Weening- Sore boobs-Help Please

you can probably look it up online somewhere because I've never done it, but my sister does it all the time....she uses hot tea bags. The cabbage is probably a lot less messy.

The cabbage leaves are a LIFE SAVER!!! I used them with my second child and wish I had known this little trick with my first. Just stick a cold cabbage leaf in your bra. You do need to change them frequently, when they get wilted. It ia amazing. Good luck to you!!!!

I just placed a crisp, cold cabbage leaf in my bra, and left it there for an hour or so, then replaced with another. It was amazing how well it worked. Hope you get some relief soon!

I didn't get any help from cabbage when trying to dry up milk, only as a relief to the discomfort. If you are really drying to stop your milk production, take an ace bandage and have someone wrap it around your breasts very snugly. Leave it all day and night. Just take it off to shower. That will prevent embarrassing leaks, too. It's somewhat uncomfortable, but after a couple of days, you can loosen it just a little. This was what my dr. recommended when I had to stop nursing all of a sudden.

My Lactation consultant advised me on how to properly use the cabbage leaves. After placing the cabbage in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes; you have to crush the inside of the cabbage leaf with a hammer or mallet because its the cold cabbage juice that is absorbed inside the breast to help dry up the milk and sooth sore breasts. - The scent is very strong but helpful in aiding soreness.

I preferred placing my cabbage leaves in the freezer; oh so cold going on but relieved a lot of pain when they feel like bricks. I changed the cabbage as soon as they lost the cold feeling and you have to sleep with the leaves in your bra at night. In other words for a few days you are going to smell like cabbage but its worth it. You have stay strong to not express any milk; your breasts will be swollen and sore to the point where you feel miserable like they could pop but keep the cold/crushed cabbage on them and keep taking tylenol. Stay vigilant about it and you will start to feel better by day 3 and within a few more days your milk will be dried up. Be certain not do anything to stimulate the breasts for a good week or two. Also, showering is the hardest due to the warm water is not relaxing it just makes you leak. My consultant advised no showering the first few days. You are on the right path; we all had to suffer for almost a week to dry them up but in the end its worth it. Good luck you are almost there...stay strong.

chilled cabbage leaves are amazing. You you just pull off the outside leaf. It looks like a little bowl, just cup it around your boob. it fits perfect. then put a bra on. you can also just lay your bra on the counter or table, put the leaf in the bra, and then lean over it and put it on.

what it does is naturally bring any remaining milk to the front where it can drain out.

Ice packs also help, and (i know you said no meds, but if you get desperate) popping a few anti-histamines will dry it up. just some benedryl or sudafed.

Oh the cabbage leaves are AMAZING! It's so soothing and relieves pain wonderfully! I agree with putting them in the freezer and then apply them. It reduces swelling as well:).

I do want to mention that if the swelling does not seem to go down, your breast become red and hot then see your doctor as it could be a duct infection called Metasis(I think that's how it's spelled) or a symptom of IBC(Inflammatory Breast Cancer). A friend of mine was diagnosed with IBC while breast feeding and so many doctors thought it was Metasis. I'm not trying to scare you nor say you have these things, I just want to spread awareness to other women just in case.

The cabbage works though and I highly recommend it! I hope you start feeling better soon sweetie :)

Sage tea worked well for me. You can buy the rubbed sage in the spice aisle. Make a tea with it and drink it a couple of times a day. It worked wonders. Do a search for "sage tea weaning" and you should find a bunch of tips.

I've always heard cold cabbage leaves in the bra.....

Hi there! Sorry for being so uncomfortable but I did try thr cabbage leaves and it really helped. They are really cool from the fridge so that helped with the pain. They are shaped perfect to fit in your bra too. = ). I would definitely try it. Hope it works for you too.