1 | Page
Certified Lactation Counselor
Questions and Answers Latest 2026
Predominant Breastfeeding Ans: Babies who receive
breastmilk and other liquids (e.g. water, minerals,
vitamins, oral meds).
Breastfeeding Ans: Baby receives human milk, as well as
other foods or fluids, including formula.
Complementary Feeding Ans: Process starts when BM
alone or infant formula alone is no longer sufficient to
meet nutritional requirements of infants, therefore other
foods or liquids are introduced. Typically child is
between 6-23 months
3 strategies for increasing BF initiation and duration Ans:
Promotion, Protection, Support
Promotion Ans: Focuses on advantages of BF on a
personal, community, country, or global level. BF to the
community.
Protection Ans: Focuses on government, manufacturer,
and social responsibility to assure BF ability to compete
with commercial interests.
Includes state, local, an national laws regarding BF.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Subsitutes
Ans: Addresses improper marketing practices by formula
companies. It is not currently a law in the US.
What does the International Code Prohibit? Ans:
Distributing free formula
Giving coupons for formula
What did the AAP resolution state in regards to the
International Code? Ans: No distributing formula,
discharge bags, industry written handouts.
Support Ans: Focuses on interaction of helpers with
family, as well as program development and
implementation.
10 steps to successful BF Ans: 1. Written BF policy. Skin
to Skin immediately after birth.
2. Train healthcare staff
3. Inform pregnant women about benefits and
management of BF
4. Help all mothers initiate BF within 1 hour after birth
5. Show mother's how to BF and maintain lactation
6. Exclusive breast milk only
7. Practice rooming in 24 hours a day
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
8. Encourage BF on demand
9. No artificial teats or pacifiers
10. Establishment of BF support groups
Healthcare staff responsibility for working with lactating
mothers include what? Ans: 1. Training
2. Minimum of 20 hours of training
3. 3 hours of competency verification
What are the indications for providing supplementation
other than breast milk? Ans: 1. Medical condition
2. Parents request after being informed of consequences
Protocol for calculating Baby's daily needs Ans: Baby's
weight x 2.5 (2.7 or 3.0 if Baby needs to catch up weight)
= daily ounces. PCP decides what the multiplier is!!!
What should be assessed 3-5 days after birth by PCP?
Ans: Hydration (elimination patterns)
Body weight (no more than 7% loss)
Observe Feeding
Maternal or infant issues
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
What is a CLC? Ans: Nationally recognized designation
awarded by the ALPP. Practice parameters are designated
by professional scope of practice.
How many stools per day should a breast fed newborn
have? Ans: 4, some yellow by day 4.
When should a baby be back to birth weight? Ans: 12-14
days post birth
How much weight should a baby gain daily? Ans:
Approximately 1 ounce
Why do women supplement with formula when there is
no medical need? Ans: 1. Lack of preparation for what
the newborn period would be like.
2. Lack of timely interventions
Alveoli Ans: Small glands in the breast that produce milk
At-Breast Supplementer Ans: a device that allows a
supplement to be given while a baby is actively nursing at
the breast,
ex: Supplement Nursing System
Atopy Ans: hypersensitive or allergic state involving an
inherited predisposition
What is the BFHI Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Ans:
Initiative by UNICEF and WHO (1991) to support
© 2025 All rights reserved
Certified Lactation Counselor
Questions and Answers Latest 2026
Predominant Breastfeeding Ans: Babies who receive
breastmilk and other liquids (e.g. water, minerals,
vitamins, oral meds).
Breastfeeding Ans: Baby receives human milk, as well as
other foods or fluids, including formula.
Complementary Feeding Ans: Process starts when BM
alone or infant formula alone is no longer sufficient to
meet nutritional requirements of infants, therefore other
foods or liquids are introduced. Typically child is
between 6-23 months
3 strategies for increasing BF initiation and duration Ans:
Promotion, Protection, Support
Promotion Ans: Focuses on advantages of BF on a
personal, community, country, or global level. BF to the
community.
Protection Ans: Focuses on government, manufacturer,
and social responsibility to assure BF ability to compete
with commercial interests.
Includes state, local, an national laws regarding BF.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Subsitutes
Ans: Addresses improper marketing practices by formula
companies. It is not currently a law in the US.
What does the International Code Prohibit? Ans:
Distributing free formula
Giving coupons for formula
What did the AAP resolution state in regards to the
International Code? Ans: No distributing formula,
discharge bags, industry written handouts.
Support Ans: Focuses on interaction of helpers with
family, as well as program development and
implementation.
10 steps to successful BF Ans: 1. Written BF policy. Skin
to Skin immediately after birth.
2. Train healthcare staff
3. Inform pregnant women about benefits and
management of BF
4. Help all mothers initiate BF within 1 hour after birth
5. Show mother's how to BF and maintain lactation
6. Exclusive breast milk only
7. Practice rooming in 24 hours a day
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
8. Encourage BF on demand
9. No artificial teats or pacifiers
10. Establishment of BF support groups
Healthcare staff responsibility for working with lactating
mothers include what? Ans: 1. Training
2. Minimum of 20 hours of training
3. 3 hours of competency verification
What are the indications for providing supplementation
other than breast milk? Ans: 1. Medical condition
2. Parents request after being informed of consequences
Protocol for calculating Baby's daily needs Ans: Baby's
weight x 2.5 (2.7 or 3.0 if Baby needs to catch up weight)
= daily ounces. PCP decides what the multiplier is!!!
What should be assessed 3-5 days after birth by PCP?
Ans: Hydration (elimination patterns)
Body weight (no more than 7% loss)
Observe Feeding
Maternal or infant issues
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
What is a CLC? Ans: Nationally recognized designation
awarded by the ALPP. Practice parameters are designated
by professional scope of practice.
How many stools per day should a breast fed newborn
have? Ans: 4, some yellow by day 4.
When should a baby be back to birth weight? Ans: 12-14
days post birth
How much weight should a baby gain daily? Ans:
Approximately 1 ounce
Why do women supplement with formula when there is
no medical need? Ans: 1. Lack of preparation for what
the newborn period would be like.
2. Lack of timely interventions
Alveoli Ans: Small glands in the breast that produce milk
At-Breast Supplementer Ans: a device that allows a
supplement to be given while a baby is actively nursing at
the breast,
ex: Supplement Nursing System
Atopy Ans: hypersensitive or allergic state involving an
inherited predisposition
What is the BFHI Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Ans:
Initiative by UNICEF and WHO (1991) to support
© 2025 All rights reserved
