IBCLC Trivia 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Colostrum is the first milk produced after birth. Which of the following best characterizes it?
- High in fat and carbohydrates, thin and white in color
- Low in volume, high in immunoglobulins and protein, yellowish in color (Correct answer)
- High in lactose, watery and bluish in appearance
- Equal in composition to mature milk but produced in smaller amounts
Correct answer: Low in volume, high in immunoglobulins and protein, yellowish in color
Colostrum is a small-volume, concentrated fluid rich in secretory IgA, leukocytes, and protein, typically yellow to orange in color due to beta-carotene.
Question 2: What does 'paced bottle feeding' aim to accomplish?
- Increase the speed of bottle feeding to match breastfeeding pace
- Mimic breastfeeding by allowing the infant to control the flow and take breaks (Correct answer)
- Reduce the volume of milk given at each feeding
- Prevent gas by tilting the bottle at a steep angle
Correct answer: Mimic breastfeeding by allowing the infant to control the flow and take breaks
Paced bottle feeding positions the bottle horizontally and allows the infant to pull milk in bursts with pauses, mimicking the work of breastfeeding and supporting flow preference.
Question 3: Mastitis is most commonly caused by which organism?
- Streptococcus pyogenes
- Staphylococcus aureus (Correct answer)
- Escherichia coli
- Candida albicans
Correct answer: Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) is the most frequently identified pathogen in lactational mastitis.
Question 4: The 'foremilk' versus 'hindmilk' distinction refers to which characteristic of breast milk?
- The difference between colostrum and transitional milk
- The variation in fat content across a single feeding, with later milk being higher in fat (Correct answer)
- The milk produced in the right versus left breast
- Morning milk compared to evening milk composition
Correct answer: The variation in fat content across a single feeding, with later milk being higher in fat
Fat content rises progressively during a feeding as fat globules dislodged from alveoli move toward the nipple; the higher-fat milk toward the end of a feeding is called hindmilk.
Question 5: A mother reports white patches in her infant's mouth that cannot be wiped away easily. What condition is most likely present?
- Epstein pearls
- Milk residue
- Oral thrush (candidiasis) (Correct answer)
- Bednar aphthae
Correct answer: Oral thrush (candidiasis)
Oral thrush caused by Candida albicans presents as white plaques on the buccal mucosa, tongue, and palate that firmly adhere and bleed when scraped.
Question 6: How many weeks postpartum does the WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding continue?
- 13 weeks (about 3 months)
- 17 weeks (about 4 months)
- 26 weeks (about 6 months) (Correct answer)
- 52 weeks (about 12 months)
Correct answer: 26 weeks (about 6 months)
WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months (approximately 26 weeks) of life before introducing complementary foods.
Question 7: Which reflex causes an infant to open the mouth wide and turn toward a stimulus touching the cheek or corner of the mouth?
- Suck reflex
- Rooting reflex (Correct answer)
- Palmar grasp reflex
- Babinski reflex
Correct answer: Rooting reflex
The rooting reflex helps the infant locate the nipple by turning the head and opening the mouth when the cheek or perioral area is touched.
IBCLC Trivia 3
Colostrum is the first milk produced after birth.
Which of the following best characterizes it?