Taking Flintstones vitamins is a boon to pregnant women who gets nauseous with their prenatal vitamins. Flintstones chewable tablet is a pediatric multivitamin for filling up the child’s nutritional gap. But you will be surprised to learn that it is also an excellent prenatal vitamin substitute used by most women. Some health professionals like the Virginia Center for Women Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Infertility recommend taking two Flintstones a day for low-risk pregnancy.
Although many pregnant women swear by its tolerability with nausea, it is still best to consult your doctor. They can provide care and support that is specific to your pregnancy.
Every pregnancy is unique, and not everything that works for others also serves your benefit. It is especially true if you have other underlying medical conditions or going through a difficult pregnancy.
Benefits of prenatal vitamins
The moment you learn about your pregnancy, it is not unusual for unsolicited advice to pour in.
One such uninformed piece of advice that concerns us health professionals is ditching prenatal vitamins. Some say that prenatal vitamins may cause the fetus to grow bigger, and thus, makes the labor more difficult.
But, there is no truth to this claim, and prenatal vitamins are very important for both you and your baby. They contain folic acid that is a crucial need for the baby’s formation.
According to the World Health Organization, a low-risk pregnancy needs at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.
Folic acid is an essential nutrient for the baby’s proper brain and spine development. In addition, it is the most vital nutrient for the prevention of congenital anomalies like neural tube defects.
A healthy diet is important, especially during pregnancy. However, it is not always enough and may leave nutritional gaps. That is why vitamin supplements are needed to fill in the gap.
Taking your daily dose of vitamins will contribute to lifetime benefits for your baby.
Prenatal vitamins and nausea
Another reason why women forego prenatal vitamins is the inevitable bout of nausea, especially in the first trimester. It can go as far as vomiting yellow liquid when you heave out an empty stomach in the morning.
Indeed, nutritional supplements can also trigger mild side effects like a queasy stomach. Some vitamin brands can be tough on the tummy, and their iron content may worsen morning sickness.
If you think your prenatal vitamins are the culprit of your nausea and vomiting, you can talk to your doctor. He may recommend an alternative or substitute it with a lower dose of nutrients.
Kid vitamins like Flintstones may also work provided it contains folic acid so as to not compromise your intake.
Flintstones as prenatal vitamins
Flintstones is a chewable fruit-flavored tablet that contains 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of folic acid and 10 mg of iron.
Although it contains a baseline folic acid requirement, it is better than not taking anything at all. And since most pregnant women can tolerate Flintstones, it becomes the best alternative to prenatal vitamins.
Doctors may recommend taking two Flintstone chewable tablets in place of your prenatal vitamins.
Here are other tips in taming your stomach into taking prenatal vitamins with a lesser episode of nausea and vomiting:
- Take prenatal vitamins with food
- Take it in a divided dose (for example half a dose in the morning and a half at night)
- Try easy to digest vitamins (chewable, gummies, powder)
- Find an appropriate vitamin that you can tolerate without compromising folic acid
FAQs
Where else can I get folic acid?
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate. If you want a more natural source of folate, then eat more legumes, nuts, leafy greens, and citrus fruits. It is also available in eggs, beets, liver, and fortified grains or cereals.
How long will I take prenatal vitamins?
Take your prenatal vitamins even after birth for up to six weeks or the entire duration of your breastfeeding.
Is it okay to switch prenatal vitamins?
It is okay to try changing your vitamins and find a manageable one for your morning sickness. Doctor consultation is still recommended so you and your baby can get the most out of it.
Takeaway
The first trimester of pregnancy can become quite a struggle for expecting moms. It is hard to get as many nutrients that your baby needs while fighting to keep down food.
When prenatal vitamins get too tough to handle, most women resort to taking a supplement they can tolerate. A kid’s vitamin supplement like Flintstones is a great substitute and is also safe for pregnancy.
When substituting, moms should ensure that it also contains the folic acid requirement that the growing baby needs.
