Breastfeeding/Expert Profile


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Expertise

What do you want to know about breastfeeding? I can tell you what`s good for the baby, what`s good for the mother -- and the father, how it`s related to a woman`s sexuality, how working moms can nurse, how to overcome obstacles, and lots more. As the author of THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING and author or coauthor of 8 other books and more than 200 articles about child and adult development, I can offer sound, sensible advice on breastfeeding, child care and family issues.

Experience in the area

I nursed my 3 daughters and am the grandmother of 5 breastfed children. My book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING (written in consultation with pediatrician Marvin S. Eiger, M.D.) was first published in 1972, and in 1999 came out in an updated 3rd Edition by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books. It is now a classic, with over 2 million copies in print. I am now revising this book for a fourth edition, consulting with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D. This new edition will be published September 2009. I welcome any and all suggestions for the new edition. I coauthored college textbooks A CHILD'S WORLD: INFANCY THROUGH ADOLESCENCE, and HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; both are leading texts in their fields and have been read by 2 million students. I am the coauthor of HELPING YOUR CHILD FIND VALUES TO LIVE BY and RAISING A HYPERACTIVE CHILD, and author of THE WORKING PARENTS' SURVIVAL GUIDE & THE ETERNAL GARDEN: SEASONS OF OUR SEXUALITY. My newest book, A BALCONY IN NEPAL: GLIMPSES OF A HIMALAYAN VILLAGE, published in 2002, tells the story of the way of life in a remote village in Nepal, where all the women breastfeed! My book, SUPER GRANNY: COOL PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER GREAT STUFF TO DO WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS, will be published March 2009. I speak often to professional, parent and general audiences and make many radio and TV appearances.

Credentials I received my B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, where I minored in Psychology, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude.

Other points of interest I have received national awards for my writing, and am a former president of the American Society of Journalists & Authors. I am listed in the World Who's Who of Women, International Authors & Writers Who's Who, and Contemporary Authors, and am a member of several professional and civic organizations. I believe: that all parents are working parents; that parents employed outside the home need special support; that mothers' well-being is crucial to their children's welfare; and that the family is the best institution in the world and the one for which we are least prepared. My thrills come when parents or kids tell me they were helped by my writing or speaking or just understanding. To find out more about me, go to

What do you like about this subject?

What could be better than to bring my life experience and the knowledge I have gained through research to help moms and babies at a crucial time in life?

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

To make more families understand the value of breastfeeding for the entire family and to give them the information they need to succeed

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

The relationship between breastfeeding and female sexuality

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Breastfeeding in public: why women should not be reluctant to nurse their babies wherever they are, and how to do it most comfortably

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    K = Knowledgeability    C = Clarity of Response    T = Timeliness    P = Politeness
UserDateKCTPComments
Ernestine11/03/09101010thank you very much
Kim10/07/0910101010very informational
Angela10/06/0910101010Thank you very much for your information .....
Cassandra10/06/0910101010THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You provided me .....
Keisha09/11/09101010 

Recent Answers from Sally Wendkos Olds

2009-11-05 Poor/slow milk supply:

Dear Tahara, First, congratulations on the birth of your daughter -- and on your commitment to nurse her despite your difficult labor and problems producing milk. But yes, there is hope! I'm not

2009-11-04 Breastfeeding/Formula:

Dear Kayla, First, congratulations for giving your son a good start in life by breastfeeding him! Although I usually recommend exclusive breastfeeding, I know that some moms do combine breast milk

2009-11-03 Do I have enough milk and does my breast pump work?:

Dear Tea, First, congratulations for giving your baby the best start in life by breastfeeding him! I'll answer your last question first: It is very normal for a baby to spit up a lot after nursing

2009-11-02 greenish poop:

Dear Ernestine, First, congratulations for giving your baby the best start in life by breastfeeding him! It's perfectly normal for a baby his age to have 4 or 5 bowel movements a day. Maybe he cries

2009-10-04 Severe Low Breast Milk Supply:

Dear Gabriela, Pumping often helps to increase milk supply, but from what I have seen and read, the fenugreek, other herbs, and medicines don't do too much. At a certain point you may want to tell yourself

 

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