Is it true that cold compresses of cabbage leaves help reduce engorement and help dry up milk supply?

Question

My wife is weaning our daughter off of breast milk and has very engorged and painfull breast. She was told not to pump or it will only prolong the process of reducing milk supply. Will this cabbage thing work? Or what else can she do to help herself.

Answer 1

Cabbage leaves work, but only cause they are cold. People say to use cabbage leaves because of their shape, molds nicely to, lets say, ummmmm . . . an engorged breast. cutting the veins simply soften the leaves.

Do not bind your breasts to help your milk "dry up." This is an outdated practice that can cause plugged ducts, breast infection, or breast abscess.

Don't eat oatmeal (some women with over supply swaer it is evil! LOL)

If your breasts feel full and uncomfortable when you don't nurse at a specific time, then express just enough milk to relieve the fullness. You can do this by pumping for a couple of minutes or hand expressing. The less milk you remove, the quicker your body will realize it doesn't need to produce. Sometimes just taking a hot shower will do the job - anything that relieves the fullness is fine. If you are comfortable without expressing at all, that's okay too.

Do express or pump if you get uncomfortably full. It's not good for your body to not have any way of relieving the fullness. Pumping or hand expressing just enough milk to relieve discomfort will not prevent your milk supply from decreasing. What causes milk production to stay the same or increase is adequate milk removal. If only a small amount of milk is removed from the breast, then milk production will decrease. In addition, expressing a little milk will relieve your discomfort and make it less likely that you'll develop plugged ducts, a breast infection, or an abcess.

Tylenol or Advil for discomfort

Take pseudoephedrine--120 mg/day, a decongestant. research shows that it can decrease milk supply by as much as 24%. (found in Sudafed, Actifed)

To use dried sage (Salvia officinalis) for reducing milk supply, take 1/4 teaspoon of sage 3x per day for 1-3 days. You can mix the sage in vegetable juice (for example, V-8), but it won't mix well into other juices. You can also mix it into other foods. If you don't like the taste of sage, try putting it into a tiny piece of sandwich and swallowing it whole - peanut butter or something else a bit sticky seems to work best for holding the sage in place. Tear off the corner of the sandwich containing the sage (it should be a very small section) and swallow it without chewing (that's why you need a very small section).

To use sage tea for decreasing milk supply, infuse 1 tablespoon of dried sage in 1 cup of boiling water (or 20g dried sage in 50 ml boiling water). Steep for 5-15 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 2 - 6 times per day.

You can use a tincture of sage instead: 30-60 drops of tincture, 3-6 times a day.

Another effective treatment is to apply fresh, crushed jasmine flowers (Jasminum sambac) to the breasts to decrease milk flow. A study has shown this to be effective

Other herbs that can decrease milk supply: Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Spearmint, Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Chickweed, Black Walnut, stinging nettles (not nettle - that increases milk supply), Yarrow, Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Lemon Balm, Oregano, Periwinkle Herb (Vinca minor), Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).

Sage, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, and cabbage leaves can all be incorporated into a pressed oil (cold pressed or hot) to make massage oils for milk suppression.

Peppermint essential oil has been used traditionally for decreasing milk supply. Peppermint tea is a very weak form of peppermint and only large amounts (quarts) would be expected to decrease milk supply. Some women have successfully used the strong peppermint candies (for example, Altoids® Curiously Strong Peppermints) for decreasing milk supply (a few per day aren't likely to affect supply, though).

If your not planning on another baby soon Estrogen-containing contraceptives have been linked to low milk supply

However, weaning should not be done cold turkey. Elimanating one feeding at a time is ideal. Night feedings should be the last to go.

HTH

Answer 2

Cabbage doesn't reduce milk supply for weaning, it soothes the pain of engorgement. Drink less water and or tea for a couple of days. Consume less calories. Don't hot showers help engorgment because the shower expresses the milk? Which is what your wife doesn't want to do. I think if she expressed a liittle it might prolong the process, but it also might make it more bearable.

Answer 3

As odd as it sounds, using cabbage leaves does work. Buy a head of cabbage at the store and put it in the refrigerator to get cold. Remove the wilty outside leaves. Then have her place cabbage leaves around her entire breast inside of her bra. When they get warm and wilty, discard them and replace with fresh ones. She can pump a small amount to relieve some of the pain, but keep it as minimal as possible. The more milk that is pumped or nursed by the baby, the more milk she will produce. If possible, do the weaning slowly. Eliminate one feeding per day for a week or so before eliminating another one.

Answer 4

The cabbage thing does help a little. Have her be sure and hold it under running water and crunch up the veins first. Unfortunately it will take a day or so to really help with the engorgement. She can also pack herself in ice. Just have her watch out for clogged milk ducts. She doesn't want to develop mastitis. Good Luck to her!

Answer 5

From what I've heard, anything that is like a cold compress should relieve engorgement and dry you up.I would stay away from hot showers, because that actually helps to let down your milk and stimulate milk production. I would've loved to make it 11 months. I work full time, was never able to pump enough, and I eventually dried up recently. My little girl is 5 months.

Answer 6

Yes, this is very very true. With my first daughter mines were in soooooo much pain, I even cried with real tears. My niece told me she used cabbage leaves and for me to try it. So you get a cabbage leave and cut a little on the lines of the leaves and it sucks up the milk or whatever. But yes, have her try this.

Answer 7

Yes sir!! It is written in maternity nursing books and documented in other places that cabbage leaves work. While it may not work for everyone, it is a recommended remedy. Also, remind your wife that when the leaves start to wilt, it is time to get a fresh piece.

Answer 8

It will help with the pains of engorgment but not reduce milk supply.

Answer 9

Cabbage leaves do work. They have a natural anti-inflammatory property. Warm showers and heating pads can help too. I also suggest taking Motrin or Advil for the pain--worked better for me than tylenol.

Answer 10

i bought a head of cabbage, layered my sports bra around my breasts, left them in there for 2-3 hours constantly for a full day, and then overnight... within 48 hours, they were dry.. and yes hot showers before and after helps...