Many people make a great fuss over breast care and recommend all sorts of potions and lotions. If your baby is latched correctly, you shouldn’t have any problems and breastfeeding will be painless.

Here are a few things to bear in mind:

• A daily shower with warm water is all the cleaning a mother needs
• Wash the breasts, not the nipples
• Avoid soap as this has a drying effect on the skin and also washes off the natural softeners
• Nipples should be kept dry
• Avoid soggy or wet breast pads
• Prevent cracked nipples by correctly latching and fixing the baby onto the breast
• Wear a comfortable bra