Time magazine cover provokes strong reactions

(CBS News) A recent Time magazine cover featuring a woman breastfeeding her three-year-old son has become a lightning rod for controversy. Some people are disturbed by the idea of a mother continuing the practice with a child that old, while others applaud it as biologically normal.

What does pregnancy and parenting expert Heidi Murkoff think?

"It sort of takes a shot at moms who continue to breastfeed, whether it's till first birthday, second birthday, third birthday," Murkoff said Friday on "CBS This Morning." "I'm not a fan of pitting moms against moms and philosophical camps, splitting them. You have to figure out what works for you."

Murkoff is the author of "What To Expect When You're Expecting" which has sold over 17 million copies since 1985. She went on to say that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for a full year, at which point you can switch to whole milk.

"But continuing to breast-feed as long as is mutually desirable, that's almost recommended," she said. "I'm not here to judge, I'm here to empower women to figure out what's best for them."

Murkoff visited "CBS This Morning" to talk about her new film, also titled "What To Expect When You're Expecting." She executive produced the film -- adapted from her best-selling pregnancy guide -- which follows the paths of five couples whose lives are turned upside-down by the challenges of impending parenthood.

A self-described "controlling mom," Murkoff had some separation anxiety about the movie version of her book -- a book that she lovingly refers to as "her baby."

"I nurtured my 'What To Expect' baby for many years and I wanted to make sure it was well taken care of, and it was," she said. "Of course, I was on the set a lot of the time, being borderline obnoxious."

Murkoff said a lot has changed since "What To Expect" was first released, with the biggest difference being how pregnant women are pregnant -- a difference obvious in the current edition's cover image, compared to the first edition.

"Now she's standing up, embracing her belly and celebrating pregnancy," she said. "The experience is completely different."

"What To Expect When You're Expecting" will be in theaters on May 18th.

For the full interview with Heidi Murkoff, click the video above.