It may sound bizarre, but
Cabbage Compresses are commonly recommended by midwives and
lactation consultants to provide relief for sore engorged
breasts.
When your milk supply is establishing, and you are adjusting to
life breastfeeding a new baby, breasts can get very full, and feel
hard, heavy, hot, and like they are going to pop.
How to Make a Soothing Cabbage Compress
- Buy a green cabbage
- Gently peel leaves, trying to keep them in one piece without
ripping.
- Wash thoroughly.
- Leaves can be chilled in the fridge for extra relief.
- Immediately before using the leaves, crush the veins in the
leaf to bruise them, but so that the leaf remains in a cup
shape.
- Place 2-3 leaves over each breast. Cover all your engorged
tissue, including any swollen tissue under your arms.
- Leave the compress on until the leaves become wilted, about 20
to 30 minutes.
- Repeat application of cabbage leaves three or four times each
day. This engorged feeling usually subsides within 1-2 days.
Discontinue direct use immediately if skin breaks out, blisters,
or becomes irritated. Do not use cabbage compresses if the
skin is broken, if you have cracked nipples etc. If the skin
is broken, place cabbage leaves around the breast without touching
or covering the nipple cracks.
Limit the use of cabbage leaves to 20-30 minutes at a
time. Overuse of cabbage can completely dry up the mother's
milk supply.
Alternative Options:
If you don't like the thought of using cabbage (or the smell)
you could also try:
- Wetting a baby nappy and freezing. Using this as a cold
compress.
- Wetting flannels and freezing them, to use as a cold
compress.
- Hot shower.
- Using a bag of ice for each breast
- Expressing off a little bit of milk (not too much, else your
boobs will make more and you will be sore again in a few
hours)
- Using a Breast Soother (medical grade
gel)