Certified Lactation Consultant Practice Exam

The first choice in the hierarchy of infant feeding is baby at mother's breast. This option is considered the best practice for infant feeding because breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for both the infant and the mother. Breast milk is uniquely composed to meet all of the nutritional needs of a growing baby, containing ideal proportions of macronutrients, antibodies, and hormones that support the infant's immune system and promote healthy development. Breastfeeding fosters a strong emotional bond between mother and baby, promoting physical closeness and skin-to-skin contact, which are vital for the infant's emotional and physical well-being. Additionally, it helps the mother in terms of postpartum recovery and can reduce the risk of certain health issues for both mother and child. While the other options, such as mother's own expressed milk, formula, and milk from a milk bank, are important alternatives in specific circumstances, they do not provide the comprehensive benefits and optimal feeding that directly breastfeeding offers. Expressed milk is a great alternative, especially for mothers who may not be able to nurse directly, but it lacks some of the dynamic properties of milk produced during breastfeeding. Formula is a useful option when breastfeeding isn’t possible, but it doesn’t provide the same immunological and bonding benefits. Milk from a milk bank is