A randomized, controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of
cabbage leaves on mothers' perceptions of breast engorgement and the
influence of this treatment on breastfeeding practices. The subjects,
120 breastfeeding women 72 hours postpartum, were randomly allocated t
o an experimental group who received application of cabbage leaves to
their breasts, or to a control group who received routine care. The ex
perimental group tended to report less breast engorgement, but this tr
end was not statistically significant. At six weeks, women who receive
d the cabbage leaf application were more likely to be breastfeeding ex
clusively, 76 and 58 percent (3.5/46 vs 29/50; P = 0.09), and their me
an duration of exclusive breastfeeding was longer (36 vs 30 days; P =
0.04). The greater breastfeeding success in the experimental group may
have been due to some beneficial effect of cabbage leaf application,
or may have been secondary to reassurance and improved confidence and
self-esteem in these mothers.