Need to Ease Engorged Breasts

I heard about the cabbage leaves too but didn't try it- I just massaged them and I had to pump one last time to take the edge off and reduce the engagement. I have very large breast, and bf for 14 mo. so it took a while to adjust. Take Tylenol to reduce the swelling and pain. It takes about two weeks for the "girls" to start to feel normal again.

Drinking 3-4 cups of sage tea will drastically reduce your milk supply and help you stop producing.

You can either buy a box of sage tea in tea bags from a health food or natural food store. Also, some places will sell loose leaves. You just brew about 1-2 tablespoons of the leaves in a cup of hot water for a few minutes then strain and drink it. Some middle eastern stores and places like whole foods will sell the tea loose, or like I said you can buy it in tea bags.

I have used it after stopping nursing with both of my children and it was extremely effective. I noticed a HUGE difference after just one day of drinking tea. But you could continue for a few days for lasting effects, as your body is adjusting.

I second the cabbage leaves and the hot showers. I also used motrin and drank peppermint tea and ate lots of the herb sage as those are supposed to reduce mike production.

This is from the Kellymom website:

Herbs that may decrease milk supply
Using large amounts of the following herbs and other natural remedies should be avoided while nursing because they have been known to decrease milk supply. The amounts of these herbs normally used in cooking are unlikely to be of concern; it's mainly the larger amounts that might be used therapeutically that could pose a problem. However, some moms have noticed a decrease in supply after eating things like dressing with lots of sage, sage tea (often recommended when moms are weaning), lots of strong peppermint candies or menthol cough drops, or other foods/teas with large amounts of the particular herb. These herbs are sometimes used by nursing mothers to treat oversupply, or when weaning.

Black Walnut
Chickweed
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Lemon Balm
Oregano
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)/Menthol
Periwinkle Herb (Vinca minor)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Spearmint
Thyme
Yarrow

Good luck!
H.

Cabbage leaves worked for me. Whether it was a real help or placebo, I don't know. But it was a relief.

I heard that sticking some cabbage in your bra helps reduce the pain. Sounds weird but I have a friend that used it and it worked.

long steamy hot showers worked for me....but if you hear a baby cry, then your breasts will react with the milk release again....Good for you for breast feeding for all that time...Smiles, MOM J

I'm sure you've heard this a few times over already, but cabbage leaves really do the trick. Buy a fresh cabbage, keep it in the fridge, and peel off enough leaves to cover your breasts and stuff your bra. When those wilt, apply a fresh batch. Very effective!

Have you tried the cabbage leaf trick yet? Just put some cabbage leaves inside your bra between feedings - can't hurt, and it's definitely cost-effective! I think I remember reading that studies show it works.

I always would just pump a LITTLE bit out, just enough to ease the pressure. It could take up to 2 months for your milk to dry up and the pain to disappear completely.