By Frank Kamuntu
Breastfeeding her newborn baby is one of the milestones each new mother crosses. There are challenges such as being unable to breastfeed at all or not getting to do so for the number of days that we had initially planned for, poor latching techniques, breast engorgement, and swelling of the breasts, among others.
When it comes to dealing with breast engorgement and swelling, you may use breast softening creams and gels, but you’ll have to wipe them off each time you need to breastfeed. On the other hand, painkiller medications and antibiotics are prohibited during breastfeeding unless prescribed by your doctor in extreme cases.
So, what really is the foolproof solution to this universal problem? Well, it’s cabbage leaves.
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 breast swelling.
According to the study that was conducted on lactating mothers in the age group of 13 to 50 years, the 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.
- Put the cabbage in the fridge. The Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation recommends using green cabbage.
- Once it is cold to touch, remove the first outer layer of the cabbage and discard it. You’ll find 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 can discard the leaves soon after, as they wilt. You can use this treatment 2 or 3 times during the day and with a new set of leaves each time.
This method has been found to be greatly effective in relieving pain, reducing swelling, and healing breast engorgement to a large extent. You can stop this treatment as your condition gets better with time.
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 extended periods of time, despite the treatment, it is prudent to consult your doctor immediately.
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