Can you make Booby Tubes?

[Love Wins]

I've heard great things about Earth Mama Angel Baby Booby Tubes. However, I don't want to spend $20-$25 on them. Anyone have any links to making your own Booby Tubes? They are apparently made from flax seeds, and can be cooled in the freezer or warmed in the microwave(which I don't have, so I'd have to use my convection). Could I just throw some flax seed together and sew it all up, mimicking the Booby Tubes? Or should I just forget it and stick with cabbage leaves?

TIA!

[Terrilein]

I'm almost afraid to ask . . . but . . . what are booby tubes?????

[EMandM]

I've made something similar for hot/cold packs. I don't think you need a pattern to follow, it is super simple. Personally, I wouldn't spend the $ on it either.

[Surfacing]

Warm or cold compresses for the breast....

You could use a wash cloth that has been wet in warm water or stand in a warm shower for that if needed.

Cabbage leaves sounds good for cool/reducing engorgement.

You could probably make your own using rice even, if that's easier to get than flax. I make rick socks out of tennis tube socks and a bag of rice.

I read somewhere on MDC that a person who didn't have a microwave used a crockpot to heat their rice sock/flax sock thingy.

I don't think you need a special shape or anything. You really don't HAVE TO HAVE a breast shaped compress with a hole for your nipple.

[*KaiMom*]

NO do NOT use cabbage leaves. They actually are used when a mama wants to dry up her milk. http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/h...pression.shtml
Rice in a sock tied with a knot is the cheapest easiest thing to make. I use mine in the microwave or freezer and they are heavenly.

[superfastreader]

Originally Posted by *KaiMom*

NO do NOT use cabbage leaves. They actually are used when a mama wants to dry up her milk. http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/h...pression.shtml
Rice in a sock tied with a knot is the cheapest easiest thing to make. I use mine in the microwave or freezer and they are heavenly.

Yes, please heed this advice! Cabbage leaves are REALLY powerful.

[maranapanda]

Originally Posted by *KaiMom*

NO do NOT use cabbage leaves. They actually are used when a mama wants to dry up her milk. http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/h...pression.shtml
Rice in a sock tied with a knot is the cheapest easiest thing to make. I use mine in the microwave or freezer and they are heavenly.

That's interesting. I used them with my last. I have issues with over supply and engorgement for weeks, clogged ducts then mastitis. Bleh. I was so sick, the cabbage leaves were an amazing relief. I never considered why they were working so well.

I just pray that I don't have the same issues this time around. It is plain miserable to be so engorged for so long. The mastitis isn't a walk in the park either! Please please please universe, baby, breasts, don't let me get this again!!!!

[superfastreader]

Originally Posted by maranapanda

That's interesting. I used them with my last. I have issues with over supply and engorgement for weeks, clogged ducts then mastitis. Bleh. I was so sick, the cabbage leaves were an amazing relief. I never considered why they were working so well.

I just pray that I don't have the same issues this time around. It is plain miserable to be so engorged for so long. The mastitis isn't a walk in the park either! Please please please universe, baby, breasts, don't let me get this again!!!!

Yes, they're great for extreme cases like yours. But for the normal engorgement that can come in the first few weeks, cabbage leaves are too powerful.

[Love Wins]

Originally Posted by maranapanda

That's interesting. I used them with my last. I have issues with over supply and engorgement for weeks, clogged ducts then mastitis. Bleh. I was so sick, the cabbage leaves were an amazing relief. I never considered why they were working so well.

I just pray that I don't have the same issues this time around. It is plain miserable to be so engorged for so long. The mastitis isn't a walk in the park either! Please please please universe, baby, breasts, don't let me get this again!!!!

Oh that's good to know! I've had several people mention cabbage leaves to me, and they were the ONLY thing that helped my sister, but they must've had pretty extreme cases. Hopefully I won't be like that!

I think I'll stick with the rice-in-the-sack/sock idea. I have hot/cold packs like that already, but I think I want something a little more, um, washable. I could be uber resourceful and use the rice to make rice pudding....

[wavybrains]

Originally Posted by *KaiMom*

NO do NOT use cabbage leaves. They actually are used when a mama wants to dry up her milk. http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/h...pression.shtml
Rice in a sock tied with a knot is the cheapest easiest thing to make. I use mine in the microwave or freezer and they are heavenly.

The rice in a sock works really well. I have a very generous bosom, so I have also done rice in a little sack--about 1/3 to 1/2 a twin pillowcase full and tied in a knot. I would be VERY hesitant to use cabbage early on as well--remember that the early days are all about your body ramping up and adjusting to baby's changing needs. After DD weaned, despite doing it gradually, I ended up very engorged and painful. Cabbage worked in less than 24 hours to cease production. From what I have read, just because you had an oversupply with one baby doesn't always hold true for the next. I DID have a really big oversupply with DD and struggled with engorgement and blocked ducts early on. A much better solution than cabbage is simply a cold raw potato, grated and placed on the hot/blocked/engorged area and wiped away when it changes from cold to warm--about 10-15 minutes or so. Repeat as needed. It takes the heat out and can help prevent mastitis but it leaves the milk supply unchanged. I also really loved my shower when I was engorged--if you have a handheld shower so much the better. It really helped!