Page 1 of 126
NEW IBCLC EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS NEWLY MODIFIED GRADED A+
2025/2026 LATEST
Drugs can be highly bound to albumin, a large protein in the blood circulation, and therefore
too big to get into the breast milk space. What percentage of protein binding is considered
high and therefore preferred?
A) 40%
B) 60%
C) 80%
D) >90% -- ANSWER--D
While most drugs are compatible with breastfeeding, a few are not. Which type of drug is
usually contraindicated for breastfeeding?
A) Antibiotic
B) Antidepressant
C) Chemotherapy
D) Diabetic therapy -- ANSWER--C
1
, Page 2 of 126
Some drug pumping systems exist in the alveolar cell (the cells that line the milk sac). For
example, iodine is readily pumped into the milk compartment. Therefore, any form of
radioactive iodine should be avoided while breastfeeding.
A) True
B) False -- ANSWER--A) True
Although there are many exceptions, in general, _______ of the maternal dose finds its way
into the milk and, subsequently, to the baby. ***(Do not confuse this with Relative Infant
Dose)
A) <1%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 12.5% -- ANSWER--A
What is the AVERAGE volume of milk consumed per 24 hours by a breastfed baby around
age 2-4 weeks?
A) 550-600ml (18-20oz)
B) 650-700ml (21.5-23oz)
C) 750-800 ml (25-26.5oz)
D) 850-900ml (28-30oz) -- ANSWER--C
Which statement about the effect of human milk on the child's immune system would be
MOST important to medical students?
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, Page 3 of 126
A)Human milk stimulates the baby to begin making his own SIgA and other antibodies.
B)Exclusively breastfed babies have a poorer response to immunizations.
C) The mother's own milk provides passive immunity between placentally acquired immunity
and autonomous immune protection.
D)The breastfed baby is at higher risk of infection because he relies on the mother's immune
protection during breastfeeding -- ANSWER--C
Which component of preterm milk is proportionally higher than in term milk?
A) Protein
B)Lactose
C)Phosphorus
D)Iron -- ANSWER--A
Which is the MOST APPROPRIATE suggestion for a pregnant woman concerned about
eating well enough for her own body growth and her developing baby?
A)Take prenatal vitamins every day
B)Eat fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich food 5 times a day
C)Plan your meals and snacks so you can eat every few hours
D)Plan to gain 25-35 pounds by the end of your pregnancy -- ANSWER--D
Which drug property results in more transfer of the drug into the mother's milk?
A) Molecular weight >800 Daltons
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, Page 4 of 126
B) High protein binding
C) High lipid solubility
D) Low maternal plasma concentration -- ANSWER--C
What is the first question to consider when helping a breastfeeding mother with a medication
question?
A) What is the relative infant dose of the medication?
B) What is the protein binding of the medication?
C) What is the molecular weight of the medication?
D) Is the medication really necessary to take now? -- ANSWER--D
A Relative Infant Dose (RID) of _____ indicates compatibility with breastfeeding.
A) <10%
B) >10% -- ANSWER--A) <10%
A good resource to use to figure out if a medicine is compatible with breastfeeding is:
A) The Physician Desk Reference (PDR)
B) The medicine package insert
C) Google
D) LactMed -- ANSWER--D) LactMed
4
NEW IBCLC EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS NEWLY MODIFIED GRADED A+
2025/2026 LATEST
Drugs can be highly bound to albumin, a large protein in the blood circulation, and therefore
too big to get into the breast milk space. What percentage of protein binding is considered
high and therefore preferred?
A) 40%
B) 60%
C) 80%
D) >90% -- ANSWER--D
While most drugs are compatible with breastfeeding, a few are not. Which type of drug is
usually contraindicated for breastfeeding?
A) Antibiotic
B) Antidepressant
C) Chemotherapy
D) Diabetic therapy -- ANSWER--C
1
, Page 2 of 126
Some drug pumping systems exist in the alveolar cell (the cells that line the milk sac). For
example, iodine is readily pumped into the milk compartment. Therefore, any form of
radioactive iodine should be avoided while breastfeeding.
A) True
B) False -- ANSWER--A) True
Although there are many exceptions, in general, _______ of the maternal dose finds its way
into the milk and, subsequently, to the baby. ***(Do not confuse this with Relative Infant
Dose)
A) <1%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 12.5% -- ANSWER--A
What is the AVERAGE volume of milk consumed per 24 hours by a breastfed baby around
age 2-4 weeks?
A) 550-600ml (18-20oz)
B) 650-700ml (21.5-23oz)
C) 750-800 ml (25-26.5oz)
D) 850-900ml (28-30oz) -- ANSWER--C
Which statement about the effect of human milk on the child's immune system would be
MOST important to medical students?
2
, Page 3 of 126
A)Human milk stimulates the baby to begin making his own SIgA and other antibodies.
B)Exclusively breastfed babies have a poorer response to immunizations.
C) The mother's own milk provides passive immunity between placentally acquired immunity
and autonomous immune protection.
D)The breastfed baby is at higher risk of infection because he relies on the mother's immune
protection during breastfeeding -- ANSWER--C
Which component of preterm milk is proportionally higher than in term milk?
A) Protein
B)Lactose
C)Phosphorus
D)Iron -- ANSWER--A
Which is the MOST APPROPRIATE suggestion for a pregnant woman concerned about
eating well enough for her own body growth and her developing baby?
A)Take prenatal vitamins every day
B)Eat fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich food 5 times a day
C)Plan your meals and snacks so you can eat every few hours
D)Plan to gain 25-35 pounds by the end of your pregnancy -- ANSWER--D
Which drug property results in more transfer of the drug into the mother's milk?
A) Molecular weight >800 Daltons
3
, Page 4 of 126
B) High protein binding
C) High lipid solubility
D) Low maternal plasma concentration -- ANSWER--C
What is the first question to consider when helping a breastfeeding mother with a medication
question?
A) What is the relative infant dose of the medication?
B) What is the protein binding of the medication?
C) What is the molecular weight of the medication?
D) Is the medication really necessary to take now? -- ANSWER--D
A Relative Infant Dose (RID) of _____ indicates compatibility with breastfeeding.
A) <10%
B) >10% -- ANSWER--A) <10%
A good resource to use to figure out if a medicine is compatible with breastfeeding is:
A) The Physician Desk Reference (PDR)
B) The medicine package insert
C) Google
D) LactMed -- ANSWER--D) LactMed
4
