Breastfeeding Education Quiz

1.

The baby is drowsy before breastfeeding. What can the mother do to arouse the baby to feed? Select all that apply.

A.

Swaddle her baby tightly.
B.

Hold her baby near her nipple.
C.

Talk with the baby while making eye contact.

Correct Answer(s)
B. Hold her baby near her nipple.
C. Talk with the baby while making eye contact.

Explanation
Swaddling the baby is more likely to make him drowsy than it is to make him alert.

The smell of milk may arouse the baby.

Talking to the baby may be enough stimulation for arousal.

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2.

You have just brought a new mother her 2-hour-old baby from the nursery to breastfeed. What is the first thing you do?

A.

Help the mother get comfortable.
B.

Teach the mother what a proper latch is.
C.

Tickle the baby's lips with her mother's nipple.

Correct Answer
A. Help the mother get comfortable.

Explanation
All of these options are important, but the first step is helping the mother get into a comfortable position for breastfeeding. She will not be able to relax and assist her baby if she is uncomfortable or in an awkward position.

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3.

A new mother is attempting to latch her newborn to the breast. What actions does the mother need to perform? Select all that apply.

A.

Wait until the baby opens his mouth wide.
B.

Hold the baby's face level with the mother's breasts.
C.

Make sure the baby's tongue is on the roof of his mouth.

Correct Answer(s)
A. Wait until the baby opens his mouth wide.
B. Hold the baby's face level with the mother's breasts.

Explanation
To successfully latch the nipple and surrounding areolar tissue, the baby's mouth needs to be open wide enough.

The baby can't get himself to nipple level without the assistance of the mother.

The baby's tongue has to be below the nipple to suckle effectively, so holding his tongue on the roof of his mouth won't work.

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4.

A newborn has latched to the nipple but not the areola. How can you tell that the baby is NOT feeding successfully?

A.

The baby audibly swallows after each suck.
B.

The baby's cheeks puff in and out with each suck.
C.

The baby's jaws move rhythmically.

Correct Answer
B. The baby's cheeks puff in and out with each suck.

Explanation
Hearing the baby swallow is a good indicator of success.

Puffing cheeks indicate that the baby is not successfully getting milk into his mouth.

Slow, rhythmic jaw movements are a good sign.

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5.

You don't hear the newborn swallow when breastfeeding despite the appearance of a good latch. Which of the following could be the cause?

A.

The mother states that she is in a lot of pain.
B.

The baby has been suckling for more than ten minutes.
C.

The baby's chin is touching the mother's breast.

Correct Answer
A. The mother states that she is in a lot of pain.

Explanation
Mothers who are in lot of pain or are suffering from anxiety or fatigue may have inhibited secretion of oxytocin. Insufficient oxytocin inhibits milk ejection and milk production.

Babies can continue to successfully swallow milk after ten minutes of feeding.

The baby's chin touching her mother's breast is a positive indicator.

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6.

Why does bottlefeeding rather than breastfeeding a baby increase the baby's risk for obesity?

A.

Caretakers tend to feed the baby every 3 to 4 hours.
B.

The caloric concentration in formula is much higher than breastmilk.
C.

Caretakers tend to encourage the baby to finish each bottle of food.

Correct Answer
C. Caretakers tend to encourage the baby to finish each bottle of food.

Explanation
Feeding every 3 to 4 hours is a typical feeding schedule that does not increase the risk for obesity.

All formula has a caloric concentration very similar to that of breast milk.

It has been shown that caretakers try to insist on the baby finishing all of the formula in the bottle even after the baby feels full and rejects the remainder. These added calories at each feeding lead to increased weight gain.

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7.

You have made a nursing diagnosis of effective breastfeeding. Which of the following helps to justify this diagnosis?

A.

The baby's tongue stays behind the gum line
B.

The baby's lips are both flanged while latched.
C.

The baby feeds every four hours.

Correct Answer
B. The baby's lips are both flanged while latched.

Explanation
If the baby's tongue stays behind her gum line, the baby may not be able to pull milk into her mouth.

Flanging helps get the nipple and areola into the baby's mouth and contributes to successful feeding.

Breastfed babies typically feed more often than every four hours.

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8.

A mother is getting ready to breastfeed. She has gotten comfortable and wants to prompt her baby to open his mouth wide for feeding. What can you tell her to do to encourage this?

A.

Tickle his lips with her nipple.
B.

Hold the baby in the en face position.
C.

Push down the baby's jaw to open his mouth.

Correct Answer
A. Tickle his lips with her nipple.

Explanation
Tickling his lips is the recommended method to encourage him to open his mouth wide.

This is an ideal position for interacting with the baby, but it is not necessarily associated with helping him open wide.

Pushing down the jaw may be required in certain circumstances, but it is not routinely recommended.

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9.

A mother is going to breastfeed her newborn in the cross-cradle position. What should she do first?

A.

Position the baby's head in her elbow.
B.

Move her breast toward the baby's mouth.
C.

Put a pillow in her lap for the baby to rest on.

Correct Answer
C. Put a pillow in her lap for the baby to rest on.

Explanation
In the cross-cradle position, the baby's head sits in the mother's hand instead of her elbow.

Instead of moving her own body to bring the breast to the baby, the mother should bring the baby to her breast.

Putting a pillow in her lap will allow the baby's head to be at breast-level, which is required for feeding.

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10.

The mother of a 2-day-old baby complains of a lot of nipple pain during feedings. Which of the following may be causing her pain?

A.

The baby's tongue forms a trough around the breast during feedings.
B.

The baby's frenulum is attached all the way to the tip of her tongue.
C.

The baby is latched to both the nipple and the areola.

Correct Answer
B. The baby's frenulum is attached all the way to the tip of her tongue.

Explanation
The baby's tongue SHOULD form a trough around the breast during feedings, and this is probably not contributing to her pain.

A baby with a frenulum extending to the tip of his tongue (also called "tongue tied") cannot extend their tongues far enough to feed effectively and this can result in painful and damaged nipples for the mother.

A good latch includes both the nipple and the areola, so this is probably not contributing to the mother's pain.

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