AboutSally Wendkos Olds 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 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
Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds Date: 6/20/2008 Subject: 9 week old not nursing long enough
Question Hi,
My 9 week old has always been a great nurser, from birth she latched on right away and we haven't had a problem, until recently. She has begun only nursing for 4-6 minutes max (with the exception of the middle of the night feed, where she will nurse for 8 minutes.) This is not per side either, the total amount of time she will nurse is 4-6 minutes. She starts off well, with the exception of pulling off a few times right after let-down. But after the short amount of time, she won't nurse any longer. I try changing her then attempt to put her back on, burping her and trying again, nothing works. She just seems satisfied and done. She even cries sometimes if I try to put her back on. I know I have enough milk (at least I think so) because they always feel full overnight, and usually when she is done nursing I don't even feel like she has emptied the breast. I can always hear her gulping and all the other signs that she is getting milk during the feed. Could she possibly be getting enough in such a short amount of time? She is still making at least 4-5 bowel movements per day (which seems like a lot at 9 weeks), and plenty of wet diapers. I am not sure on her weight gain becuase we haven't had her weighed in a couple of weeks. Also, she appears satisfied between feed and she nurses every 2-3 hours. Closer to every 2 hours though lately.
I am very concerned.
Thank you.
Answer Dear Jeanna,
Here's what Dr. Marks says about your baby:
>>I have definitely had babies who become very efficient feeders and
only need to eat for short amounts of time and get enough breast milk
and calories to grow well. The gold standard is weight gain. I would have this baby weighed by her pediatrician and have the weight plotted on the growth curve. If the baby is still on her growth curve, then she is getting enough even with the short feeds. She seems to have other signs (behavioral) that she is getting enough.<<
Good luck!
Sally
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Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters. Now in revision for a fourth edition, with Laura M. Marks, M.D.
