> This evening I gave an antenatal class to parents in their last
> trimester.  A question was asked, "can cabbage leaves help your milk
> to come in".

        I'll introduce myself...I've been sitting in the background
observing for the past few days, so I'm very new.  I am studying
lactation and also am breastfeeding my 10 month old son, who didn't see
fit to start any solids until last month.  I have a bachelors degree in
psychology/child development.  I have attended La Leche League meetings
for the past 10 months, and thanks to a number of problems that my son
and I had establishing our nursing relationship, I became interested in
helping other women overcome their problems.  I am planning on becoming a
leader applicant and also hope to continue studying to become a lactation
consultant.  Eventually I'd like to get my MFCC or MSW and go into parent
education.  I am learning a lot from all of you.  I have enjoyed reading
the topics that you have been discussing and here is one that I know
about.
        Cabbage leaves DO NOT help milk supply, they hinder it.  They are
a treatment for engorgement and mastitis, and you have to be careful with
how much they are used, because they can cause the milk supply to dry up
(the hospital where I gave birth used them to help women who did not
want to breastfeed).  You probably know better than I what causes it, but
I have been told by a LLL leader that it is sulfur in the cabbage leaves
that causes the effect.

Respectfully,

Lora Horn