CERTIFIED BREASTFEEDING COUNSELOR EXAM
REVISION HANDBOOK 2026 COMMON
FEEDING CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What surrounds the breast tissue?
Answer: Fat
Nerves
Lymph Tissue
Vascular Network
Myoepithelial Cells
◉ What is the purpose of the Myoepithelial cells?
Answer: They surround the alveolus and contract (like a muscle)
- pushes milk out into the ducts
◉ What is the purpose of the Vascular Network surrounding breast
tissue?
Answer: - supplies nutrients, materials, hormones to each alveolus
for milk production
- supplies hormones to the myoepithelial cells for ejection of milk
◉ What is the purpose of fat surrounding breast tissue?
,Answer: protection
support
provides space for growth
◉ What purpose do nerves serve in the breasts?
Answer: Intercostal nerves 3, 4 and 5 deal with breast tissue
- innervation to the nipple tells the brain to produce oxytocin when
breast feeding
- emptying of the alveolus tells the breast to make more milk
◉ What are Montgomery's Tubercles?
Answer: Glands that secrete an antibacterial-like substance that
protects the nipples and areola.
- found on the nipple and areola
- enlarge during pregnancy
◉ Lactogenesis 3
Answer: also known as galactopoiesis
- the resupply of mature milk that occurs when milk is removed
from the breast
◉ When does Lactogenesis occur?
, Answer: day 10-14 postpartum
- when mature milk is established
- lasts until mom is ready to wean from breastfeeding
◉ Lactogenesis 4
Answer: involution
- milk production is decreased by apoptosis of the milk making
epithelial cells
◉ What are the 2 main hormonal influences of breastfeeding?
Answer: Prolactin and Oxytocin
◉ What is the job of Prolactin?
Answer: Milk production
◉ Where is prolactin released?
Answer: the anterior pituitary gland into the blood stream to the
alveoli
◉ What is the main inhibitor of prolactin?
Answer: progesterone
REVISION HANDBOOK 2026 COMMON
FEEDING CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
◉ What surrounds the breast tissue?
Answer: Fat
Nerves
Lymph Tissue
Vascular Network
Myoepithelial Cells
◉ What is the purpose of the Myoepithelial cells?
Answer: They surround the alveolus and contract (like a muscle)
- pushes milk out into the ducts
◉ What is the purpose of the Vascular Network surrounding breast
tissue?
Answer: - supplies nutrients, materials, hormones to each alveolus
for milk production
- supplies hormones to the myoepithelial cells for ejection of milk
◉ What is the purpose of fat surrounding breast tissue?
,Answer: protection
support
provides space for growth
◉ What purpose do nerves serve in the breasts?
Answer: Intercostal nerves 3, 4 and 5 deal with breast tissue
- innervation to the nipple tells the brain to produce oxytocin when
breast feeding
- emptying of the alveolus tells the breast to make more milk
◉ What are Montgomery's Tubercles?
Answer: Glands that secrete an antibacterial-like substance that
protects the nipples and areola.
- found on the nipple and areola
- enlarge during pregnancy
◉ Lactogenesis 3
Answer: also known as galactopoiesis
- the resupply of mature milk that occurs when milk is removed
from the breast
◉ When does Lactogenesis occur?
, Answer: day 10-14 postpartum
- when mature milk is established
- lasts until mom is ready to wean from breastfeeding
◉ Lactogenesis 4
Answer: involution
- milk production is decreased by apoptosis of the milk making
epithelial cells
◉ What are the 2 main hormonal influences of breastfeeding?
Answer: Prolactin and Oxytocin
◉ What is the job of Prolactin?
Answer: Milk production
◉ Where is prolactin released?
Answer: the anterior pituitary gland into the blood stream to the
alveoli
◉ What is the main inhibitor of prolactin?
Answer: progesterone
