The IBCLC examination consists of 175 multiple choice questions. The examination is given in two parts, and once you have completed Part One, you may not go back to that part. Most questions in Part Two are associated with an image. The standard IBCLC examination is of four hours duration. British English is the foundation for all translations of the IBCLC examination. With respect to measurement, the IBCLC examination includes both metric weights and measures as well as US weights and measures, with the more prevalent metric measurement noted first, and with the US measurement noted second... Show more

The IBCLC examination consists of 175 multiple choice questions. The examination is given in two parts, and once you have completed Part One, you may not go back to that part. Most questions in Part Two are associated with an image. The standard IBCLC examination is of four hours duration.

British English is the foundation for all translations of the IBCLC examination. With respect to measurement, the IBCLC examination includes both metric weights and measures as well as US weights and measures, with the more prevalent metric measurement noted first, and with the US measurement noted second in a parenthetical, e.g,., 30 mL (1 oz).

To be eligible to sit the IBCLC examination, you may pursue one of three pathways. Please visit this page to help determine which pathway may be right for you.
https://ibclc-commission.org/choosing-a-pathway-to-the-ibclc/

Exam content: All applicants should have a health sciences background, a minimum of 95 hours lactation specific education (including 5 hours of communications skills) as well as relevant clinical experience and adherence to the Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs.  You can see the detailed contents on the IBLCE site. https://ibclc-commission.org/ibclc-information/detailed-content-outline/

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IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) Exam Practice Test

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25 Questions

1. What characteristics are necessary for a newborn to be termed as having a low birth weight?

Birth weight less than 3.1 kg (7 pounds) and born preterm (before 37 weeks gestation).Birth weight less than 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) and born preterm, term, or post-term.Birth weight less than 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) and born preterm, term, or post-term.Birth weight less than 2 kg (4.4 pounds) and born preterm or term.

2. A new mother will be attending a holiday party with her husband and she would like to have a glass of wine while there. She is breastfeeding and asks if this would be safe for the infant. The best response is:

she should avoid breastfeeding all together for at least 48 hours after having an alcoholic beverage.there is no concern with alcohol passing through breast milk to the infant.she should not have any alcohol at all while breastfeeding.she should breastfeed immediately before having an alcoholic beverage and abstain from breastfeeding for at least 2-3 hours after.

3. A new mother is concerned that she will not be able to breastfeed her newborn because she is HIV-positive and taking antiretroviral therapy. She should be advised that:

she should breastfeed for at least 6 months while she and the baby take the antiretroviral therapy.she will not be able to breastfeed because of the risk of spreading HIV to her infant.she will not be able to breastfeed because of the risk of toxic effects from the antiretroviral therapy.she should breastfeed for at least 6 months, but she will need to stop the antiretroviral therapy.

4. What is the name of the most commonly used breastfeeding position, shown below?

Cradle hold.Clutch position.Supine position.Football hold.

5. In an effort to increase breastfeeding worldwide, the WHO and UNICEF have a set a goal to increase breastfeeding rates from 38% to:

90% by 2025.100% by 2025.50% by 2025.75% by 2025.

6. Which image below depicts a unilateral cleft lip and palate?

ADBC

7. Besides a shallow latch, what is another common cause of nipple pain and trauma?

Softening of the breasts during feedings.Misuse of a breast pump.Hearing the infant audibly swallow during feedings.Feeding when the infant displays early hunger cues.

8. Colostrum differs from mature breast milk in that it contains:

lower levels of protein.lower levels of immune system factors.higher levels of carbohydrates from lactose.lower levels of carbohydrates from lactose.

9. A new mother has been breastfeeding exclusively for 2 months. She expresses concerns over not knowing if her infant is well-hydrated from breast milk alone. The best response is:

she should call her Pediatrician and schedule an appointment for blood work to assess hydration status.if the infant is having at least 6 wet diapers daily, they are probably well-hydrated.to begin pumping so the amount of breast milk produced can be measured before feeding with a bottle.she should be supplementing with formula by this age to ensure adequate nutrition.

10. A 36-year-old new mother has returned to her busy job as a Registered Nurse. She wants to continue breastfeeding her 4-month-old son, but has noticed that her milk production volume is a little lower since she has returned to work. What is the best advice to give her?

She should breast feed exclusively when she is home, but have him take formula when she is at work.Frequent nursing or pumping is the best way to increase her breast milk volume.She should breast feed when she is home, but she may need to supplement with formula to ensure he receives adequate nutrition.If she needs to work full-time, she may need to begin weaning off breastfeeding.

11. All of the following are signs of adequate milk volume production EXCEPT for:

6-8 bilateral breast feedings in a 24-hour period.milk visible on the infant’s mouth after feedings.6-8 wet diapers per day by day 4 of life.audible swallowing and sucking from the infant during feeding.

12. Which hormone causes small muscle contractions within the breast tissue to move milk through the milk ducts?

Progesterone.Oxytocin.Estrogen.Pitocin.

13. A new mother is concerned that her employer will not allow her to take breaks in order to pump so she can maintain lactation after returning to work. The best response to this is:

she should try to pump at work during her lunch hour and whenever she can sneak away to the bathroom or another private area so that she does not get into trouble at work.there are laws that protect breastfeeding mothers and require employers to allow breaks to accomplish this.it is difficult to maintain breastfeeding after returning to work and she may need to begin weaning.she should wean the infant off daytime breast feedings, but continue to nurse before bedtime.

14. How frequently should a 3-day-old infant be breastfed over a 24-hour period?

When they want to, there is no recommended frequency.No more than 10 times.A minimum of 10-12 times.A minimum of 6-8 times.

15. The correct way to hold an infant using the kangaroo method is:

to swaddle the baby tightly in a receiving blanket and place them on their back.to leave the baby in a diaper only and hold him upright against a bare chest with a receiving blanket over his back.to leave the baby in a diaper and single layer of clothing and hold him in a football-type hold.to hold the baby without any clothing or diaper, with maximum skin-to-skin contact as possible.

16. A breastfeeding mother has been diagnosed with a soft tissue infection. A wound culture was performed to determine the best antibiotic to use to treat the infection. Which of the following antibiotics should be avoided while she is lactating?

Penicillin.Cephalexin.Doxycycline.Chloramphenicol.

17. Which of the following women would be a candidate for a home birth?

A 30-year-old female in her second pregnancy with her first child presenting breech before a vaginal delivery.A 29-year-old female in her first pregnancy with a diagnosis of preeclampsia.A 33-year-old female in her second pregnancy with a prenatal diagnosis of Down’s syndrome in the infant.A 32-year-old female in her third pregnancy with the first delivery being performed via C-section.

18. All of the following actions are used when actively listening EXCEPT for:

maintaining an open body posture.asking questions to clarify information or to refocus the conversation.maintaining eye contact.updating documentation during a counselling session the patient.

19. All of the following forms of birth control are safe to use when breastfeeding EXCEPT for:

Depo-Provera.progesterone-based birth control pills.IUD.estrogen-based birth control pills.

20. A new mother is having difficulty getting her infant to maintain a deep latch while breastfeeding. A position that should be recommended for her is the:

football hold.side-lying position.supine position.cradle position.

21. Using the growth chart below, a 9-month-old male infant who weighs 21 pounds and is 29 inches long will fall into which percentile for weight and length?

75th percentile for weight, 50th percentile for length.100th percentile for weight, 100th percentile for length.30th percentile for weight, 60th percentile for length.50th percentile for weight, 50th percentile for length.

22. Under IBLCE guidelines, an example of a violation of the Code of Professional Conduct would be:

using photographs and video tapes of counselling sessions that have been conducted in the past.communicating the progress being made with the healthcare team on a mother who is breastfeeding for the first time.conducting a breastfeeding education session as part of the parenting education classes at a local hospital.being available for patients who require breastfeeding counselling services.

23. What does the 'A' stand for in the Safe Sleep ABCs?

Avoidance.Apathy.Acceptance.Alone.

24. The CDC is working to increase support of breastfeeding in communities through:

avoiding any public service announcements that contain images of mothers breastfeeding so as not to offend the general public.improving support opportunities through the community with healthcare education, online and remote access to support, and promoting breastfeeding in the hospital setting.teaching new mothers to postpone breastfeeding until the third or fourth day of life until an adequate milk supply is available.limiting education resources to online groups for breastfeeding mothers.

25. A potential postpartum complication in newborns born to diabetic mothers is:

hypoglycemia.hyperglycemia.impaired kidney function.low birth weight.