Recipes

Through time and experience, we learn that there isn't always a single solution to a single problem.  Some of the answers we find are often clinical and others are practical.  Some of the answers are not learned, nor can they be suggested, through a medical avenue.  Some of the answers are passed down through traditions or have been cultural remedies from our families.

Babies and Moms would like to share some of the solutions to problems that we have discovered throughout our lifetime and on our career paths.  We realize that there is not a single solution that works for every person, but these are remedies that work for almost everyone we know that has used them.

If you have any traditional or cultural remedies you would like to share with our community, please send them to submissions@babiesandmoms.com and we will post them once we review them.  See our Submissions Guidelines.

Please note that this information is not meant to replace medical advice.  Please consult with your physician if you have any questions regarding your health care.

Under each issue below, the different solutions are numbered.  The number doesn't indicate a priority or a success rate.  You may try whatever solution you find more appealing.

Plugged Ducts and Plugged Nipple Pores

1.  Soak breast in very warm water and massage hard area before feeds.  Rest, drink 12 to 14 glasses of water per day, cut fatty foods out of your diet, and take two to three Lecithin capsules (1200mg) with each meal until symptoms are gone.

Engorgement

1.  Peel 2 leaves off of a head of green cabbage and pound down the stocky part.  Place a leaf of cabbage in each bra cup on top of the swollen breast.  Leave the leaves of cabbage in the bra cups until they wilt, then replace with a new one.  Do this for up to twelve hours only.

Weaning

1.  One cup of sage tea three times a day to help your body dry up it's milk production.

2.  Peel two leaves off of a head of green cabbage and pound down the stocky part.  Place a leaf of cabbage in each bra cup on top of the breast.  Leave the leaves of cabbage in the bra cups until they wilt, then replace with a new one.  Do this for at least 24 hours to help the body shut down the milk production.

Increasing Milk Production

1.  Three cups of fenugreek tea per day or 3 to 5 capsules of fenugreek seed, three times a day with plenty of water.

2.  Three capsules of blessed thistle seed, three times a day with plenty of water.

Increasing Iron Levels

1.  Make some tea with equal amounts of each of the following:  nettle leaves, red raspberry leaves, fenugreek, alfalfa, milk thistle, oat straw, and chamomile*.  Mix  the ingredients together.  Place 1 teaspoon in water and boil.  Drink 1 cup of this tea up to 3 times a day.

*Do not use chamomile if you have a ragweed allergy.

2.  One tablespoon of black strap molasses twice daily for Mom.  For baby, one teaspoon of black strap molasses mixed with breastmilk or artificial baby milk, once a day.  If baby is over six months of age or on solids, it can be mixed with applesauce.

Gassy Tummy and Digestive Problems

1.  Mix chamomile*, fennel, ginger**, and anise, in equal parts together to make a tea.  This tea can be taken by nursing mother to calm her and baby's tummy or 1/2 teaspoon can be given directly to baby up to 6 times a day.

*Do not use chamomile if you have a ragweed allergy.
**Do not use ginger if pregnant, can cause bleeding.

2.  Do a tummy massage in a clockwise motion, using warmed oils such as almond or apricot.  Always test  the temperature of oils prior to using on baby.  Gently bend baby's knees up toward the chest in a bicycling motion to help with the release.

Yeast and Thrush Prevention

1.  Two acidophilus capsules (refrigerated DDS strength) taken on an empty stomach, 2 times per day. 1/4  powdered capsule mixed with the baby's milk and placed on the mom's nipple 4 times per day to help restore the friendly bacteria.

2.  Mix one tablespoon of baking soda or white vinegar with warm water to create a solution that helps change the pH of the nipple tissue so yeast will not thrive.  Take this mixture and mix a handful of cotton balls with it.  Store the soaked cotton balls in a zip lock bag.  Wipe the nipples with the mixture after each feeding.

Cradle Cap

1.  Massage warm oil, such as almond or apricot, gently onto baby's scalp.  Always test the temperature of oils prior to using on baby.  Make sure the entire area is saturated.  Let the oil sit on baby's scalp for at least two hours, so the dried skin can loosen.  Then wash baby's hair and massage scalp clean with a wash cloth.  Comb out cradle cap flakes.

PLEASE NOTE: This information is not meant to replace medical advice.  Please consult with your physician if you have any questions regarding your health.