Benefits of Sleeping with Cabbage on Your Breasts

After having a baby, there is a magical period you will never forget. The baby is brand new, you are getting comfortable, and your family is meeting the baby. Additionally, your body is changing even more than with pregnancy. You are recovering from pregnancy, the birth, getting used to the schedule set around your feeding times and you are getting your milk in. Especially for new mothers, you have no idea what to expect, how to take care of your breasts, and how to keep your breasts healthy. Even for experienced mothers, nothing guarantees that everything will be the same with each pregnancy or birth. It all depends on a million circumstances.

This is why knowing tips and tricks to take care of yourself, allows you to keep calm, understand your situation, and deal with some minor issues at home. It will save you money from going to your doctor and help you understand what your body is going through. Even if some remedies seem odd, such as keeping cabbage on your breasts, it is something worth trying if you are in pain, or cannot pay for a doctor’s visit.

Pain Relief form Mastitis or Engorgement

Breast pain is not uncommon in women who are breastfeeding. It is not necessarily the most comfortable process, but it can become more uncomfortable as problems arise. Engorgement, for example, is when your breasts fill up too much and cause discomfort. Mastitis, on the other hand, is where your breasts end up too full of milk, and it causes inflammation. This is severely more painful than engorgement, which is typically why putting cabbages on your breasts is an easy solution. Taking action immediately is very important for it to not become an even bigger problem.

It is also worth noting, that Engorgement and Mastitis are different ranges of pain. So noticing that you are in some discomfort can be the first sign of engorgement. Listening to your body, and noticing when the pain occurs and where can be a great way to help you solve the problem quicker. Additionally, this is also an issue you should speak with your doctor about as they will direct you in a way to bring you relief. Especially if you are experiencing Mastitis, where you may need some antibiotics to fix the issue.

To properly use cabbages, here are the steps you should take:

  1. You should purchase cabbage. Both green cabbage and red cabbage work, however, red cabbage has been known to stain skin after use.
  2. Store it in the fridge or freezer before use. Cold cabbage works better and brings more relief to the breast.
  3. Wash the cabbage leaves you will use. Make sure they are completely dry after washing and before use.
  4. Cut a slit down the middle of the cabbage leave and to the top. This is where your nipple will poke out from the leaf. You should not cover your nipple with the cabbage leaf, so make sure this slit allows your nipple to come out.
  5. Place cabbage leaf around the cup part of your breast, surrounding your nipple but not over your nipple.
  6. Set a timer for 20 minutes, and feel free to either put on a bra over the cabbage leaves to hold them in place.

Drying unwanted breast milk

Sleeping with cabbages on your breasts is not usually something many doctors will suggest, as there is a chance this will dry up your milk supply. There is no real science behind why using cabbage leaves on your breasts diminishes your milk supply. There is no real telling if this will happen to your breasts when you use cabbage. However, it is safe to air on the side of caution, especially if you are first trying this. If you are weaning, it is perfectly safe to sleep with cabbage leaves on, to lessen your breast milk supply. Though if you intend to only use it as pain relief, you should only do this process at most 3 times a day for 20 minutes. You should also make sure to talk to your doctor about the strategy they want you to use to wean.

Conclusion

 Even if it feels silly, or like a crazy old wives tale, there is some value in trying this remedy to bring yourself pain relief. Make sure to call your doctor to let them know what is going on, but also to let them know you are trying this home remedy. They may suggest something else or tell you to go for it. Since this pain relief leans more to the side of harmless, this is a good place to start. Though it is also important to remember that this remedy does have some side effects if you are constantly doing this. Please air on the side of caution, and listen to your body and your doctor. Each of these steps will help you to find the right remedy you are needing.

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