If you're interested in taking prenatal vitamins but either can't find them in stores or don't want to pay the higher price for prenatals as compared to regular multivitamins, you might wonder whether an alternative, like Flintstones vitamins, is comparable. Unfortunately, there are important differences between prenatal vitamins and other multivitamins, so they're not interchangeable.
Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are vitamin and mineral supplements specially formulated to meet the needs of pregnant women and their developing fetuses. Breastfeeding women and those trying to conceive may also benefit from prenatal vitamins. Prenatals are different from most multivitamins because of their large quantities of iron and folic acid. Most prenatals contain 800 to 1,000 mcg of folic acid and 27 mg iron, note Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz in their book "You: Having A Baby."
Flintstones Vitamins
Flintstones vitamins are chewable multivitamin and mineral supplements designed to meet the nutritional needs of children. While the vitamins and minerals in Flintstones vitamins are the same as those found in prenatal vitamins, the quantities aren't identical. In particular, these vitamins are low in iron and folic acid, compared to prenatals; they contain only 400 mcg folic acid and 18 mg iron.
Concerns
The smaller quantities of folic acid and iron in Flintstones vitamins, as compared to prenatals, present a problem because of the special importance of both of these nutrients during pregnancy. Folic acid is critical to the proper formation of the neural tube, an embryonic structure that eventually becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord. Iron, on the other hand, helps a pregnant woman form additional red blood cells to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the placenta.
Options
If you are in the habit of taking Flintstones vitamins and wish to continue doing so during pregnancy, check with your obstetrician. Some doctors will approve non-prenatal vitamin supplements, provided you take additional iron and folic acid to ensure that you're getting the recommended 1,000 mcg folic acid and 27 mg iron. It's important not to deviate from your obstetrician's recommendations regarding prenatal vitamins, since nutrient deficiencies can have severe health ramifications for both mother and baby.
References
- "You: Having A Baby"; Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D.; 2009
- Flintstones: Flintstones Complete
- "Conception, Pregnancy and Birth"; Miriam Stoppard, M.D.; 2008
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