The Baby Manual

Dr. Carole Keim MD

New babies are difficult. Don't you wish they came with a manual? Well, now there is one! Hosted by a pediatrician mom, The Baby Manual will help guide you through everything you actually need to know to take care of a baby. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, I bet you’ll hear something helpful in here that you didn’t know. Enjoy The Baby Manual podcast, and enjoy your new baby!

  1. Jun 3

    601 - Vitamins for Brain Development with Dr. Gupta

    Dr. Carole Keim sits down with neurologist and Mama Bird founder Dr. Mika Gupta for an insightful conversation about baby brain development and the critical role nutrition plays from preconception through early childhood. As both a physician and a mom, Dr. Gupta draws on personal experience and explains the concept of the “first 1,000 days”. She explains why this window is so important for building a strong foundation for a child’s lifelong brain health. Together, Dr. Keim and Dr. Gupta explore how thoughtful nutritional choices can support mom and baby during this period of rapid growth and development. Dr. Gupta and Dr. Keim discuss key nutrients that support brain development, including iron, DHA, choline, iodine, and methylated B vitamins, along with practical guidance on how to meet these needs through diet and supplementation. Dr. Gupta also breaks down common misconceptions about prenatal vitamins. She highlights the importance of ingredient forms like methylfolate and why one supplement may not cover everything. With Dr. Keim’s warm and relatable guidance, this episode empowers parents with knowledge to make informed, supportive choices for themselves and their growing babies. Key Moments 00:00 Meet Dr. Mika Gupta and her journey into neurology and nutrition 02:19 What are the “first 1,000 days” and why they matter 03:03 Why prenatal vitamins should start before pregnancy 04:03 Understanding MTHFR and methylated vitamins 06:22 Key nutrients for baby’s brain development explained 08:22 Can you get enough nutrients from food alone? 11:26 Nutrition needs during postpartum and breastfeeding 12:48 Common mistakes when choosing prenatal vitamins 16:44 Why one prenatal vitamin isn’t enough for everything 18:38 What “brain-first” vitamins mean 23:55 One key takeaway for supporting baby’s brain development About Dr. Mika Gupta: Dr. Mika Gupta is a double board-certified neurologist, MIT-trained, and founder of Mama Bird. She’s also a mother of two — a daughter training at the Royal Ballet School and a son with Down syndrome — two radically different brains that taught her more about human potential than any textbook ever could. After her son was born, Dr. Gupta stopped trusting a system that was never built for women and started building what should have existed all along: evidence-based tools for brain health during the first 1000 days, the most critical window of development. She’s a brain activist — helping women see that the invisible architecture they build and sustain is the most neurologically important work in human life. __  Resources discussed in this episode: The Holistic Mamas Handbook is available on Amazon The Baby Manual is also available on Amazon __ __ Contact Dr. Carole Keim MD Website: CaroleKeim.com Linktree TikTok Instagram Contact Dr. Mika Gupta Website: DrBrainMom.com Website: LoveMamaBird.com Dr. Mika Gupta on LinkedIn Instagram: @drbrainmom --- FullScript Use this link to get 10% off and free shipping for orders over $50. HIRO Diapers Use code DRCAROLEKEIM for a discount at checkout. Click here. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
4.7
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

New babies are difficult. Don't you wish they came with a manual? Well, now there is one! Hosted by a pediatrician mom, The Baby Manual will help guide you through everything you actually need to know to take care of a baby. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, I bet you’ll hear something helpful in here that you didn’t know. Enjoy The Baby Manual podcast, and enjoy your new baby!

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