CLC CERTIFIED LACTATION COUNSELOR
BOARD EVALUATION 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ How can Pitocin impact feeding? Answer: -May result in less
oxytocin release in the first 2 days
-lower APGAR scores
-Increases need for more skin to skin time (2 hours)
⩥ What 9 stages do babies go through during the first hour after birth?
Answer: Birth Cry
Relaxation
Awakening
Activity
Rest
Crawling/Sliding (35 min after birth)
Familiarization (40 min after birth)
Suckling (60 min after birth)
Sleeping(1.5-2 hours after birth)
⩥ If you are going to introduce the 10 steps in your hospital... what step
should you start on?. Answer: Step 4: Skin to Skin (S2S) within the first
hour
,⩥ What are some advantages of skin to skin (S2S)?. Answer: -Decreased
rate of postpartum hemorrhage
-Faster expulsion of the placenta
-Correct suckling
-Less crying, more calm
-Warmth (Babies are warmer)
-Less separation
-Improved BF
⩥ What does exposure to the mother's odor do for a baby?. Answer: -
facilitate baby's adaption
-attract and guide newborns to the food source
-calm newborns during painful procedures
⩥ What states are best to initiate feedings?. Answer: -Light Sleep
-Quiet Alert
-Active Alert (may be difficult!)
⩥ What are some common feeding cues?. Answer: -rooting
-hand to mouth
-mouthing/sucking motions
,-REM
-body movements
⩥ What happens when cues are missed?. Answer: -infants fret
-sleep at the breast
⩥ What's the solution for when feeding cues are missed?. Answer: S2S
and re-teach feeding cues
⩥ Describe the optimal position for baby while breast feeding?. Answer:
-Baby tummy to tummy or chest to breast
-Hips flexed
-Shoulders and hips should align
-Arms and hands around the breast
⩥ What are the hallmarks of a good latch?. Answer: -Nose opposite
nipple to start
-Baby opens mouth wide
-Room for Baby's head to tilt as he moves closure to mother's breast
-Nipple fills the upper half of the mouth
-Angle of mouth opening greater than 140 degrees
-Top and bottom lip sealed
-Rounded cheek line
, -2:1 or 1:1 ratio
-Asymmetric latch
-Rocker jaw motion
⩥ What are some hallmarks of a satisfied feeding?. Answer: -Baby
released nipple
-Soft, relaxed body tone, relaxed hands
-Nipple similar to pre-feeding shape
⩥ What does a suck-suck-suck-suck-suck-suck-swallow pattern that
occurs throughout an entire feed indicate?. Answer: Baby is not getting
enough milk. Needing to suck a lot to get enough milk to create a bolus.
⩥ Where do we see motion when Baby is sucking in a rocker motion?.
Answer: Closer to the cheek/ear
⩥ How can you tell when a Baby might want to continue to feed?.
Answer: If you notice tenseness in the Baby's body. (E.g. 1 arm is in a
fist, other relaxed. OR both in a fist)
⩥ What can happen if the latch is not good?. Answer: Pain in the nipple
⩥ Do CLC's assess tongue tie?. Answer: No. Assess and give
suggestions to optimize latch. Then refer onward for diagnosis.
BOARD EVALUATION 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ How can Pitocin impact feeding? Answer: -May result in less
oxytocin release in the first 2 days
-lower APGAR scores
-Increases need for more skin to skin time (2 hours)
⩥ What 9 stages do babies go through during the first hour after birth?
Answer: Birth Cry
Relaxation
Awakening
Activity
Rest
Crawling/Sliding (35 min after birth)
Familiarization (40 min after birth)
Suckling (60 min after birth)
Sleeping(1.5-2 hours after birth)
⩥ If you are going to introduce the 10 steps in your hospital... what step
should you start on?. Answer: Step 4: Skin to Skin (S2S) within the first
hour
,⩥ What are some advantages of skin to skin (S2S)?. Answer: -Decreased
rate of postpartum hemorrhage
-Faster expulsion of the placenta
-Correct suckling
-Less crying, more calm
-Warmth (Babies are warmer)
-Less separation
-Improved BF
⩥ What does exposure to the mother's odor do for a baby?. Answer: -
facilitate baby's adaption
-attract and guide newborns to the food source
-calm newborns during painful procedures
⩥ What states are best to initiate feedings?. Answer: -Light Sleep
-Quiet Alert
-Active Alert (may be difficult!)
⩥ What are some common feeding cues?. Answer: -rooting
-hand to mouth
-mouthing/sucking motions
,-REM
-body movements
⩥ What happens when cues are missed?. Answer: -infants fret
-sleep at the breast
⩥ What's the solution for when feeding cues are missed?. Answer: S2S
and re-teach feeding cues
⩥ Describe the optimal position for baby while breast feeding?. Answer:
-Baby tummy to tummy or chest to breast
-Hips flexed
-Shoulders and hips should align
-Arms and hands around the breast
⩥ What are the hallmarks of a good latch?. Answer: -Nose opposite
nipple to start
-Baby opens mouth wide
-Room for Baby's head to tilt as he moves closure to mother's breast
-Nipple fills the upper half of the mouth
-Angle of mouth opening greater than 140 degrees
-Top and bottom lip sealed
-Rounded cheek line
, -2:1 or 1:1 ratio
-Asymmetric latch
-Rocker jaw motion
⩥ What are some hallmarks of a satisfied feeding?. Answer: -Baby
released nipple
-Soft, relaxed body tone, relaxed hands
-Nipple similar to pre-feeding shape
⩥ What does a suck-suck-suck-suck-suck-suck-swallow pattern that
occurs throughout an entire feed indicate?. Answer: Baby is not getting
enough milk. Needing to suck a lot to get enough milk to create a bolus.
⩥ Where do we see motion when Baby is sucking in a rocker motion?.
Answer: Closer to the cheek/ear
⩥ How can you tell when a Baby might want to continue to feed?.
Answer: If you notice tenseness in the Baby's body. (E.g. 1 arm is in a
fist, other relaxed. OR both in a fist)
⩥ What can happen if the latch is not good?. Answer: Pain in the nipple
⩥ Do CLC's assess tongue tie?. Answer: No. Assess and give
suggestions to optimize latch. Then refer onward for diagnosis.
