All shapes and sizes of breast make milk and almost all women can breastfeed, but sometimes it needs a while to get it right. Ask your midwife, health visitor or doctor for help if you need it. Even if you had problems feeding your first baby, try again with your second. You are likely to find it much easier the second time around.

Babies need lots of attention apart from feeding, such as cuddling, bathing, nappy changing, entertaining and taking out for walks. Later on, when your breastfeeding routine is well established, you can express and store your milk so that another carer can give a bottle of breast milk if you want to go out alone, with another child or with your partner.

If your baby is suckling well, feeding 8-12 times per 24 hours and emptying each breast, seems happy, healthy and content, is active and alert when awake and is content after a feed, he is almost certainly getting enough milk. Another good sign is around 8 wet nappies every 24 hours. If you're worried, ask your midwife or health visitor to make sure all is well. You can also take him to the local clinic to be weighed.

The more you can be with your baby for the first 4 months, the better for both of you, as the early weeks at home are when your milk does most good. Even when you return to work, you can continue to breastfeed your baby in the morning, in the evening and at weekends and in between he can have bottles of your expressed milk. The Philips AVENT Breast Pump comes with full detailed instructions on how to express and store your breast milk and is very easy and comfortable to use. The Philips AVENT Bottle and Newborn Teat were specially designed to imitate the way your breast works so your baby will switch easily between the two.

Breastfeeding for the first six months gives your baby an excellent start in life. After six months your baby will probably be ready to start solids as well. You can go on breastfeeding your baby for as long as you and he want to. Ordinary milk is not recommended for the first year, so if you stop breastfeeding or giving expressed breast milk, you should use powdered milk, also known as infant formula.

One in ten women suffers from one or two flat or inverted nipples. If your nipples normally come out when you are feeling cold or sexy or if they respond to the pinch test, you shouldn't have a problem breastfeeding.

Pinch the area around your nipple between your finger and thumb. If the nipple comes out you should be fine - provided your baby is positioned correctly at the breast, his suckling action should pull the nipple out. If, however, you do have a problem getting breastfeeding established, you can use the Philips AVENT Niplette for the first few days for a few minutes before each feed to draw the nipple out before you position your baby at the breast.

The Philips AVENT Niplette can also be used before pregnancy or in the early stages, if your breasts are not too sore, to permanently cure flat or inverted nipples.

When your milk 'comes in' (see How to breastfeed), your breasts may become hard and uncomfortable. Breastfeed your baby as often as possible and if necessary express a little milk with your Philips AVENT Breast Pump before a feed if you need to soften the breast to allow him to latch on. The swelling can be reduced by applying ice cold flannels or ice packs from the fridge.

Feed your baby long enough to remove the swelling and lumpiness and in between use Philips AVENT Breast Shells inside your bra. Their gentle pressure will help relieve the engorgement and collect leaking milk.

If your breasts become very full and uncomfortable between feeds and you really don't want to wake your baby, use your Philips AVENT Pump to express your milk. You will be able to use it to build up your own breast milk store.

Embarrassing leakage between feeds can be overcome by using Philips AVENT Washable or Disposable Breast Pads. The washable pads are made of 100% cotton and are machine washable and dryable.

The disposable pads are made of soft cotton with a leak-proof liner that draws the moisture away from your breasts and stops your clothes from staining. Remember to change pads frequently to avoid getting sore nipples.

If your baby is correctly positioned at the breast from the beginning, you should not get sore or cracked nipples. Squeezing a drop or two of your milk onto your nipples at the end of the feed and spreading it around the areola can help. Make sure you keep your nipples dry and change breast pads frequently.