6 Breast, Nipple Care, and Self Examination Tips

Your breasts and nipples go through a great deal once you’ve become a parent. From the way it looks to the way it feels, all of this can be a strange or overwhelming experience at first.

No one really teaches you how to take care of your own breasts or nipples when you’re growing up, and no one prepares you for it either during pregnancy.

You’re the one who needs to go the extra mile and make an effort to figure out if what you’re doing is right or wrong if you don’t have easy access to medical professionals or lactation experts around you.

When I was 15 years old, I lost my mom to breast cancer, so part of why I’m writing this blog is the hope that this article will spread awareness about breast cancer and early diagnosis.

Take all these tips (or any tips you see online) with a grain of salt. I am not claiming to be a medical professional or an expert in anything of the sort. It’s always best to consult your doctor if you find anything unusual in your breasts.

I’ll give you some tips on my experiences, product recommendations, and cancerous ingredients to watch out for in your products.

  

1.Latching properly is essential.

This one is for my new moms or currently pregnant moms. Latching is something that you should look into before you start breastfeeding. There are so many complications that can occur if your baby isn’t able to latch on properly. Ask a medical professional or lactation consultant about ways you can make your baby latch on properly.

Latching isn’t talked about enough when you’re pregnant. It’s not something that comes naturally to all babies, which is why you both have to practice this skill. A good latch is a key to a good feed too. I know it can feel like you’re doing something wrong if your baby isn’t able to suck from your nipples properly, but don’t worry mama, you don’t have to get it right the first time. It helps to mentally prepare yourself for these things so you can keep trying again without feeling like a failure.

  

2. Massage your breasts.

Massage promotes blood flow, and healthy blood flow is also the key to healthy milk production if you’re breastfeeding. Massaging your breasts helps alleviate swelling and can even be a minor form of self-care. It enables you to stay in tune with your body and recognize any abnormalities that didn’t use to be there before. Massaging your breasts with our Irene Organics Belly Oil or 3-Blend Baby Oil can even help with stretch marks and itching.

  

3. Watch out for these ingredients in your products.

Did you know that there are cancer-causing ingredients in the products that you use on your body? Regardless of whether it’s in a small amount if you’re using it every day, the harmful effects of these chemicals add up. Ingredients such as:

• Coal tar—which is found in cosmetics, hair dyes, scalp and dandruff treatments, and even skin treatments that cause redness or rosacea,
• Triclosan is found in toothpaste, body wash, and most antibacterial soaps, According to the FDA, "high levels of triclosan can affect thyroid hormones and cause germs to grow."
• This one makes my skin crawl, which is why all Irene Organics products are free from parabens. So many skincare and cosmetic products contain parabens, even hair products! According to the FDA, "There have been several studies that claim parabens can cause breast and skin cancer as well as a decrease in sperm count."
• Formaldehyde is a strong chemical used in a lot of products on the shelves as well. This chemical can cause allergic reactions to your eyes or respiratory system.
• Did you know certain products have tested positive for talc and asbestos? especially in make-up. These are both cancer-causing chemicals that are unsafe for anyone to use.

 

4. Ditch the bra when you can.

Aside from the fact that bras are so uncomfortable, it’s not the best thing for your body either. This is to exclude nursing bras, which are made comfortable and baggy for different purposes. Normal bras aren’t the healthiest thing to lounge around in. It restricts blood flow to your breasts and your chest if you aren’t wearing the right size. Did you know that 8 out of 10 women aren’t even wearing the right bra size?! That’s according to a study done by www.nytimes.com.

According to the study, "the issue was not that people were simply wearing the incorrect size but that they often didn’t know how to check for the best fit." Women are going to be different sizes in different bras. "

So there’s a chance that you might even be wearing the right bra size despite it fitting comfortably, so ditch it when you can! #FreeTheNipple (LOL!)

  

5. Don’t neglect your nipples.

Caring for your nipples isn’t exclusive to just breastfeeding mothers; it can be for everyone! If your nipples are prone to cracking, dryness, and even chafing, it’s time to add our Lanolin Free Nipple Balm to your moisturizing routine. Taking care of your nipples can benefit your baby too if you are still breastfeeding. Also check out our Irene Organics Lactation Tea Set which includes a Nipple Balm, Mother's Milk Tea and Grade A Honey for you to enjoy and give your milk production a little boost!

  

6. Conduct a BSE (Breast Self Exam)

Knowing your own breasts is SO IMPORTANT, especially as you grow older. It’s the key to early prevention or diagnosis of illnesses such as breast cancer, tumors, and other changes in your breast.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month, so there’s no better time to start doing this than now. It wouldn’t hurt to spread the word either, so you can help other women be more aware of the importance of examining their breasts for any changes. If you aren’t a medical professional, self-examination can be tricky, so consult with your doctor and ask for their advice on what to look for or to report anything unusual.

Here’s a link to some tips on how you can examine yourself at home: https://www.breastcancer.org/screening-testing/breast-self-exam-bse this site is really helpful since it has images as well.

So there you have it, mamas. I wanted to write this blog post in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to celebrate the people who have survived breast cancer, those who are currently fighting breast cancer, and those who have passed away from breast cancer.

We owe it to them to better take care of ourselves and to seek help when we see early signs of these.