1|Page
Certified Lactation Counselor Exam
2026| Comprehensive Q&A For
Certification Success
Predominant Breastfeeding - correct-answer -Babies who receive breastmilk and
other liquids (e.g. water, minerals, vitamins, oral meds).
Breastfeeding - correct-answer -Baby receives human milk, as well as other foods
or fluids, including formula.
Complementary Feeding - correct-answer -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 - correct-answer -Promotion,
Protection, Support
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Promotion - correct-answer -Focuses on advantages of BF on a personal,
community, country, or global level. BF to the community.
Protection - correct-answer -Focuses on government, manufacturer, and social
responsibility to assure BF ability to compete with commercial interests.
Includes state, local, an national laws regarding BF.
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Subsitutes - correct-answer -
Addresses improper marketing practices by formula companies. It is not currently
a law in the US.
What does the International Code Prohibit? - correct-answer -Distributing free
formula
Giving coupons for formula
What did the AAP resolution state in regards to the International Code? - correct-
answer -No distributing formula, discharge bags, industry written handouts.
Support - correct-answer -Focuses on interaction of helpers with family, as well as
program development and implementation.
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10 steps to successful BF - correct-answer -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
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? -
correct-answer -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? -
correct-answer -1. Medical condition
2. Parents request after being informed of consequences
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Protocol for calculating Baby's daily needs - correct-answer -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? - correct-answer -Hydration
(elimination patterns)
Body weight (no more than 7% loss)
Observe Feeding
Maternal or infant issues
What is a CLC? - correct-answer -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? - correct-answer -4,
some yellow by day 4.
When should a baby be back to birth weight? - correct-answer -12-14 days post
birth
Certified Lactation Counselor Exam
2026| Comprehensive Q&A For
Certification Success
Predominant Breastfeeding - correct-answer -Babies who receive breastmilk and
other liquids (e.g. water, minerals, vitamins, oral meds).
Breastfeeding - correct-answer -Baby receives human milk, as well as other foods
or fluids, including formula.
Complementary Feeding - correct-answer -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 - correct-answer -Promotion,
Protection, Support
,2|Page
Promotion - correct-answer -Focuses on advantages of BF on a personal,
community, country, or global level. BF to the community.
Protection - correct-answer -Focuses on government, manufacturer, and social
responsibility to assure BF ability to compete with commercial interests.
Includes state, local, an national laws regarding BF.
International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Subsitutes - correct-answer -
Addresses improper marketing practices by formula companies. It is not currently
a law in the US.
What does the International Code Prohibit? - correct-answer -Distributing free
formula
Giving coupons for formula
What did the AAP resolution state in regards to the International Code? - correct-
answer -No distributing formula, discharge bags, industry written handouts.
Support - correct-answer -Focuses on interaction of helpers with family, as well as
program development and implementation.
,3|Page
10 steps to successful BF - correct-answer -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
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? -
correct-answer -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? -
correct-answer -1. Medical condition
2. Parents request after being informed of consequences
, 4|Page
Protocol for calculating Baby's daily needs - correct-answer -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? - correct-answer -Hydration
(elimination patterns)
Body weight (no more than 7% loss)
Observe Feeding
Maternal or infant issues
What is a CLC? - correct-answer -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? - correct-answer -4,
some yellow by day 4.
When should a baby be back to birth weight? - correct-answer -12-14 days post
birth
