Hi Cathy:

Yes, binding is not effective and IS painful for the mother...not for the
Dr. who advises to do this, naturally. "Do as I say, not as I do". If a Dr.
had swollen, engorged breasts and bound (past tense of bind, I guess) them,
it would be the last time he gave that counsel!

I have assisted mothers who have lost their child at birth...without meds
and without binding.  What has worked for me is to simply tell them to
express as little calostrum/milk as possible to be comfortable. In other
words, whenever the mother feels too full, she should express just enough
to relieve herself, but not to empty the breasts completely - otherwise
she'd be stimulating her production.

Also, try the cabbage leaves, or salad-cure as they are calling it. The
leaves are used effectively for engorgement. However, one LC in Tucson I
know ONLY uses them for cases such as a mother in mourning, when the supply
needs to be totally dried up. I have heard that if used too assiduously on
a mother who merely needs relief from engorgment, you can go too far and
reduce the milk supply.  Word to the wise.

Roberta