IBCLC 2025 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
UPDATED IN 2026
A mother with epilepsy wants to breastfeed her third baby, after formula-
feeding her first two. Which aspect of breastfeeding should you spend MOST
time discussing with her? - ANSWER>>>Increased infant alertness
Breastfed infants are more alert and responsive compared to formula-fed
babies
mother kept her 4-year-old daughter and 7-month-old baby alive while
snowbound in
their car 9 days. Which component of breastmilk at this stage was HIGHER
than at previous
stages of lactation? - ANSWER>>>Lysozyme
Lysozyme increases over the early months of lactation and is
higher at
3 months than 1 month.
A first-time mother and her 5-day-old infant called you for help. The baby is
neither voiding
, nor stooling regularly and appears yellow. While the mother's breasts
were engorged, all attempts at latching the baby onto the breast
failed. She expressed 2 oz of milk total (60 ml).
What is the NEXT action she should take? - ANSWER>>>Place the baby
skin-to-skin on her chest, and see if he will self-attach.
You are helping a mother 3 days after a surgical procedure to drain a
breast abscess. Her
breast is firm and milk is leaking from the incision, which is on the lateral
side of the breast near her chest wall. What is the FIRST action she
should take? - ANSWER>>>Put the baby to breast on the affected side to
relieve milk stasis.
How many stages are described in
Tanner's phases of breast development? - ANSWER >>>Five
A pregnant woman with many allergies asks about
infant feeding. Your BEST
response is: - ANSWER>>>A baby is never allergic to its mothers' milk, but
he may be sensitive to foods in the mother's diet.
A breastfeeding mother is also pregnant. She
asks the lactation consultant if she needs special
dietary considerations to "eat for three" while
she's pregnant.
Which suggestion is irrelevant? - ANSWER >>>Double your
protein intake.
A cesarean birth is more likely to affect breastfeeding in
all of the following ways EXCEPT: - ANSWER>>>delayed
lactogenesis II.?
It WILL cause: increased maternal pain.
b. a need for maternal medications, more separation of mother and infant
Pooling or collection of fluid between
the skin and cranial bones of the infant's
head is called: - ANSWER >>>caput succedaneum.
UPDATED IN 2026
A mother with epilepsy wants to breastfeed her third baby, after formula-
feeding her first two. Which aspect of breastfeeding should you spend MOST
time discussing with her? - ANSWER>>>Increased infant alertness
Breastfed infants are more alert and responsive compared to formula-fed
babies
mother kept her 4-year-old daughter and 7-month-old baby alive while
snowbound in
their car 9 days. Which component of breastmilk at this stage was HIGHER
than at previous
stages of lactation? - ANSWER>>>Lysozyme
Lysozyme increases over the early months of lactation and is
higher at
3 months than 1 month.
A first-time mother and her 5-day-old infant called you for help. The baby is
neither voiding
, nor stooling regularly and appears yellow. While the mother's breasts
were engorged, all attempts at latching the baby onto the breast
failed. She expressed 2 oz of milk total (60 ml).
What is the NEXT action she should take? - ANSWER>>>Place the baby
skin-to-skin on her chest, and see if he will self-attach.
You are helping a mother 3 days after a surgical procedure to drain a
breast abscess. Her
breast is firm and milk is leaking from the incision, which is on the lateral
side of the breast near her chest wall. What is the FIRST action she
should take? - ANSWER>>>Put the baby to breast on the affected side to
relieve milk stasis.
How many stages are described in
Tanner's phases of breast development? - ANSWER >>>Five
A pregnant woman with many allergies asks about
infant feeding. Your BEST
response is: - ANSWER>>>A baby is never allergic to its mothers' milk, but
he may be sensitive to foods in the mother's diet.
A breastfeeding mother is also pregnant. She
asks the lactation consultant if she needs special
dietary considerations to "eat for three" while
she's pregnant.
Which suggestion is irrelevant? - ANSWER >>>Double your
protein intake.
A cesarean birth is more likely to affect breastfeeding in
all of the following ways EXCEPT: - ANSWER>>>delayed
lactogenesis II.?
It WILL cause: increased maternal pain.
b. a need for maternal medications, more separation of mother and infant
Pooling or collection of fluid between
the skin and cranial bones of the infant's
head is called: - ANSWER >>>caput succedaneum.
