Foodie with Child

I'm eight weeks pregnant, and since I've been hearing so much in the news about breast cancer, I really want to be sure that I take care of myself. I am a little confused about whether I should do breast exams even though I am pregnant. I'm also not sure if I'm doing it right. What is the proper way? I see a doctor at a clinic, but I'm not comfortable asking these kinds of detailed questions.

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Good for you that you're taking the initiative to care for your body and your health. The answer to your question about whether you should be examining your breasts during pregnancy is yes, yes, yes. It's also very important to feel comfortable enough with your practitioner to ask all your questions and understand your care. If you prefer, you may want to see if your clinic has a nurse practitioner with whom you are more at ease.

When you're not pregnant, the best time to perform a breast self-exam is after your period, when your breasts are less likely to be tender or lumpy. During pregnancy, you can simply choose one day of the month as your "breast check day." It is rare -- but possible -- to develop breast cancer or for pregnancy hormones to accelerate cancer during pregnancy. Therefore, it's very important to continue your breast health activities throughout your entire pregnancy.

There is no special way to examine your breasts. The important thing is to get a good sense of what your body feels like. Then you will know if something feels or looks different. Many women check their breasts while standing in the shower, although you could also sit or lie down.

You should first look at your breast in a mirror, both with your hands at your side and then behind your head. Check for any dimples or abnormalities in shape. Next, feel your breasts for lumps, in either a circular motion or up and down. Squeeze the nipple of each breast slightly to see if you have discharge.

Once you do this a couple of times, you will feel more familiar with your breasts. Be sure to let your doctor know of any lumps or suspicious areas that you find. It may be perfectly normal, but is best to have it checked out.