When I answered the original post on wearing cabbage leaves to help
milk come in, I had a knee-jerk reaction.  I have used and advocate use of
cobbage to help with engorgement, and yes, for over-production problems.I've
nursed two children for over 2 yrs. and have been working with WIC women for
3.  I don't know if that makes me REALLY experienced or not.
        The discussion on this issue has been extremely interesting. I
really do think that cabbage works by decreasing edema.  Otherwise, why
would it work on ankles and such?  And the idea that cabbage might work on
reducing milk supply by involution seems valid to me.  BUT, the idea that
cabbage works at all seems very anectadotal.  I have never seen any reseach
saying it works, let alone why.
         So, anectadotally only, cabbage worn around the breast for long
periods of time (20+ hrs per day) for 2 days or so will decrese milk supply.
 I went from pumping a half gallon a day more than my son's intake (don't
ask, it's a long story) to 20 oz per day(more reasonable for my needs) in
just 10 days using cabbage.  Previously, as a little experiement, I had
tried to see how long it would take my milk supply to adjust with reduced
pumping only.  No dice.  Pain, excess leaking, foreceful MER's that choked
poor AJ.  Maybe someone else would have different results.
        The point is, however, that in reguards to the expectant mother who
had the original question: will wearing cabbage leaves to help her milk come
in, is not something we can support or disclaim through research.  She
should be told that people use cabbage to reduce swelling so that if she has
problems with engorgement to go ahead and use it, but to be careful because,
when used for long periods of time, SOME women have reported decreased milk
supplies.  Then she can make her own decission.
                -Brenda-