorbed well in the presence of iron, which prenatal vitamins contain, so you'll likely need a separate calcium supplement. You should be aware that oyster shell calcium can contain lead contamination, notes a 2000 article by G. Scelfo and colleagues in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives." Similar to mercury, lead is a neurotoxin that you should avoid during pregnancy.
Fish Oil
Some prenatal vitamins include fish oil supplements. Some fish are a source of mercury contamination, which might make you wonder whether the fish oil in your prenatals could hurt your baby. In fact, though, the fish used to produce oil for supplements aren't the large predator fish like swordfish and sharks that are often contaminated with mercury. Instead, supplements rely upon sardines and anchovies, which are small fish that rarely contain mercury, meaning that even if your prenatals include fish oil, your baby is safe from the risk of mercury poisoning.
References
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- "Environmental Health Perspectives"; Lead in Calcium Supplements; G Scelfo et al; April 2000
- "The New York Times"; The Claim: Fish Oil Supplements Can Contain Mercury; Anahad O'Connor; March 2009
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