CERTIFIED BREASTFEEDING COUNSELOR PCE EXAM| | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026 UPDATE | GRADED A +
What is the normal weight loss for the infant during the first few days ? - ✔️5-7% in the first 24hrs and below 10% in the first week
How many calories does a lactating mom need ✔️Moms need approximately 500 extra calories/day when breastfeeding. Range is 1,800-2,700
with most mons consuming around 2,200
What type of supplement do most lactating vegans / bariatric patients take ? - ✔️supplement Vitamin B12
How much vitamin D does a baby need ? When do they need to be supplemented ? ✔️Babies need 400 IU of Vitamin D per day . They should be
supplemented if moms are deficient ; there is vitamin D in formula , so if they are being formula - fed they do NOT require additional vitamin D
supplementation .
What types of foods ( or diet ) should lactating moms consume ? ✔️Moms should consume a diet of normal foods - they should eat when
they're hungry and drink when they're thirsty . The MyPlate is a good example - 50 % carbs , 15 % protein , 20-30 % healthy fats
When would a Habermen feeder be indicated ? ✔️with Down's Syndrome or a Cleft Lip / Palate
What medications are contraindicated in breastfeeding mothers ? ✔️Antimetabolite drugs or chemotherapy , radioisotopes ( not IV contrast dye
) and illicit drugs
What is the Tail of Spence ? What are the symptoms ? How do you treat it ? ✔️The Tail of Spence refers to mammary gland tissue that extends
to the axillary area that is connected to the milk ducts . Symptoms include swollen armpits and even mastitis . Moms can apply cold compresses
to the area and take Motrin / Tylenol as needed for discomfort .
What happens to estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy and after birth ? - ✔️They increase during pregnancy and then decrease after
birth .
How many stages of the " Magic Hour " are there ? What are they ? ✔️There are nine stages of the " Magic Hour " or " Golden Hour , " they are :
1. Birth cry 2. Relaxation 3. Awakening 4. Activity 5. Rest 6. Crawling 7. Familiarization 8. Suckling 9. Sleep
What is the stomach size of the baby at birth ? - ✔️The baby's stomach is only the size of a marble , button or grape at birth . It can only hold 1-7
mL or 1-2 teaspoons at this time .
Standards of of practice for CBC - ✔️Help families define and achieve goals
-Problem solving : Assessment , plan , implementation , evaluation
-Education and counseling
-Professionalism
-Legal considerations
Where is the milk produced ? ✔️ANSWER- In the alveoli
How long after cessation of breast feeding does milk production ( involution ) stop ? - ✔️Approximately 40 days
What are the common signs of milk " let down " ? ✔️Tingling , warmth , fullness , dripping and contractions
How is preterm milk different than term milk ? - ✔️It is higher in protein and immune factors ( because the body KNOWS this is what the
preemie needs ! )
What component of breast milk is the most variable ? ✔️Lipids
What component of human milk is destroyed by freezing ? ✔️Macrophages
When is the side - lying position helpful ? ✔️In moms that are sleepy or have lacerations / repairs that put pressure and cause discomfort on the
perineal area
What position is centered around the infant attaching themselves to the breast ? - ✔️The laid back position ( aka the biological position )
When is the Australian / Saddle position helpful ? ✔️When moms are experiencing active let - down
What is the dancer hand ? ✔️Mom would have hand below the breast in a " U " shape ; this is good for infants who need good jaw support
What is the normal weight loss for the infant during the first few days ? - ✔️5-7% in the first 24hrs and below 10% in the first week
How many calories does a lactating mom need ✔️Moms need approximately 500 extra calories/day when breastfeeding. Range is 1,800-2,700
with most mons consuming around 2,200
What type of supplement do most lactating vegans / bariatric patients take ? - ✔️supplement Vitamin B12
How much vitamin D does a baby need ? When do they need to be supplemented ? ✔️Babies need 400 IU of Vitamin D per day . They should be
supplemented if moms are deficient ; there is vitamin D in formula , so if they are being formula - fed they do NOT require additional vitamin D
supplementation .
What types of foods ( or diet ) should lactating moms consume ? ✔️Moms should consume a diet of normal foods - they should eat when
they're hungry and drink when they're thirsty . The MyPlate is a good example - 50 % carbs , 15 % protein , 20-30 % healthy fats
When would a Habermen feeder be indicated ? ✔️with Down's Syndrome or a Cleft Lip / Palate
What medications are contraindicated in breastfeeding mothers ? ✔️Antimetabolite drugs or chemotherapy , radioisotopes ( not IV contrast dye
) and illicit drugs
What is the Tail of Spence ? What are the symptoms ? How do you treat it ? ✔️The Tail of Spence refers to mammary gland tissue that extends
to the axillary area that is connected to the milk ducts . Symptoms include swollen armpits and even mastitis . Moms can apply cold compresses
to the area and take Motrin / Tylenol as needed for discomfort .
What happens to estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy and after birth ? - ✔️They increase during pregnancy and then decrease after
birth .
How many stages of the " Magic Hour " are there ? What are they ? ✔️There are nine stages of the " Magic Hour " or " Golden Hour , " they are :
1. Birth cry 2. Relaxation 3. Awakening 4. Activity 5. Rest 6. Crawling 7. Familiarization 8. Suckling 9. Sleep
What is the stomach size of the baby at birth ? - ✔️The baby's stomach is only the size of a marble , button or grape at birth . It can only hold 1-7
mL or 1-2 teaspoons at this time .
Standards of of practice for CBC - ✔️Help families define and achieve goals
-Problem solving : Assessment , plan , implementation , evaluation
-Education and counseling
-Professionalism
-Legal considerations
Where is the milk produced ? ✔️ANSWER- In the alveoli
How long after cessation of breast feeding does milk production ( involution ) stop ? - ✔️Approximately 40 days
What are the common signs of milk " let down " ? ✔️Tingling , warmth , fullness , dripping and contractions
How is preterm milk different than term milk ? - ✔️It is higher in protein and immune factors ( because the body KNOWS this is what the
preemie needs ! )
What component of breast milk is the most variable ? ✔️Lipids
What component of human milk is destroyed by freezing ? ✔️Macrophages
When is the side - lying position helpful ? ✔️In moms that are sleepy or have lacerations / repairs that put pressure and cause discomfort on the
perineal area
What position is centered around the infant attaching themselves to the breast ? - ✔️The laid back position ( aka the biological position )
When is the Australian / Saddle position helpful ? ✔️When moms are experiencing active let - down
What is the dancer hand ? ✔️Mom would have hand below the breast in a " U " shape ; this is good for infants who need good jaw support
