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Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC) Exam
| Lactation Consulting, Breastfeeding
Medicine, Maternal-Child Health |
Multiple Choice Q&A | Verified Answers
Exam Structure:
Subject: Lactation Consulting (Certified Lactation Consultant - CLC)
Source: Certified Lactation Consultant Exam – Verified Answers
Format: Multiple Choice & Open-Ended Q&A
1. What are the two major hormones of lactation, and where are they
secreted from?
Correct Answer: Oxytocin and prolactin, from the pituitary gland.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland.
2. Oxytocin is secreted from the posterior pituitary gland.
3. Both hormones are essential for milk production and ejection.
4. Their release is triggered by nipple stimulation and infant suckling.
2. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for:
Correct Answer: Milk production.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin acts on alveolar cells to synthesize milk components.
2. Levels rise during pregnancy and peak after delivery.
3. Prolactin levels are highest during the first hour after birth.
4. Frequent nipple stimulation maintains prolactin receptor sensitivity.
3. What is the passage of prolactin being produced?
Correct Answer: Baby suckles → message to nervous system tells brain to
, 2|Page
secrete prolactin into blood → then travels into mother’s body into milk
cells where milk is produced.
Rationale:
1. Suckling stimulates afferent nerve fibers in the nipple and areola.
2. Signals travel to the hypothalamus and then to the anterior pituitary.
3. Prolactin is released into the bloodstream and reaches the breast.
4. Prolactin binds to receptors on alveolar cells to initiate milk synthesis.
4. When do humans have prolactin in them?
Correct Answer: All the time (non-pregnant, non-lactating breast and
nipples increase levels of prolactin when touched).
Rationale:
1. Prolactin is present in both males and females at low baseline levels.
2. Nipple stimulation increases prolactin even in non-lactating individuals.
3. Levels rise significantly during pregnancy and lactation.
4. Prolactin also has roles in immune function and reproduction.
5. Prolactin levels go ______ between nursing and ______ during nursing.
Correct Answer: down, rise.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin decreases between feedings as nipple stimulation ceases.
2. With each nursing session, prolactin levels increase.
3. The highest prolactin levels occur about 30 minutes after feeding begins.
4. This pattern supports ongoing milk production.
6. ______ nursing leads to lower levels of prolactin and less rise with the
same amount of contact.
Correct Answer: Infrequent.
Rationale:
1. Infrequent nursing reduces prolactin receptor sensitivity.
2. Prolactin levels may not rise as high with each feeding.
3. This can lead to decreased milk supply over time.
4. Frequent nursing (8-12 times/day) maintains prolactin responsiveness.
7. If infants do not have frequent times at breast the first few days,
prolactin will be ______ and receptor sites will ______.
Correct Answer: low, not be primed and start shutting down.
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Rationale:
1. Early frequent suckling establishes prolactin receptor sites.
2. Without stimulation, receptor sites may down-regulate.
3. This can lead to insufficient milk production.
4. The first few hours after birth are critical for setting prolactin receptors.
8. What is in the receptor site during pregnancy?
Correct Answer: Progesterone.
Rationale:
1. Progesterone occupies prolactin receptors during pregnancy.
2. This prevents full lactation until after delivery.
3. High progesterone levels inhibit milk production despite high prolactin.
4. This mechanism ensures milk is not produced until after birth.
9. When the placenta leaves the body, the body responds by pushing
______ out of the receptor sites.
Correct Answer: Progesterone.
Rationale:
1. Placental delivery causes a sharp drop in progesterone.
2. Progesterone withdrawal allows prolactin to bind to receptors.
3. This triggers secretory activation (Lactogenesis II).
4. Occurs approximately 30-40 hours after delivery.
10. When the placenta is delivered and progesterone leaves the
receptor sites, what goes inside to set the site for lactation?
Correct Answer: Prolactin.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin binds to vacated receptors on alveolar cells.
2. This initiates copious milk production.
3. The timing of this process is critical for establishing supply.
4. Delayed or insufficient prolactin binding can cause low milk supply.
11. If prolactin is not set during the first few hours after birth:
Correct Answer: There will be fewer receptor sites and cause issues with
milk supply.
Rationale:
1. Early suckling primes prolactin receptors.
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2. Fewer receptors mean less response to prolactin.
3. Milk production may be insufficient.
4. Early intervention (pumping, hand expression) can mitigate this.
12. Ongoing milk supply is associated with suckling within the first
______ hours after birth.
Correct Answer: 2 hours.
Rationale:
1. The first 2 hours after birth are a critical window.
2. Newborns are alert and ready to feed during this time.
3. Early suckling establishes prolactin receptors and milk supply.
4. Delayed initiation is associated with shorter breastfeeding duration.
13. For mothers with preemies, initiation of milk expression before
______ hour(s) resulted in significantly more milk by day 7.
Correct Answer: 1 hour.
Rationale:
1. Early pumping (within 1 hour of birth) maximizes milk volume.
2. Preterm mothers need to pump frequently to establish supply.
3. Delayed expression leads to lower milk production.
4. Hand expression is often more effective than pumping in the first few days.
14. What hormone is T3, T4, T5?
Correct Answer: Oxytocin.
Rationale:
1. The document appears to use T3, T4, T5 as placeholders for oxytocin.
2. Oxytocin is responsible for milk ejection (let-down).
3. It is released in pulses during nursing.
4. Oxytocin also promotes uterine contractions and bonding.
15. When oxytocin hits myoepithelial cells, what happens?
Correct Answer: They start contracting (retracting).
Rationale:
1. Myoepithelial cells surround the alveoli.
2. Oxytocin causes them to contract, squeezing milk into ducts.
3. This is the let-down reflex.
4. Contractions occur in response to nipple stretching and infant suckling.
Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC) Exam
| Lactation Consulting, Breastfeeding
Medicine, Maternal-Child Health |
Multiple Choice Q&A | Verified Answers
Exam Structure:
Subject: Lactation Consulting (Certified Lactation Consultant - CLC)
Source: Certified Lactation Consultant Exam – Verified Answers
Format: Multiple Choice & Open-Ended Q&A
1. What are the two major hormones of lactation, and where are they
secreted from?
Correct Answer: Oxytocin and prolactin, from the pituitary gland.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland.
2. Oxytocin is secreted from the posterior pituitary gland.
3. Both hormones are essential for milk production and ejection.
4. Their release is triggered by nipple stimulation and infant suckling.
2. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for:
Correct Answer: Milk production.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin acts on alveolar cells to synthesize milk components.
2. Levels rise during pregnancy and peak after delivery.
3. Prolactin levels are highest during the first hour after birth.
4. Frequent nipple stimulation maintains prolactin receptor sensitivity.
3. What is the passage of prolactin being produced?
Correct Answer: Baby suckles → message to nervous system tells brain to
, 2|Page
secrete prolactin into blood → then travels into mother’s body into milk
cells where milk is produced.
Rationale:
1. Suckling stimulates afferent nerve fibers in the nipple and areola.
2. Signals travel to the hypothalamus and then to the anterior pituitary.
3. Prolactin is released into the bloodstream and reaches the breast.
4. Prolactin binds to receptors on alveolar cells to initiate milk synthesis.
4. When do humans have prolactin in them?
Correct Answer: All the time (non-pregnant, non-lactating breast and
nipples increase levels of prolactin when touched).
Rationale:
1. Prolactin is present in both males and females at low baseline levels.
2. Nipple stimulation increases prolactin even in non-lactating individuals.
3. Levels rise significantly during pregnancy and lactation.
4. Prolactin also has roles in immune function and reproduction.
5. Prolactin levels go ______ between nursing and ______ during nursing.
Correct Answer: down, rise.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin decreases between feedings as nipple stimulation ceases.
2. With each nursing session, prolactin levels increase.
3. The highest prolactin levels occur about 30 minutes after feeding begins.
4. This pattern supports ongoing milk production.
6. ______ nursing leads to lower levels of prolactin and less rise with the
same amount of contact.
Correct Answer: Infrequent.
Rationale:
1. Infrequent nursing reduces prolactin receptor sensitivity.
2. Prolactin levels may not rise as high with each feeding.
3. This can lead to decreased milk supply over time.
4. Frequent nursing (8-12 times/day) maintains prolactin responsiveness.
7. If infants do not have frequent times at breast the first few days,
prolactin will be ______ and receptor sites will ______.
Correct Answer: low, not be primed and start shutting down.
, 3|Page
Rationale:
1. Early frequent suckling establishes prolactin receptor sites.
2. Without stimulation, receptor sites may down-regulate.
3. This can lead to insufficient milk production.
4. The first few hours after birth are critical for setting prolactin receptors.
8. What is in the receptor site during pregnancy?
Correct Answer: Progesterone.
Rationale:
1. Progesterone occupies prolactin receptors during pregnancy.
2. This prevents full lactation until after delivery.
3. High progesterone levels inhibit milk production despite high prolactin.
4. This mechanism ensures milk is not produced until after birth.
9. When the placenta leaves the body, the body responds by pushing
______ out of the receptor sites.
Correct Answer: Progesterone.
Rationale:
1. Placental delivery causes a sharp drop in progesterone.
2. Progesterone withdrawal allows prolactin to bind to receptors.
3. This triggers secretory activation (Lactogenesis II).
4. Occurs approximately 30-40 hours after delivery.
10. When the placenta is delivered and progesterone leaves the
receptor sites, what goes inside to set the site for lactation?
Correct Answer: Prolactin.
Rationale:
1. Prolactin binds to vacated receptors on alveolar cells.
2. This initiates copious milk production.
3. The timing of this process is critical for establishing supply.
4. Delayed or insufficient prolactin binding can cause low milk supply.
11. If prolactin is not set during the first few hours after birth:
Correct Answer: There will be fewer receptor sites and cause issues with
milk supply.
Rationale:
1. Early suckling primes prolactin receptors.
, 4|Page
2. Fewer receptors mean less response to prolactin.
3. Milk production may be insufficient.
4. Early intervention (pumping, hand expression) can mitigate this.
12. Ongoing milk supply is associated with suckling within the first
______ hours after birth.
Correct Answer: 2 hours.
Rationale:
1. The first 2 hours after birth are a critical window.
2. Newborns are alert and ready to feed during this time.
3. Early suckling establishes prolactin receptors and milk supply.
4. Delayed initiation is associated with shorter breastfeeding duration.
13. For mothers with preemies, initiation of milk expression before
______ hour(s) resulted in significantly more milk by day 7.
Correct Answer: 1 hour.
Rationale:
1. Early pumping (within 1 hour of birth) maximizes milk volume.
2. Preterm mothers need to pump frequently to establish supply.
3. Delayed expression leads to lower milk production.
4. Hand expression is often more effective than pumping in the first few days.
14. What hormone is T3, T4, T5?
Correct Answer: Oxytocin.
Rationale:
1. The document appears to use T3, T4, T5 as placeholders for oxytocin.
2. Oxytocin is responsible for milk ejection (let-down).
3. It is released in pulses during nursing.
4. Oxytocin also promotes uterine contractions and bonding.
15. When oxytocin hits myoepithelial cells, what happens?
Correct Answer: They start contracting (retracting).
Rationale:
1. Myoepithelial cells surround the alveoli.
2. Oxytocin causes them to contract, squeezing milk into ducts.
3. This is the let-down reflex.
4. Contractions occur in response to nipple stretching and infant suckling.
