Fio wrote:
"I am interested in hearing you wise folks' opinions on cabbage.  Here,
one of our local IBCLC's warns against using cabbage *before* the milk
comes in because she says she's seen people doing that, prophylactically

and calling her at like 10 days post partum with "still no milk".  She
says by all means use them, but only once the milk has actually come
in...and then only as much as necessary to make one's self comfortable.

What do you think of this...do any of you say similar things, or have
you noticed similar situations of cabbage before milk=no milk, or do you

just say "apply cabbage if needed"?"


Why would anyone use the cabbage BEFORE the milk volume kicks in?    I
doubt that it would do that much "prophylactically".  A new mom gets too
much of the "do this or something terrible will happen" kind of advice
as it is!
I have heard, and I currently recommend this way, that a mom who wants
to decrease edema, but is going to continue to nurse should use the
cabbage only about 20 minutes at a time.  A mom using it to help her
"dry up" keeps reapplying every time the cabbage gets limp.  The
rationale was that since we don't actually know how it works, we don't
want to take a chance on it interfering with supply in addition to
reducing edema.
I, too, would be interested in others' experiences who have had moms use
them with no suggested limits on time.  And has anyone really figured
out yet just why cabbage reduces swelling?
I've always used the "We don't know why it works, but it does and I
can't think of any negative side effects other the baby possibly asking
for cole slaw as its first solid food (TIC)."

Winnie

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