CBC Breastfeeding Support & Lactation Flashcards

A breast counselor notices an infant has a short lingual frenulum limiting tongue movement during feeding. This condition is called:

Answer: Ankyloglossia

Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie) restricts the tongue's range of motion and is a common cause of ineffective latch and poor milk transfer.

Which of the following is a key indicator that a newborn is transferring sufficient milk during a breastfeeding session?

Answer: Audible swallowing and active suckling pattern

Audible swallowing combined with nutritive suckling (suck-swallow-breathe rhythm) confirms effective milk transfer.

Mastitis is best defined as:

Answer: Inflammatory condition of the breast, often with infection

Mastitis involves breast inflammation, frequently caused by bacterial infection (commonly Staphylococcus aureus), and presents with redness, warmth, pain, and fever.

When counseling a mother with mastitis, continuing breastfeeding on the affected side is generally recommended because:

Answer: Emptying the breast prevents abscess formation and maintains milk supply

Continued breastfeeding or milk expression from the affected breast helps drain the obstruction, reducing abscess risk and protecting long-term supply.

Which vitamin is synthesized in the skin via sunlight and is commonly LOW in exclusively breastfed infants in the US, requiring supplementation?

Answer: Vitamin D

Breast milk contains minimal vitamin D, so the AAP recommends 400 IU/day of vitamin D supplementation for all breastfed infants.

A breast counselor is supporting a mother who wants to resume breastfeeding after an interruption. This practice is called:

Answer: Relactation

Relactation refers to rebuilding or reestablishing milk production in a mother who has previously breastfed and then stopped.