CLE Breastfeeding Education & Promotion 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which national organization publishes the primary policy statement recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months in the US?
- American Academy of Family Physicians
- American Academy of Pediatrics (Correct answer)
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- World Health Organization
Correct answer: American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issues the US breastfeeding policy statement recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.
Question 2: A mother asks why skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth is beneficial. What is the BEST evidence-based response?
- It prevents jaundice by stimulating bilirubin excretion
- It stabilizes the newborn's temperature, heart rate, and blood sugar while promoting milk transfer (Correct answer)
- It increases the mother's oxytocin enough to prevent postpartum hemorrhage
- It ensures the infant receives colostrum within the first hour
Correct answer: It stabilizes the newborn's temperature, heart rate, and blood sugar while promoting milk transfer
Skin-to-skin contact stabilizes neonatal temperature, respiration, heart rate, and blood glucose while promoting early breastfeeding initiation.
Question 3: Under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which practice is explicitly prohibited in the maternity facility?
- Rooming-in for 24 hours a day
- Giving pacifiers to healthy breastfed newborns routinely (Correct answer)
- Teaching mothers to recognize hunger cues
- Supporting mothers who choose not to breastfeed
Correct answer: Giving pacifiers to healthy breastfed newborns routinely
BFHI Step 9 prohibits the routine use of pacifiers or artificial nipples for breastfed infants.
Question 4: A community lactation educator is designing a program for a low-income urban population. Which strategy is MOST effective for increasing breastfeeding initiation rates?
- Distributing free formula samples as a backup
- Training peer counselors from within the community (Correct answer)
- Providing written pamphlets in English only
- Offering evening-only classes for working mothers
Correct answer: Training peer counselors from within the community
Peer counseling programs using trained mothers from the same community are among the most effective interventions for increasing breastfeeding rates in low-income populations.
Question 5: Which Healthy People 2030 breastfeeding objective specifically addresses duration?
- Increase the proportion of infants who are ever breastfed to 90%
- Increase the proportion of infants breastfed at 12 months to 54.1% (Correct answer)
- Reduce the proportion of infants given formula in the first 2 days of life
- Increase breastfeeding support resources in all US hospitals
Correct answer: Increase the proportion of infants breastfed at 12 months to 54.1%
Healthy People 2030 includes a target of 54.1% of infants still breastfeeding at 12 months.
Question 6: A CLE is presenting at a prenatal class and wants to discuss the economic benefits of breastfeeding. Which statement is MOST accurate?
- Formula costs approximately $500 more per year than breastfeeding supplies
- Breastfeeding families save an estimated $1,200–$1,500 or more in formula costs in the first year (Correct answer)
- Health insurance fully covers formula for all families, eliminating cost differences
- Breastfeeding equipment costs offset most of the savings compared to formula
Correct answer: Breastfeeding families save an estimated $1,200–$1,500 or more in formula costs in the first year
Families who breastfeed exclusively can save $1,200–$1,500 or more annually by avoiding formula costs.
Question 7: Which approach best describes the role of a Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) compared to an IBCLC?
- CLEs manage complex clinical cases while IBCLCs focus on education
- CLEs provide breastfeeding education and basic support; IBCLCs manage complex clinical lactation problems (Correct answer)
- CLEs and IBCLCs have identical scopes of practice under US federal law
- CLEs are licensed health professionals while IBCLCs are certified educators
Correct answer: CLEs provide breastfeeding education and basic support; IBCLCs manage complex clinical lactation problems
CLEs focus on breastfeeding education and basic support for uncomplicated situations, whereas IBCLCs are credentialed to assess and manage complex clinical lactation issues.
CLE Breastfeeding Education & Promotion 2
Which national organization publishes the primary policy statement recommending exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months in the US?