Are you a new mother? Or are you trying to gradually stop breastfeeding your baby? At this time, the pain, tightness, and swelling in your breasts can sometimes be unbearable, right? About 10% of breastfeeding mothers experience this condition. Imagine how common this is. Most of the time, this discomfort occurs in the first few weeks of breastfeeding. So today we are talking about a very simple home remedy for this, which has been effective for many people.
What is this breast pain? Is it mastitis?
First, let's understand the difference between these two conditions, because not all breast pain is the same.
Mild Breast Engorgement:
Simply put, this means that your breasts are full of milk and become hard. You may feel a little heaviness, tightness, or even a little pain. But it is not unbearable. If you breastfeed your baby on time or pump your milk, this condition will usually go away on its own within a day or two.
Mastitis :
Sometimes, the engorgement can become severe and cause inflammation of the breast tissue. This is called mastitis. This can be quite painful. In that case, we definitely need to find relief.
Check the table below to see if you have these symptoms.
| Symptom | What does this mean? |
|---|---|
| Severe breast pain | The pain is so intense that it's impossible to move your hand, and it hurts even if you touch your clothes. |
| Redness and warmth | The skin on the painful breast becomes red and feels warmer than the other side when touched. |
| A swelling or lump | The breast may be swollen and may feel like a lump that can be felt in the hand. |
| Decreased milk production | The amount of milk coming from the breast on the side where the pain is is reduced. |
| Nipple discharge | Abnormal discharge from the nipple that is not milk. |
| Fever and body aches | I have a high fever, my body aches, and I feel like I have a cold. |
If you have these symptoms, using cabbage leaves to relieve the pain can provide great relief.
Why do you use cabbage leaves for this?
Cabbage leaves are a very popular home remedy for mastitis pain. Some studies have even found that cabbage leaves reduce pain and swelling better than ice packs.
The advantages of this are:
- Very easy to use: no special effort required.
- Natural and safe: something you can take straight from the kitchen.
- Cheap: It doesn't cost much to buy a cabbage.
- Effective: Provides good relief from pain and swelling.
It's not 100% clear exactly why cabbage leaves provide this relief . But scientists believe that the anti-inflammatory compounds found in vegetables like cabbage and broccoli are responsible. Whatever the reason, it's safe to say that this method has helped millions of mothers around the world.
How to properly care for cabbage leaves?
If you also have severely swollen and painful breasts, follow these steps.
1. Choose a good cabbage: Choose a green, fresh, and unshriveled cabbage. You can use a cabbage leaf that has been refrigerated and chilled, but there is no problem using one that is at room temperature.
2. Wash thoroughly:Before using, wash the cabbage leaves thoroughly with water to remove any bacteria . Then, pat them dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
3. Prepare the leaves: Remove the thick core from the middle of the cabbage leaf. This will make it easier to hold it in place. If you want, you can also cut a small hole in the middle of the leaf so that you can stick your nipple out. Another good way is to crush the leaf with a rolling pin (for making chapatis) or a bottle. This will release some of the juice and increase the results.
4. Place one or more cabbage leaves on your breast, covering the entire painful breast. It's okay to leave the nipples uncovered.
5. Leave for 20 minutes: Hold the cabbage leaves in place, wear a loose-fitting bra, and leave for about 20 minutes.
6. Do this twice a day: Use fresh cabbage leaves and do this treatment twice a day until the pain and swelling subside.
You will start to feel relief within 30 minutes of applying the cabbage leaves. Also, remember to continue to breastfeed your baby regularly or pump regularly. This will help reduce breast inflammation and maintain good milk production.
What are the things to be careful about when doing this?
Although this is a very simple remedy, there are a few things we need to pay attention to.
- Allergies : If you are allergic to cabbage, either when eating it or when it touches your skin, do not try this remedy. Instead, you can try something like rubbing it with a cloth soaked in cold water.
- Avoid placing on wounds : If your nipples are cracked or injured, do not place cabbage leaves on those wounds.
- Pay attention to your milk supply: This is the most important thing . Stop using cabbage leaves as soon as you feel relief from the pain and swelling. Because if you continue using cabbage leaves, it can reduce your milk supply.
- Medical advice may be needed: Cabbage leaves only provide temporary relief from pain and swelling. They are not a cure for a serious infection.
If you have symptoms like fever, chills, body aches, or if the pain doesn't go away in a day or two and gets worse, be sure to see your doctor.You may need to take antibiotics.
Take-Home Message
- Mastitis is a painful inflammation of the breasts that can occur in breastfeeding mothers.
- Using cabbage leaves can provide good relief from this pain and swelling, but it will not cure an infection.
- For treatment, use fresh, clean cabbage leaves and keep them on your breasts for about 20 minutes.
- Stop using cabbage leaves as soon as the pain and swelling subside. Continued use may decrease your milk supply.
- If you have symptoms such as fever, body aches, or if the pain is severe, see your doctor immediately.
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