Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing - The Carter Center

Inspection in the Shower
- It is easier to examine breast when hands are soapy.
- With your right hand behind your head, examine your right
breast with your left hand using a grid or circular motion
reverse the procedure to examine the other breast.
Inspection in a mirror
Stand in front of a mirror for further inspection
A. With arms at sides looks for
• Changes in size and shape of breasts
• Changes in skin dimpling, puckering, scaling,
redness, swelling
• Changes in nipple inversion, scaling, discharge from
nipples pointing in different directions.
B. Holding arms over the head, inspect closely in the mirror
for masses, breast symmetry, puckering.
C. Press hands firmly on hips, below slightly forward. Inspect
in mirror for lumps or pulling of the skin.
D. Each breast should be a mirror image of the other. If you
think you detect a lump in breast, check the other side to
see if it feels the same. If so this is undoubtedly normal
tissue. Examine using the circular or grid motion as in the
shower.
308