IBCLC 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔What are supplements/medications that INCREASE milk supply called -
✔✔galactagogues
✔✔T or F : Nicotine and tobacco use are reasons to withhold breastfeeding - ✔✔False,
instead support harm reduction
✔✔T or F : Most vaccines are safe during lactation - ✔✔True
✔✔T or F : Live vaccines do NOT transfer into milk in harmful amounts - ✔✔True
✔✔What is the number 1 recommended way to enhance infant immunity? -
✔✔Breastfeeding
✔✔What category of infants are most at risk for drug exposure through breastmilk? -
✔✔preterm infants due to immature liver/kidneys
✔✔How much caffeine is a safe amount to drink while lactating? - ✔✔less than 300 mg
(2-3 cups)/day
✔✔How long should you wait to breastfeed after ingesting alcohol - ✔✔2-3 hours per
drink
✔✔T or F : Maternal stress and depression can negatively affect feeding outcomes -
✔✔True
✔✔Name three ways to strengthen attachment and bonding between mothers and
babies - ✔✔1. breastfeeding
2. skin to skin
3. responsive care giving
✔✔Name five influences to health outcomes - ✔✔1. income
2. education
3. race
4. housing
5. access to care
✔✔T or F : Breastfeeding is an evolutionary trait tied to infant survival and maternal-
child bonding - ✔✔True
✔✔On what scale do feeding beliefs and behaviors differ? - ✔✔globally
✔✔Name three ways to build trust with a client - ✔✔1. active listening
, 2. nonjudgmental communication
3. cultural humility
✔✔Name the three major duties of an IBCLC - ✔✔1. support of lactation
2. Providing evidence-based care
3. referring to mental health or medical professionals as needed
✔✔What can you always count on being the first correct step in normal breastfeeding? -
✔✔skin to skin
✔✔what are three signs of a good latch? - ✔✔1. wide, asymmetric jaw (jaw > 90
degrees)
2. tummy-mummy alignment
3. ear-shoulder-hip in a straight line
✔✔How many feeds should an infant have per day? - ✔✔8-12
✔✔How many wet diapers and stools should an infant have per day? - ✔✔6 or more
wets, 3 or more stools by day 5
✔✔what does normal infant stool look like - ✔✔yellow, thin, and seedy
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with a preterm infant? -
✔✔Protecting milk supply, skin to skin, cup feeding, and the transition to the breast
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with a tongue tie? - ✔✔various
positions, protect nipples, refer as needed
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with cleft lip? - ✔✔various
positions - use breast to fill lip/finger over lip
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with a high palate? -
✔✔protect milk supply, laid back position, use special feeders, refer as needed
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with torticollis? - ✔✔various
positions to achieve comfortable and deep latch, refer baby to body work as needed
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with down syndrome -
✔✔dancer/koala hold
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on flat or inverted nipples? -
✔✔nipple shaping, laid back position, nipple shield (last resort)
✔✔What are supplements/medications that INCREASE milk supply called -
✔✔galactagogues
✔✔T or F : Nicotine and tobacco use are reasons to withhold breastfeeding - ✔✔False,
instead support harm reduction
✔✔T or F : Most vaccines are safe during lactation - ✔✔True
✔✔T or F : Live vaccines do NOT transfer into milk in harmful amounts - ✔✔True
✔✔What is the number 1 recommended way to enhance infant immunity? -
✔✔Breastfeeding
✔✔What category of infants are most at risk for drug exposure through breastmilk? -
✔✔preterm infants due to immature liver/kidneys
✔✔How much caffeine is a safe amount to drink while lactating? - ✔✔less than 300 mg
(2-3 cups)/day
✔✔How long should you wait to breastfeed after ingesting alcohol - ✔✔2-3 hours per
drink
✔✔T or F : Maternal stress and depression can negatively affect feeding outcomes -
✔✔True
✔✔Name three ways to strengthen attachment and bonding between mothers and
babies - ✔✔1. breastfeeding
2. skin to skin
3. responsive care giving
✔✔Name five influences to health outcomes - ✔✔1. income
2. education
3. race
4. housing
5. access to care
✔✔T or F : Breastfeeding is an evolutionary trait tied to infant survival and maternal-
child bonding - ✔✔True
✔✔On what scale do feeding beliefs and behaviors differ? - ✔✔globally
✔✔Name three ways to build trust with a client - ✔✔1. active listening
, 2. nonjudgmental communication
3. cultural humility
✔✔Name the three major duties of an IBCLC - ✔✔1. support of lactation
2. Providing evidence-based care
3. referring to mental health or medical professionals as needed
✔✔What can you always count on being the first correct step in normal breastfeeding? -
✔✔skin to skin
✔✔what are three signs of a good latch? - ✔✔1. wide, asymmetric jaw (jaw > 90
degrees)
2. tummy-mummy alignment
3. ear-shoulder-hip in a straight line
✔✔How many feeds should an infant have per day? - ✔✔8-12
✔✔How many wet diapers and stools should an infant have per day? - ✔✔6 or more
wets, 3 or more stools by day 5
✔✔what does normal infant stool look like - ✔✔yellow, thin, and seedy
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with a preterm infant? -
✔✔Protecting milk supply, skin to skin, cup feeding, and the transition to the breast
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with a tongue tie? - ✔✔various
positions, protect nipples, refer as needed
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with cleft lip? - ✔✔various
positions - use breast to fill lip/finger over lip
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with a high palate? -
✔✔protect milk supply, laid back position, use special feeders, refer as needed
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with torticollis? - ✔✔various
positions to achieve comfortable and deep latch, refer baby to body work as needed
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on with down syndrome -
✔✔dancer/koala hold
✔✔What are the main interventions you should focus on flat or inverted nipples? -
✔✔nipple shaping, laid back position, nipple shield (last resort)
