How to Care for Your Breasts

A woman often views her breasts as part of her definition of womanhood. While she is very much a woman, with or without her breasts, too many take them for granted. Women need to learn to take care of their breasts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Support your breasts! Even though it is so comfortable to go without a bra, breasts tend to stretch and sag the longer and more often a woman doesn't wear one. Time will already take a toll-don't help it out!

2. Do exercises to strengthen your pectoral muscles. These are the muscles that support your breasts. Regular exercise also helps you avoid fatty buildups in the breast tissue.

3. Breasts need special care when you are breastfeeding. Before the baby is born, gently rub the nipples with a dry terry cloth towel so they won't be so sensitive when the baby begins nursing. Before and after nursing, wipe the breast with a warm, wet washcloth without soap to keep it bacteria free. After you wash the breast, apply a cream such as
   lanolin, cocoa butter, or a special breast cream to keep the nipples from becoming dry and cracking.
   
   If your breasts are red, inflamed. and painful contact your doctor right away. You may have an infection and need an antibiotic.

4. Learn how to do a self-examination every month, without fail. Before you say you are too young for a breast exam, think Christina Applegate! The resource section has a link if you need instructions. Pick a day of the month, the first, the last, it doesn't matter. As soon as you wake up,or after you enter the shower, do your self-examination. If anything feels odd at all, make a doctor's appointment immediately. Better safe than sorry and if there is a problem, waiting makes it worse. It doesn't make it go away.

5. Have a regular mammogram if you have reached the age of fifty. After fifty, women should have a preliminary exam and then have another one every one to two years after that. Mammograms are optional for women in their forties. While statistics show that their are more false positive ratings in the younger women, it is a choice thing. Family history should be considered when you decide.

Resources

• Breast Self-examination

[xtraordinary]

on 9/13/2009 Excellent and very timely article...5 stars!

[veryirie]

on 9/11/2009 Excellent, helpful tips.

[fairyumaima]

on 7/13/2009 this is very informative but i havent reached to forty nor i have babies but its good to have information.
thanks

[sneedc]

on 7/12/2009 Mammograms start around 40 where I live; they HOUND ME! Also, I'm guilty of taking the "girls" for granted...one time, one of my drs recommended I use SAND PAPER to rough up my nibbles prior to breast feeding; I prefer your terry cloth idea! 5*

[sullysee]

on 7/12/2009 What's with the photo? It makes no sense to me . Re-do the article and tell me something I did not know. Thanks, Huge natural girls.