Lynn

    " A randomized, controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of
cabbage leaves on mother' perceptions of breast engorgement and the influence
of this treatment on breastfeeding practices. The subjects, 120 breastfeeding
woman 72 hours postpartum, were randomly allocated to an experimental group
who recieved applicaiton of cabbage leaves to their breasts, or to a control
group who received routine care. The experimental group tended to report less
breast engorgemen, but this trend was not statistically significant. At six
weeks. woman who received the cabbage leaf application were more likely to be
breastfeeding exclusively, 76 and 58 percent (36/35 vs 29/50;P=0.09) and
their mean duration of exclusive breastfeeding was longer. (36 vs 30 days;
P=0.04) The greater breastfeeding sucess in the experimental group may have
been due to some benificial effect of the cabbage leaf application, or may
have been secondary to reassurance and improved confience and self esteem in
these mothers (BIRTH 20:2 June 1993)

      Patricia