The joys of sage tea

[oloriel]

Last week, Felix forgot to come for breast-milk before bedtime, and I did not remind him. While I don't necessarily think that 2 years (+ 2 months) old is too old for breastfeeding, I was quite honestly received that he stopped; during the past month, my nipples were hurting again as they did during the first months of breastfeeding, no doubt as a result of the new pregnancy. I had briefly considered to breastfeed Felix at least until there was a Baby #2, so I wouldn't have to go through the damn process of pushing lactation and getting used to the tear and wear on my nipples again - but that idea was sorely (no pun intended) tested now, and didn't really seem worth the bother. And while 2 years and two months may not be too old for breastfeeding, it's safely beyond the "reccommended minimum breastfeeding time" line (24 months according to the WHO). So when the Flixster was simply too exhausted or too excited or too whatever to remember "Mamas Milch", that was fine with me.

Except, of course, when you've been breastfeeding and suddenly stop, you'll end up with mastitis - a mild version in my case, as we had been down to once per day anyway, but unpleasant nonetheless. It took me a few days to actually remember a herb I'd completely thrown out of my diet for the past two years plus: Sage! The reason I had not eaten anything with sage in it (although chicken tastes lovely with sage), or drank sage tisane (which I love), is that among all its medicinal properties, sage also blocks lactation. And after over two years of being forbidden to have anything with sage... it sort of took a mental somersault to remember that HEY, not only was I allowed to have sage again (for the time being), but in fact should make myself some sage tea now so my breasts would stop producing the milk that was after all no longer needed.

While I was brewing my tisane, I was slightly worried that I would be disappointed. When you haven't tasted something in two years (or, in fact, shorter periods of time), there are basically two immediate options - either you still like it, or you can't stand it. It was smelling lovely, good start, but you know how it is with drinks - they may smell nice and still taste meh.
But no: Sage still is every bit as lovely as I remembered.

By now, of course, my body has probably stopped milk production all by itself (breasts still feel tight but no longer really painful), so the sage can't actually have much of an effect. But hey, at the moment can't hurt either (it helps with queasiness too), and I like the taste, so it's all good.

Yes, this is actually worth an LJ entry to me. Go figure.