Does Cabbage Really Help Dry up Your Milk?

I have a friend who recently had twins and decided not to breastfeed. She used cabbage and was dried up in about 2 days. I have never used it but it worked for her. Good luck.

As Sarah said, you would probably benefit from pumping or hand expressing just enough to prevent engorgement. When you quit nursing suddenly, you are at risk of getting plugged ducts and/or mastitis. Gradual weaning is much less painful.

Is he still biting? Is that why you have decided to wean? I'm wondering if there's something else we could suggest since you were looking for a way to continue nursing without the biting.

Just an FYI, I don't think this applies, but just in case, often moms are told to because of a medication when there are safe alternatives. If this might be the case, I can look in Dr. Hale's book "Medications & Mother's Milk" to see if weaning is really necessary.

I am not sure about how it works, but after 3 kids, all I know is that those cold leaves on my breasts when they were in so much pain really helped make them feel better. I would put one on each breast, straight out of the refrigerator so they were very cold, under my bra, then wrap an ace bandage tightly around my upper torso (apparently binding helps them dry up too). Whether there was any chemical reaction at work or not, I will definitely do it again with this 4th child because it helped with the pain if nothing else.

Yes raw cabbage leaves in your bra will help some. You should not quit cold turkey though - once you have stopped nursing, you need to pump/hand express an ounce or two to relieve the engorgment so you don't end up with clogged ducts/mastitis. this little amount will help you feel better, but will not stimulate enough milk to have your body keep producing it.

Hi R.,

At about a year, my son weaned himself, though he was a prolific eater right up to the end. Going cold turkey wasn't my preference, and I expressed a bit at first then decided to just stick it out for a few days. Cabbage leaves worked wonders (though I did smell like coleslaw...not my favorite food!) I thought for sure it was just psychological so I did a little research and aside from the immediate relief from the cold leaves, there is apparently an enzyme released that aids in drying up your milk. I've often wondered if it would also help to eat cabbage? (again not something I was willing to try - yuck!)

Good Luck!
E.

I understand you pain!! The last time I "dried up" I put Ben Gay (or any similar muscle pain cream) on my breasts after showering and before re-binding myself (my husband helped) with two 4 inch in width ace bandages. Also my doctor told me to take up to 4 Motrin every 4 hours (I didn't think it helped tho). It took me a full week to dry up, although it may be shorter for you if you have been weaning...We did it cold turkey after 5 months of strictly breastfeeding. It is very painful, but it will be over soon. Good Luck!!!

Of ALL of the ridiculous cures I ever heard about when it came to breastfeeding, that was the worst. But after 4 or 5 days of excruciating pain trying to dry out after stopping b'feeding with my oldest child, I was desperate. Within 15 minutes I felt better than I had for days. The swelling was down, the milk began drying out, and I smelled like a salad bar. But I felt good. With my second child, I used the cabbage leaves from day 1 when he was weaned. It worked just as well. Some advice...
Cut the cabbage in half so you can easily romove the leaves. Wash the leaves and dry them gently. Use leaves big enough to cover ALL of your breast, so you will feel the relief everywhere. Change them when they start to stink a lot (it's not the most pleasant smell after a few minutes) or when they no longer feel cold. Leave the leaves in the fridge until you go to use them. The cold helps.
I used them for 2 or 3 days in both cases. It's a cheap, easy, VERY helpful way to help dry you up and give you relief. I do suggest warning people who get close to you. You may smell funny for a bit while you're wearing the leaves. But I PROMISE you won't care!
Good luck and best wishes!

Yes cabbage its the best, fastest way to dry up milk. Put a cabbage leaf inside each side of your bra. When it's "cooked" replace with a fresh leaf. Do this all day and you should be done in about a day maybe two.

S. Mills
Touched By An Angel,
Childbirth services, inc.

yes, it is the best and most natural way to do this, without producing more milk. just put some leaves on each breast and cover with your nursing bra. then wrap a towel around you. the cabbage will pull out all the excess milk and will be like boiled. everytime the cabbage is soft you take it out and put new leaves in until your milk is gone. use cold cabbage so the cooling effect will also numb the pain you are experiencing right now. good look!

Hi R.! I don't know about the whole cabbage thing but it is normal what you are going through. It took my milk a long time to dry up after I stopped nursing both of my children. It helps if you stand in the shower and let hot water run on yourself or using a heating pad. Hope you feel better soon!

Yes, cabbage really does help. But it makes you leak as well so make sure you are home and wearing somthing you don't mind getting wet. To completely dry you it may take a few days. I would put the cabbage in a sports bra before I went to bed and change it out in the middle of the night if I got up. But I had to lay on towels so the bed stayed dry. Good Luck!

YES!!! I did not originally take the doc.'s advice about cabbage and ended up getting a serious (and painful) infection. Also, instead of a bra or wrapping your breast, I found that a tight sports bra worked better.