Every new mother looks forward to breastfeeding her newborn. It is one
milestone she plans for even before the baby is born. While some may be
successful in their endeavors, a lot many of us are unable to breastfeed
at all or do not get to do so for the number of days that we had
initially planned for.
There are many reasons why women generally give up on breastfeeding
earlier than they’d planned. Poor latching techniques, breasts
engorgement, swelling of the breasts, etc, are a few of them. While you
may get to learn latching techniques on the job, you are at a loss when
it comes to dealing with breasts engorgement and swelling. You may use
breast softening creams and gels, but you’ll end up wiping them off even
before they start working, to feed your baby (which happens frequently,
though). And the use of painkiller medications and antibiotics is a
strict no-no during breastfeeding unless prescribed by your doctor in
extreme cases.
So, what really is the solution to this universal problem? Well, it’s
right there inside your kitchen – cabbage leaves. Yes, you’ve read that
right. Many women across the globe use this natural and effective method
to help reduce the swelling in their breasts. In fact, a recent study
also confirms the positive effects of cold cabbage leaves in alleviating
breast engorgement, pain, and breasts swelling. According to the
study that was conducted on lactating mothers in the age group of 13 to
50 years, use of cabbage leaves on breasts not only helped in reducing
the pain and hardness, it also increased the duration of breastfeeding
due to fast pain relief, which is within 20 minutes!
The way to use this method is simple. First, put the cabbage in the
fridge. The Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation recommends using a green
cabbage. Once it is cold to touch, remove the first outer layer of
the cabbage and discard it. You’ll find the fresh, light green leaves
inside. Tear off two large leaves and wash them with cold water to clear
off any dirt or residual pesticides inside. Cut off the hard stem at
the bottom of the leaves and wrap the leaves in such a way that they
perfectly fit your breasts. Avoid covering your nipples with the leaves.
If the leaves are too crispy, you could also try crushing them with a
rolling pin to loosen them a bit. Keep the leaves in place for around 20
minutes and lie down. You can also use a light cotton bra to hold the
leaves in place. However, do not exceed 20 minutes because there have
been concerns that cabbage leaves could reduce milk production.
You will notice a considerable amount of relief from your very first
use. You can discard the leaves soon after, as they wilt. You can use
this treatment for 2 or 3 times during the day and with a new set of
leaves each time.
Eventually, you’ll find this method to be greatly effective in relieving
pain, reducing swelling, and healing the breast engorgement to large
extent. You can stop this treatment as your condition gets better with
time. With this method, along with milk expressing and cold packs, many
mothers have gone from completely giving up on breastfeeding to resuming
it in a matter of few days. You’ll need to, however, remember that you
don’t have to keep relying only on this method to better your condition.
If you continue to experience breast engorgement, swelling, pain, or a
lump in your breast for a longer duration, despite the treatment, it is
prudent to consult your doctor immediately.
