ALPP CLC Exam Guide 2025
Certified Lactation Counselor
suboptimal breastfeeding
accounts for more than 3,340 maternal and child deaths a year, 80% are
maternal
nursing a baby for a year or more
decreases by 10-15% the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes,
hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease
women who do not breastfeed
are at greater risk for myocardial infarction and aspects of metabolic
syndrome; are at a greater risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer
WHO and UNICEF three strategies
for increased breastfeeding initiation and duration in every country:
promotion, protection, and support
breastfeeding promotion
focuses on advantages of breastfeeding on a personal, community, country,
or global level
,breastfeeding protection
focuses on government, manufacturer, and social responsibility to assure
breastfeeding's ability to compete with commercial interests; includes
addressing improper marketing practices; the AAP advices not to provide
formula, company gift bags, and industry-authored handouts; in the US, state
and local breastfeeding legislation addresses breastfeeding in public,
employment issues, jury duty, family law, mothers in prison, etc.
breastfeeding support
focuses on the interaction of "helpers" with family as well as program
development and implementation
community expertise
variety of community expertise is needed to promote, protect, and support
breastfeeding
International models
for integrating breastfeeding promotion, protection, and support as well as
balancing technical information, programs, and protocols
CLC
nationally recognized designation awarded by the ALPP to those who are
exam eligible and pass the exam; have competenct verified
,CLCs and IBCLCs
health professionals who provide lactation support
why is breastfeeding so difficult?
1. unrealistic expectations
2. lack of timely interventions
unrealistic expectations
lack of preparation for what the newborn period would look like
lack of timely interventions
mother's problems at 3 to 7 days posed as the greatest risk to stopping
breastfeeding trends
last 150 years or som rates have declined
international code of matketing of breastmilk substitutes (the code)
an international health policy framework to regulate the marketing of
breastmilk substitutes in order to protect breastfeeding
- published by the WHO in 1981
- internationally agreed voluntary code of practice
, - written in response to the marketing activities of the infant feeding
indurstry which were promoting formula feeding over breastfeeding, which in
turn was leading to dramatic increases in maternal and infant morbidity and
mortality
- subsequent clarifying and extending resolutions have been passed by the
world health assembly
the code
regulates the marketing of breastmilk substitutes which includes infant
formulas, follow-on formulas, and any other food or drink, together with
feeding bottles and teats, intended for babies and young children; sets
standards for the labeling and quality of products and for how the law should
be implemented and monitored within countries
restricting marketing
does not mean that the products cannot be made available, neither does it
restrict parents choice; it simply aims to make sure that their choices are
made based on full, impartial information, rather than misleading,
inaccurate, or biased marketing claims
the strategy
is intended as a guide for action
- it identifies interventions with a proven positive impact
- it emphasizes providing mothers and families the support they need to
carry out their crucial roles
- it explicitly defines the obligations and responsibilities in this regard of
governments, international organizations, and other concerned parties
Certified Lactation Counselor
suboptimal breastfeeding
accounts for more than 3,340 maternal and child deaths a year, 80% are
maternal
nursing a baby for a year or more
decreases by 10-15% the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes,
hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease
women who do not breastfeed
are at greater risk for myocardial infarction and aspects of metabolic
syndrome; are at a greater risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer
WHO and UNICEF three strategies
for increased breastfeeding initiation and duration in every country:
promotion, protection, and support
breastfeeding promotion
focuses on advantages of breastfeeding on a personal, community, country,
or global level
,breastfeeding protection
focuses on government, manufacturer, and social responsibility to assure
breastfeeding's ability to compete with commercial interests; includes
addressing improper marketing practices; the AAP advices not to provide
formula, company gift bags, and industry-authored handouts; in the US, state
and local breastfeeding legislation addresses breastfeeding in public,
employment issues, jury duty, family law, mothers in prison, etc.
breastfeeding support
focuses on the interaction of "helpers" with family as well as program
development and implementation
community expertise
variety of community expertise is needed to promote, protect, and support
breastfeeding
International models
for integrating breastfeeding promotion, protection, and support as well as
balancing technical information, programs, and protocols
CLC
nationally recognized designation awarded by the ALPP to those who are
exam eligible and pass the exam; have competenct verified
,CLCs and IBCLCs
health professionals who provide lactation support
why is breastfeeding so difficult?
1. unrealistic expectations
2. lack of timely interventions
unrealistic expectations
lack of preparation for what the newborn period would look like
lack of timely interventions
mother's problems at 3 to 7 days posed as the greatest risk to stopping
breastfeeding trends
last 150 years or som rates have declined
international code of matketing of breastmilk substitutes (the code)
an international health policy framework to regulate the marketing of
breastmilk substitutes in order to protect breastfeeding
- published by the WHO in 1981
- internationally agreed voluntary code of practice
, - written in response to the marketing activities of the infant feeding
indurstry which were promoting formula feeding over breastfeeding, which in
turn was leading to dramatic increases in maternal and infant morbidity and
mortality
- subsequent clarifying and extending resolutions have been passed by the
world health assembly
the code
regulates the marketing of breastmilk substitutes which includes infant
formulas, follow-on formulas, and any other food or drink, together with
feeding bottles and teats, intended for babies and young children; sets
standards for the labeling and quality of products and for how the law should
be implemented and monitored within countries
restricting marketing
does not mean that the products cannot be made available, neither does it
restrict parents choice; it simply aims to make sure that their choices are
made based on full, impartial information, rather than misleading,
inaccurate, or biased marketing claims
the strategy
is intended as a guide for action
- it identifies interventions with a proven positive impact
- it emphasizes providing mothers and families the support they need to
carry out their crucial roles
- it explicitly defines the obligations and responsibilities in this regard of
governments, international organizations, and other concerned parties
