Murkoff, Heidi Eisenberg

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Murkoff, Heidi Eisenberg

PERSONAL: Married; children: two.

ADDRESSES: Office—The What to Expect Foundation, 144 W. 80th St., Ste. 5, New York, NY 10024.

CAREER: Cofounder of The What to Expect Foundation, New York, NY.

WRITINGS:

WITH MOTHER, ARLENE EISENBERG, AND SISTER, SANDEE EISENBERG HATHAWAY

The Special Guest Cookbook: Elegant Menus and Recipes for Those Who Are Allergic to Certain Foods, Bland Dieters/Calorie Counters, Cholesterol Conscious, Diabetic/Hypoglycemic, Kosher/Milk Sensitive, Ovolacto Vegetarian, Pritikin Proselytes, Salt-Avoiding, Strictly Vegetarian, Beaufort Books (New York, NY), 1982.

What to Expect when You're Expecting, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), 1984, 3rd edition, 2002.

What to Eat when You're Expecting, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), 1986.

What to Expect the First Year, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), 1989, revised edition, 2003.

What to Expect the Toddler Years, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), 1994.

FOR CHILDREN; "WHAT TO EXPECT KIDS" SERIES

What to Expect at Bedtime, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2000.

What to Expect when the Babysitter Comes, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2000.

What to Expect when Mommy's Having a Baby, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2000.

What to Expect when You Go to the Doctor, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2000.

What to Expect when You Use the Potty, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2000.

What to Expect when the New Baby Comes Home, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2001.

What to Expect at Preschool, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2001.

What to Expect at a Play Date, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2001.

What to Expect when You Go to Kindergarten, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2002.

What to Expect when You Go to the Dentist, illustrated by Laura Rader, HarperFestival (New York, NY), 2002.

OTHER

(With Sharon Mazel) The What to Expect Baby-Sitter's Handbook, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), 2003.

(With Sharon Mazel) Eating Well when You're Expecting, Workman Publishing, 2005.

Also author of What to Expect Pregnancy Organizer, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), and Baby Basics: Your Month-by-Month Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. Contributing editor for Baby Talk and Parenting.

SIDELIGHTS: Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff developed a series of books for parents because when she was expecting her own first child, she was unable to find a positive book on pregnancy and birth. She collaborated with her writer-mother, Arlene Eisenberg, and her sister, nurse Sandee Eisenberg Hathaway, for the series that began with What to Expect when You're Expecting. The book informs new mothers on the physical, emotional, and psychological changes they can expect during pregnancy, as well as information about the development of the fetus. Furthermore, they advise readers on proper diet and exercise and choosing a doctor and describe labor and delivery. They also address the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs during pregnancy. Elise Goodman wrote in Publishers Weekly that the authors "seem to take a personal interest in the reader as they discuss early signs of pregnancy."

The writers supplement their first book by concentrating on the importance of diet in What to Eat when You're Expecting. Here they advise readers about proper nutrition postpartum and while breastfeeding, and they include information for women who are vegetarians or lactose intolerant. The authors followed this up with What to Expect the First Year and What to Expect the Toddler Years. Newsweek contributor Weston Kosova wrote that "what makes these books stand out are the long question-and-answer sections."

Following the success of her books for parents, Murkoff began an illustrated series for children in which Angus the Answer Dog answers the kinds of questions children ask when faced with new situations. Some of the topics include going to the doctor or dentist and starting preschool and kindergarten, as well as knowing What to Expect when the New Baby Comes Home. Kathy Broderick reviewed this title in Booklist, saying that it "succeeds on many levels, but most importantly, it allows a parent and child to have a reassuring conversation during a time of great change."

What to Expect when You're Expecting has been revised and reprinted several times. The third edition was published in 2002, the year following Arlene Eisenberg's death. The clothes of the pregnant woman sitting in the rocking chair on the cover have changed and the newest information includes hints on working during pregnancy and alternative medicine. In an interview with Amy Dusek, published at Atlanta Parent Online, Murkoff noted that 150 pages have been added and said that "there's more information than ever. We've included dozens of new questions about cell phones, sushi, low-carb diets, spa treatments, sunless tanners, nursing after breast surgery, and much more, symptoms that we'd left out last time—such as clogged milk ducts and snoring—much more on second pregnancies and deliveries." The section about the father's role has been expanded, and Murkoff said that this edition includes "a kinder, gentler pregnancy diet." Library Journal contributor Barbara M. Bibel called the expanded edition "better than ever, still a classic, and a fitting memorial to Eisenberg."

Murkoff and Eisenberg founded The What to Expect Foundation, which promotes prenatal health for low-income women and which distributes Baby Basics: Your Month-by-Month Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, a low-literacy pregnancy guide published in both English and Spanish for the clinics and organizations that serve them. Murkoff continues to manage the foundation, working with individuals, corporations, and other organizations who assist low-income families. She speaks to their needs through media appearances, and her promotional fees are used to fund the work of her foundation.

The What to Expect Foundation has partnered with other groups to create a Baby Basics program in Houston, Texas. Murkoff appeared in Houston with U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, who praised the program and commented on the fact that a study has shown that one-third of English-speaking patients using public hospitals are unable to read and understand basic health materials. He emphasized that health literacy for expectant mothers is crucial to preventing birth defects and premature births. In his prepared remarks, published on Murkoff's Web site, Carmona said that "the health literacy activities that we're launching today reflect the strong commitment of The What to Expect Foundation to serving all families. With outstanding local partnerships, Baby Basics Houston will increase access to health information and improve Houstonians' health literacy. I am particularly impressed with the fact that Baby Basics focuses on minority and underserved communities. In 2005, it will touch the lives of every low-income expecting mother and baby in Houston and Harris County. You are all to be congratulated on these innovative efforts. Your work in the area of health literacy will resonate across Houston and beyond."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

American Journal of Nursing, February, 1990, Charlene L. Stokamer, review of What to Expect the First Year, p. 104.

Booklist, July, 2001, Kathy Broderick, review of What to Expect when the New Baby Comes Home, p. 2020; November 15, 2001, Helen Rosenberg, review of What to Expect when You Go to Preschool, p. 578; June 1, 2002, Kathy Broderick, review of What to Expect when You Go to the Dentist, p. 1727.

Library Journal, April 1, 2002, Barbara M. Bibel, review of What to Expect when You're Expecting, p. 131.

Los Angeles Times, March 5, 1995, Elizabeth Mehren, "They're Experts on 'What to Expect,'" pp. E1-E4.

Newsweek, spring-summer, 1997, Weston Kosova, reviews of What to Expect the First Year and What to Expect the Toddler Years, p. 22.

New York Times, January 5, 1995, Janny Scott, "The Baby Makers."

Publishers Weekly, November 2, 1984, Elise Goodman, review of What to Expect when You're Expecting, p. 75; August 15, 1986, review of What to Eat when You're Expecting, pp. 73-74; April 28, 1989, review of What to Expect the First Year, p. 71; May 9, 2005, review of Eating Well when You're Expecting, p. 66.

School Library Journal, June, 2001, Martha Topol, review of What to Expect when the New Baby Comes Home, p. 140.

Whole Earth Review, spring, 1988, Cindy Fugett, review of What to Expect when You're Expecting, p. 91.