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Cabbage Leaves?  

post #1 of 8
Thread Starter 
Tell me about cabbage leaves...I was reading on Kellymom that they can help w/engorgement and with weaning...I need more info...

Can you use them to help reduce your supply (oversupply and pumping is not an option) yet maintain a supply to feed your child?
post #2 of 8
just a quick search, but here is something LLL says:
"The use of raw green cabbage leaves has been anecdotally reported to reduce engorgement. Mothers who have used this treatment report the use of chilled or room temperature cabbage leaves to be soothing. The advantages of this treatment are its low cost and convenience. One study reported the group using cabbage leaves experienced a slight reduction in perception of engorgement and exclusively breastfed longer (Roberts 1995b). A study comparing the use of chilled cabbage leaves to chilled gel packs found that pain was relieved within 1-2 hours with both treatments, but mothers preferred the cabbage treatment (Roberts et al. 1995a).

The clean, inner leaves of a head of green cabbage can be applied between feedings for several feedings. The leaves should be changed at least every two hours or when they wilt. Mothers should know that there may be some smell of cooked cabbage if they choose this treatment method. They should also know that overuse of cabbage leaves can lead to a reduction in milk supply according to some reports. Cabbage leaves should be used only until the swelling goes down and should be discontinued if a skin rash or other signs of allergy appear."

Also if you are looking to decrease your supply:
"Changing the way you feed your baby can reduce both the overall milk volume and the amount of lactose baby receives, while increasing the amount of fat. Since mothers with oversupply often produce enough milk in each breast for a full feeding, one strategy that can be very successful is to feed the baby on only one side per feeding. If your baby wants to nurse again within two hours, see how he responds if you continue to offer that same side. In the next two hours, offer only the other breast. The breasts should gradually slow down their rate of milk production because milk is being removed less often. This helps down-regulate the milk production rate to match baby's true needs while also reducing the amount of foremilk and lactose baby receives.[3] When you keep baby at the same breast for a longer period of time, it also ensures that your baby is fully draining the breast and getting more of the higher calorie hindmilk."

I have had issue with oversupply and OALD, block feeding has made a huge impact in helping. Good luck, HTH!
post #3 of 8
Thread Starter 
Maria-I've read about block feeding and hadn't tried it b/c I am in such fear of the blocked ducts I get when my breast is not emptied. What do I do about the engorgement in the non-used breast?

Also, my son refuses the breast usually once he pops off and the breast is "deflated"...he often won't even close his mouth on it and will screech if I keep trying to latch him on to that side...I guess he is showing his impatience and lack of wanting to work hard at getting it going again...so how do I work with this behavior when trying to block feed?

And to make sure I am understanding block feeding, is this correct...

I feed from the left breast only let say at noon...then at his next feeding at say 2 I feed him from left breast again...then at 4 I feed from the right, 6 would be the right and 8 would bring me back to the left...

How long will it take for my body to recognize the change...days? or weeks?

Can I use the cabbage leaves in the mean time?
post #4 of 8
Thread Starter 
Anyone have advice about block feeding...do you just jump into it...I'm afraid of the plugged ducts and engorgement of not feeding off each breast

Also how do I get my son to take the same breast over again b/c he refuses to latch onto the same breast once he has gotten his fill of it, often w/o emptying it...
post #5 of 8
i don't know enough about block feeding to tell you any more than what's already posted here. BUT as far as the cabbage leaves go, i just recently learned that cabbage leaves actually relieve the edema (spelling?) associated with engorgement, the don't actually do anything to affect the milk supply. (cabbage leaves are also great for swollen pregnant ankles!)
post #6 of 8
BI - yes you have the idea down. If you get engorged, use the cabbage leaves (which I really found only made it more comfortable, didn't take the engorgement away) and hand express just a tiny bit if you are feeling really miserable.

you should notice an improvement in 2-3 days (in both engorgement and supply.)

GL!
post #7 of 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by surfinrn&mom2mason View Post
Cabbage leaves should be used only until the swelling goes down and should be discontinued if a skin rash or other signs of allergy appear."
I just wanted to say, I read somewhere that sulfur allergy is a contraindication - so if you have that allergy, you might want to avoid the cabbage treatment.
post #8 of 8
I used cabbage leaves too and they were great! But I felt like sometimes I smelled like cabbage too.....Maybe it was just my imagination
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