How to Use Cabbage Leaves to Wean

Weaning is a difficult time for breastfeeding mothers. Not only is it emotionally stressful to give up this feeding and bonding ritual with your baby, but it also can be quite painful to have breast milk build up without relief. Fortunately, placing cabbage leaves in your bra can alleviate some of the discomfort--and help the milk dry up more quickly. Here's how to use cabbage leaves to wean.

Instructions

1. Buy one large head of green cabbage. Especially if you are weaning cold turkey, you probably will need the entire cabbage, so don't plan on making a soup with any of the leaves.

2. Wash the cabbage thoroughly and place the clean leaves in plastic storage bags. Refrigerate the cabbage right away. As soon as it's cold, you can start using it.

3. Wear a bra slightly smaller than a nursing bra. You don't want it to be too tight, which could lead to mastitis, but if it's loose, the cabbage won't be held securely in place and you might feel some discomfort.

4. Get out two cold cabbage leaves. Place each one like a bra cup on top of your bare breasts and then secure the bra. The leaves should cover your entire breast, from the center of your chest to beneath your armpits. If any of this area is exposed, get another cabbage leaf and cover it up.

5. Replace the cabbage leaves as soon as they become warm and wilted. The coldness of the cabbage is soothing during weaning, so you want to make sure the leaves are relatively fresh at all times. You'll probably need to change the leaves every two hours to stay comfortable.

6. Continue using the cabbage leaves for several days until your milk supply is gone.

Tips & Warnings

• An over the counter pain medication can relieve some of the discomfort of weaning if the cabbage leaves don't completely do the trick.

• You might smell very unpleasant while wearing the cabbage leaves in your bra, so don't schedule the weaning for a time when you will be in close contact with others.