IBCLC - Certification Maternal Physiology and Anatomy Questions and Answers

Question 1

A primiparous client who delivered 48 hours ago is concerned that her milk has not yet "come in." She reports her breasts feel soft and she is only able to express small amounts of thick, yellowish fluid.
Which hormonal event is the primary trigger for the onset of copious milk secretion (Lactogenesis II)?

Accepted Answer

A sudden drop in progesterone levels following delivery of the placenta.

Answer

A sharp increase in estrogen levels immediately after birth.

Answer

The peak of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the first trimester.

Answer

A gradual decline in oxytocin levels in the first week postpartum.

Question 2

Which of the following correctly describes the function of the myoepithelial cells in the lactating breast?

Accepted Answer

They contract in response to oxytocin, squeezing milk from the alveoli into the ducts.

Answer

They synthesize the primary components of breast milk, such as lactose and protein.

Answer

They regulate milk production through a negative feedback loop involving FIL.

Answer

They are responsible for the development and branching of the lactiferous ducts during pregnancy.

Question 3

A mother is exclusively breastfeeding her 4-month-old infant and has not yet resumed menstruation. This phenomenon, known as lactational amenorrhea, is primarily caused by the hormonal effect of:

Accepted Answer

Prolactin suppressing the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

Answer

Oxytocin suppressing the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Answer

Estrogen levels remaining elevated postpartum, preventing ovulation.

Answer

Progesterone inhibiting the thickening of the uterine lining.

Question 4

A breastfeeding mother reports that her right breast feels overly full and is producing less milk than her left breast, which her baby drains effectively at each feeding. This unilateral decrease in milk production is best explained by the local action of which substance?

Accepted Answer

Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation (FIL)

Answer

Prolactin

Answer

Oxytocin

Answer

Progesterone

Question 5

During pregnancy, the breasts undergo significant development in preparation for lactation. Which hormone is primarily responsible for the proliferation and branching of the lactiferous ducts?

Accepted Answer

Estrogen

Answer

Prolactin

Answer

Oxytocin

Answer

Cortisol

Question 6

A new mother is having difficulty with the milk ejection reflex. She reports feeling stressed and anxious during feeding times. The inhibition of which hormone is the most likely physiological reason for her difficulty?

Accepted Answer

Oxytocin

Answer

Prolactin

Answer

Thyroxine

Answer

Insulin