Why would someone wear cabbage 🥬 leaves? If a mama is breastfeeding and needing to wean unexpectedly or quickly (due to an emergency or change in health), then she is able to use cabbage leaves to help potentially avoid getting clogged ducts and reduce breastmilk production in the process.
How Cabbage Leaves Help Reduce Breastmilk Supply to Help With Weaning
While the verdict is still out on “how” this happens, the theory is: the amino acids in the cabbage open capillaries and improve blood flow. Doing this can help reduce inflammation, decrease tissue fluid backup, and can allow the milk to flow more freely.
How to Use Cabbage Leaves to Wean
Remove two of the inner leaves from the head, and rinse off the leaves. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Use a rolling pin over the cabbage to crush the vein to flatten them right before use. Cutting the vein out with scissors can also work. The goal is to make the cabbage fit the shape of your breast.
Place one leaf in each of your bra cups on each side.
You can leave them on until they wilt.
Use as often as desired.
Work with an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) for help in the process.
The picture above showing the cabbage needs to be directly on the breast but was shown over the shirt for media purposes ;)