Linda Smith

Linda Smith's 40-year career in women's health advocacy and support began as a physical education teacher and extends into her practice as childbirth educator, doula, and lactation consultant. 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 textbooks on birth and breastfeeding.

She has lectured in at least 15 countries; her presentations have been translated into 10 languages including Inuktitut. Regarding the Sleep book: she has bedshared with her spouse of 45 years; 3 children; 1 grandchild; 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.