>>A local LC here once told about a mom whose nipples were damaged enough
that
she felt the baby's saliva was digesting the meat of the nipples.<<

Linda, I did a double-take on this when I read it. I was going to work with a
mom who seemed to have the same dilemma, only we never connected, so I missed
this experience.  At first, as I read your remark, I thought, "Aha, so maybe
a nipple really can be digested by saliva".  But then, my second thought was,
"hey, but babies don't have all of the enzymes necessary to digest adult
foods until later on."  It is my understanding that lack of all of the
necessary digestive enzymes is why, among other things, early introduction of
solids is unwise. And I'd consider the digestion of "nipple meat" to be an
unwise solid...... <g>   What do others think?

-Lisa Marasco, LLLL, IBCLC
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