I recentl received this private email message.  If you have any information
to share with the original author please feel free to reply to her via
private email.
Sincerely, Jon Ahrendsen MD

PS I told her positioning and latch on were more important factors for nipple
trauma than skin color.

>Hi!  Denise Here.  I teach at Az State University.  In my
>Infant-Toddler Development class, we were discussing the advantages of
>breast-feeding.  One gentleman (late 20's) asked if it was true that blondes
>have a more difficult time breastfeeding than non-blondes because blondes
>have "softer nipples."  He insisted that his wife's OB and "lactitioner"
>told him this.  I contacted a couple of MD friends (OB/Peds) who, after they
>stopped laughing, said it was absolutely not true.  My student contacted his
>OB and lactitioner who said that her 20 years of experience shows this to be
>true.  I informed my student that anecdotal "evidence" must be interpreted
>cautiously due to the potential bias of the observer and that I was unaware
>of any scientific research in this area (my colleague, however, has offered
>to follow-up with his own "research", however:-)!)  Are you aware of any
>research or even folklore in this area?  I would appreciate any info you
>could share.  Thanks!!!
>      Denise       [log in to unmask]



---------------------
Forwarded message:
From:   [log in to unmask] (Raul Bustamante)
To:     [log in to unmask]
Date: 96-03-01 17:23:47 EST

Hi!  Denise Bodman, Here.  I teach at Az State University.  In my
Infant-Toddler Development class, we were discussing the advantages of
breast-feeding.  One gentleman (late 20's) asked if it was true that blondes
have a more difficult time breastfeeding than non-blondes because blondes
have "softer nipples."  He insisted that his wife's OB and "lactitioner"
told him this.  I contacted a couple of MD friends (OB/Peds) who, after they
stopped laughing, said it was absolutely not true.  My student contacted his
OB and lactitioner who said that her 20 years of experience shows this to be
true.  I informed my student that anecdotal "evidence" must be interpreted
cautiously due to the potential bias of the observer and that I was unaware
of any scientific research in this area (my colleague, however, has offered
to follow-up with his own "research", however:-)!)  Are you aware of any
research or even folklore in this area?  I would appreciate any info you
could share.  Thanks!!!
                                                                Denise