Mary Kay Smith Lactation Consultant/Program Coordinator Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center, Chicago "My personal philosophy about breastfeeding is that it is the gold standard of infant feeding and should always be the first choice. I also believe that breastfeeding is designed to work 99.9 percent of the time and I can help mom and baby 100 percent of the time. "

Mary Kay Smith has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant since 1988 and a Certified Lactation Educator since 1989. She has also been a La Leche League Leader for approximately 20 years. Before she obtained her current position at Mount Sinai Hospital, May Kay was a lactation consultant at other Chicago-area hospitals and at Ameda/Egnell Corporation, a breastpump manufacturer. She also had a small home-based private practice and breastpump rental station.

Mary Kay has written for and edited several books, newsletters and journal articles on breastfeeding for mothers and health care professionals, including The Breastfeeding Answer Book and T he Breastfeeding Product Guide. She also gives presentations to health care professionals regularly.

Mary Kay has three daughters: Jenifer, 28, Amanda, 21, and Wendy, 18. She first became interested in helping other mothers breastfeed when her second child was about one year old. "Jeni was born when I was only 17 and unfortunately I did not breastfeed her," Mary Kay said. "I discovered breastfeeding when, pregnant with Amanda, our Lamaze teacher said, ‘Now that you are planning a natural childbirth, what about the natural way to feed your baby!’ A local La Leche League Leader attended the next class and I was hooked! There was no question how out next child was going to be fed and by the time our third was here, I was a La Leche League Leader."