CLC - Certified Lactation Counselor Common Breastfeeding Challenges Questions and Answers

Question 1

A new mother calls a lactation counselor on day four postpartum, reporting that her breasts are hard, warm, and painful.
She says her baby is having trouble latching because her nipples are flat.
Which of the following is the most likely cause of these symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Engorgement

Answer

Mastitis

Answer

Plugged duct

Answer

Normal lactogenesis II

Question 2

Which of the following is the MOST reliable indicator that a one-week-old, exclusively breastfed infant is getting enough milk?

Accepted Answer

The infant has at least six wet diapers and several yellow, seedy stools per day.

Answer

The mother's breasts feel soft after feedings.

Answer

The infant nurses for 20 minutes on each side at every feeding.

Answer

The infant appears content and sleeps for three hours between feedings.

Question 3

A breastfeeding mother presents with a painful, cracked nipple on one side. She states the pain is sharp and occurs throughout the feeding. What is the MOST important initial intervention for the lactation counselor to take?

Accepted Answer

Assess the infant's latch and the mother's positioning.

Answer

Recommend applying a hydrogel pad for pain relief.

Answer

Suggest the mother pump from the affected side until the nipple heals.

Answer

Advise the mother to apply expressed breast milk to the nipple after feedings.

Question 4

A client diagnosed with mastitis asks if she should continue to breastfeed her baby. What is the appropriate advice for a lactation counselor to provide?

Accepted Answer

She should continue to breastfeed frequently on both sides, ensuring the affected breast is drained well.

Answer

She should stop breastfeeding on the affected side but can continue on the unaffected side.

Answer

She must stop breastfeeding entirely and pump and discard the milk until the infection clears.

Answer

She should only breastfeed if she is not taking antibiotics for the infection.

Question 5

A mother is concerned about her milk supply because her 6-week-old infant has started nursing more frequently and seems fussy in the evenings. Her breasts also no longer feel as full as they did in the early weeks. What is the most likely explanation for this?

Accepted Answer

The infant is experiencing a normal growth spurt and cluster feeding.

Answer

A significant drop in her milk supply requiring supplementation.

Answer

The mother's diet is negatively impacting her milk production.

Answer

The infant is developing a preference for a bottle.

Question 6

An infant is having difficulty latching, makes a clicking sound while nursing, and the mother is experiencing nipple pain. The infant's mother notes a heart-shaped tip of the tongue when the baby cries. This presentation is most consistent with which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Ankyloglossia (tongue-tie)

Answer

Thrush (Candida albicans)

Answer

Cleft palate

Answer

Low milk supply

A new mother calls a lactation counselor on day four postpartum, reporting that her breasts are hard, warm, and painful.She says her baby is having trouble latching because her nipples are flat.Which of the following is the most likely cause of these symptoms?

A new mother calls a lactation counselor on day four postpartum, reporting that her breasts are hard, warm, and painful.
She says her baby is having trouble latching because her nipples are flat.
Which of the following is the most likely cause of these symptoms?