is it okay to take flinstone vitamins instead of prenatals?

Lacey - posted on 02/04/2013

My first pregnancy I took Flintstone vitamins because my ob gyn said it was ok. I took them for a month.

Tiff - posted on 09/20/2012

im 13 weeks almost out of the first tri i was taken prenatals (the hard ones) it was hard for me to swollow them i gaged and then got sick from them so now im taken the chewable ones and also a flinstone vitimin at the end of the day it made me feel better the anytime sickness is at ease and i hope it stays that way cause i can barely eat anything i was drinking ginger ale to relax my tummy it helped alot and also B-natals a b6 vitimin you can suck on that helps too.

Crystal - posted on 01/21/2010

According to my OB/GYN it is perfectly fine to take 2 Flintstones complete vitamins a day instead of pre-nates. If the problem is that the pre-nates are making you sick try taking them at night just before you go to bed. If that doesn't work ask your doctor. The Flintstones have the same vitamins & minerals as other viteamins just in smaller doses so 2 is usually the dose the doctor will recommend.

Nicole - posted on 01/21/2010

Im taking flinstones vitamins because that what my doctor said i could take. You just take 2 a day and its the same thing.

Tracey - posted on 01/19/2010

i asked my dr. what kind of prenatal i needed to take and his response was you could take to flinstones vitamins and be fine. so if you can take those wit me problem then it should be ok. just make sure you let your dr. know

Amy - posted on 01/14/2010

My OB told me to take 2 flinstones daily & I will be fine.

Chessica - posted on 01/12/2010

My Doctor has me on 2 flinstones a day in place of my prenatal. Regular Prenatals are hard on my stomach. But she also has me on 4 mg of folic acid. Hope this helps.

Michele - posted on 01/11/2010

I have read some of the comments on here and I am due in May and cannot swallow big pills either, but I also work for an OB/GYN and for the patients that cannot take these pills or are having trouble with feeling nausea or anything he suggests they take two flintstone vitamins a day, one in the morning and one at night. I do that myself and have had no problems. They may not be the same, but they do have the folic acid and iron. Your eating habits also must coincide with these pills and what they may not provide vitamin wise.

Belinda - posted on 01/11/2010

I can't swallow pills either. I got a prescription prenatal that is a powder but it's so disgusting I would gag every time I tried to take it mixed with food or drink. My doc said it was fine to take the flinstones and just double the dose so I get the proper amount of folic acid. That's what I did for both of my pregnancies.

Tara - posted on 01/09/2010

Yes, it is ok, I'm taking them now and i'm almost 36 weeks. My doctor actually advised me to take them. i didn't have a hard time swallowing the prenatals but they made me very sick we went through several brands and finally she told me to take flinstones complete and expecta (DHA supplement can be bought at walmart) and I have been absolutely fine and my baby is prefectly healthy!

Kimberly - posted on 01/09/2010

I could never take the reg. prenatal vitamins with any of my pregnancys. i always take 2 flintstone vitamins

Jessie - posted on 01/08/2010

You can take any vitamin, or combination of vitamins, that contains the following and you'll be okay. Whether this comes from a prenatal or a combination of vitamin tablets or a couple of Flinstones doesn't really matter, but I would be careful about taking multiple multivitamins because you may get more of some things you don't need:
* 400 mcg of folic acid
* 400 IU of vitamin D
* 200 to 300 mg of calcium
* 70 mg of vitamin C
* 3 mg of thiamine
* 2 mg of riboflavin
* 20 mg of niacine
* 6 mcg of vitamin B12
* 10 mg of vitamin E
* 15 mg of zinc
* 17 mg of iron

From here: http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/prenatal...

Vanessa - posted on 01/08/2010

YES i have taken flintstone vitamins with my 2 previous pregnancies and i am pregnant with my 3 rd and also taking them. Prenatal vitamins made me sick to my stomach. I had 2 very healthy babies both over 8lbs at birth. Just make sure the flintstone vitamins have 400mg of the folic acid in them thats the most important thing to look for!

Rachel - posted on 01/07/2010

I had a friend who actually took flintstone vitamins because regular prenatal ones made her sick. It's probably the best idea to check with your doctor or midwife to see what they recommend.
Also, I know folic acid is really important, so whatever you're taking, you probably want to be sure it contains that for baby's health.

Bre - posted on 01/06/2010

I'm 36 weeks pregnant and have taken Flintstones every day since I found out I was pregnant. My doctor is completely fine with it and my son is growing perfectly. You will need to take 2 to get the amount of vitamins you need but taking 2 Flintstones was much easier for me than the prenatals. At the end of the day it's all about what you and your doctor are comfortable with.

Shanda - posted on 01/06/2010

I can't take the prenatals because they make my stomach sick so my doc told me to take 2 of the flinstones with iron everyday.

Leahann - posted on 01/05/2010

My doctor told me i could take them for prenatal supplement because the other ones made me sick with my first child after 4 months i quit taking them altogether my baby was 7lbs 6oz...and i stopped taking my vitamins like my 3rd month and my baby seems to be developing fine i have a good supply of vitamins i guess...and im not recommending you not to take anything for prenatal care i just dont think theres anything wrong with taking flintstones!

Cora - posted on 01/05/2010

my doctor told me to take flinstones instead of prenatal vitamins, i am 26 weeks and still have morning sickness, the doc said that if i could not keep the prenatals down that flinstones was the next best thing.

Angela - posted on 01/04/2010

I was taking Flintstones vitamins and the doctor said it was fine,but you may want to ask your doctor to be on the safe side. I took the Flintstone vitamins because the prenatal vitamins made me sick. (Although they are NOT the same as prenatal vitamins)

Christina - posted on 01/03/2010

Try taking it using a straw to drink out of. Or, talk to your doctor about Prenate Elite. It's a really good prenatal vitamin and it's designed smaller but still with all the prenatal stuff you need so it's easier to swallow. My Nurse Practitioner had samples in her office and she gave me those to start out with. I liked that one the best and as soon as I'm out of samples I'm gonna ask her to write me a script for those.

Here's their website if you want to read more about them to see if you think it'll work for you! Hope it helps!! http://www.prenate.com/elite/index.html

Kelsey - posted on 01/03/2010

Yes it is ok, I had to take the same thing with my daughter, my doc told me something is better then nothing. I cant tkae big pills either, Im with you on this one :P

Roxanne - posted on 01/03/2010

i couldnt take prenatals because they made me super sick and i couldnt keep them down so my doctor told me to take 3 flinstone vitamins a day instead.... my little girl came out happy and healthy

Anna - posted on 01/02/2010

I'd say don't take them at all unless you have been diagnosed with a deficiency. It's better to just eat well. I read of a study on the BBC a couple of months back that proved that people who take vitamins are more likely to die than those who don't ... it is debatable whether they are good for you if you don't have a specific need for them.

Kendra - posted on 01/02/2010

I have a problem swallowing any prenatal vitamin. I think it's not just the taste alone. I'm pregnant with my second child and I had to suffer through chopping up the pills and taking them like that with my son. But this time around I asked my doctor if there were any chewable prenatals that he could prescribe to me and the good news is there is. They taste so much better and the ones I get have a fruity flavor. The only bad part is because they are fairly new they are hard to refill. Mine take close to a week just to fill each month so if you try those I recommend refilling early before running out. I hope this helped!

Breanna - posted on 01/02/2010

My doctor told me that is ok to take two flinstones a days. but thats only after the first trimester.

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

If prenatals make you sick, take them at night right before bed! And if they back you up, add Metamucil pills too!!

Jennifer - posted on 01/02/2010

Kid vitamins in no way equal what is in a prenatal. i have heard some Drs tell women to take them, i guesds something is better than nothing, but the main things your baby ( and you) needs when preggo are not found in or not found in a high enough quantity in a child vitamin. High doses of iron can be toxic to children, so kid vitamins have very low doses if any. Prenatals have HIGH iron content as it is a very necessary nutrient and even ON prenatals alot of women STILL become Anemic when pregnant. i had to take a prenatal with really high iron AND a seperate iron pill. Also FOlic acid which is needed in high amounts helps the development of baby's spinal column, and nervous system/brain. childrens vitamins do not contain the amount needed by the baby. Also remember that with vitamins your body only actually absorbs part of what is in it, so when taking a vitamin that has less than whats in a prenatal you are getting signifigantly less nutrients.

i suggest optiing for a chewable prenatal if you can handle chewable kid ones you would be able to tolerate those. they are perscription only and a little more pricey, but much better for your baby.

also you can try getting ones that are more of a tablet, still big, but instead of crushing it you could makybe cut it in several peices and swallow each small peice seperately. it may seem like a hassle but honestly id rather go through a hassle than deprive my baby of things they need.

Camisha - posted on 01/01/2010

I have chewable prenatals ask your doc they can write you a script

Tiffany - posted on 01/01/2010

It is better than nothing so if that is all you can take at least your taking something... but prenantles are so much better

Kevlyn - posted on 01/01/2010

I have taken flinstone vitamins with all three of my children the entire pregnancy because the prenatal ones made me sick...The doctor told me to take them...So I would have to say it is okay, but I would advise my doctor/midwife of it and see what they say about it...

The only problem I have had is when my oldest daughter seen me taking her vitamins she would get mad...LOL

Stephanie - posted on 01/01/2010

my doctor said i could take flinestones, bc the other ones made me sick...

Jammie - posted on 12/31/2009

OK.... Flintstones vitamin's ARE OK to take if you read the back of both vitamins the both have the same ingredients If you are gonna take the Flintstones take 2 a day. My obgyn told me if the prenatal vitamins make you nauseous then take 2 Flintstones. But if you really want to be safe talk to your OBGYN

Lorie - posted on 12/31/2009

NOOO you should not take a flinstone vitamins as a prenatal vitamin. They are not the same and its for the best health for your baby that you take the normal prenatal vitamin. You should be sucking it up and take those pills.

Brandi - posted on 12/31/2009

Try asking your OB for a diffrent Rx. I used to stock samples of prenatals while I worked for a OB and the actual pills can come in many differentsizes, shapes and even with different coatings to help with swallowing. I take Vitafol OB and it's not any bigger than a extra strength tylonol (spelled wrong). But I know there are a couple of brands that have very tiny pills (no bigger than your standard BC pill) that you can take twice a day. You can also try asking what the non-generic of your current Rx looks like, you may be surprised how much smaller the name brand pill is (if you are using a generic version)!

Brandy - posted on 12/31/2009

My friend couldn't have the high amount of iron in prenatal pills so her doctor told her to take flintstone vitamins. But what I wonder is wouldn't you need to take a couple every day since what is in them is only enought for a young child, not an adult? I would talk to your doctor about it first if I were you. Also, there are some pharmacies that are willing to put almost any prescription into a liquid form. I wonder if maybe they would be able to do it with vitamins?

Samantha - posted on 12/31/2009

flinstones are ok for a while but after so long you will need to switch to prenatals i took flinstones until my morning sickness was gone

Amanda - posted on 12/31/2009

i cant take prenatal vitamins becasue they make me really sick my doctor told me to take 2 flinstone chewables a day she said the gummy ones wont cut it though and i cant forget to take both :) Im due July 4th

Misty - posted on 12/31/2009

I have told nurses I do not like the prenatal vitamins because of the backup in places I should not mention. I told them all of my family takes the childrens vitamins and the nurses were okay with it. I do not know if they are safe or not but if they weren't, I 'm sure the nurses would have said something by now. I am on baby #5. All my kids are fine and growing fine.

Stevie - posted on 12/31/2009

OOOHHH i should also add my daughter was healthy as could be with maybe one or two days of prenatals threw out the whole thing and a coule of weeks of flinstones something is better than nothing

Stevie - posted on 12/31/2009

lol when i found out i was pregnant with my first i had some prenatals and my now husband who was just a friend when i found out (i found out when i was about 7 or 8 months along while i was in college) i cant sallow any pills well he would cut them up and put them in peanut butter helped until the one time i tasted it and after that i took flinstones lol i have another child and just lost a baby in november all we do is break them in half so i take two halfs when i am pregnant try that and take it with pop that will help it go down faster and smoother

Chelle - posted on 12/31/2009

viteman A is not good in large doses when pregnant or trying for a baby. prenatal vits dont normaly have that in them but normal vits do.

Danielle - posted on 12/31/2009

No, a multi vitamin especially flinstones are NOT the same as a prenatal vitamin.

A prenatal vitamin is a regular multivitamin on steroids!!!

It has close to triple to amount of vitamin of a normal multivitamin.

I can't swallow them either. If your pill is solid and not gel I would advise you to break them in half and then take them in 2's rather than as a whole. Thats what I do :-)