Linda J. Smith

Linda J. Smith's 40+-year career in women's health advocacy and support began as a physical education teacher and extends into her practice as lactation consultant, childbirth educator, and public speaker. She holds a Masters in Public Health, is an Adjunct Instructor in the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton OH, and is the author of 4 professional textbooks on birth and breastfeeding. She has lectured in 22 countries and her presentations have been translated into 15 languages including Inuktitut. Regarding the new Sweet Sleep book: she has bedshared with her spouse of 46 years; 3 children; 4 grandchildren; assorted La Leche League Leaders and other adult women at breastfeeding conferences; four dogs and two cats. The humans are still very much alive. She says "If I had $1.00 for every breastfeeding relationship that was compromised by pacifiers or cribs, I'd be a rich woman." She was invited to present her key research areas (Impact of birth practices on breastfeeding outcomes; safe mother-infant bedsharing that supports breastfeeding) to international health experts at the World Health Organization.