Ace the Certified Lactation Consultant Exam 2026 – Nurture Your Career with Confidence!

Understanding the relationship between milk production and demand is crucial for effective lactation management. The key point that more nursing means more milk production reflects the principle of supply and demand in breastfeeding. When a baby nurses more frequently, it stimulates the mother's body to produce more milk. This is due to the hormonal response triggered by nursing; prolactin, specifically, plays a significant role in milk synthesis and secretion.

As the infant suckles, the subsequent signal sent to the breast tissue encourages the milk glands to produce additional milk in response to the increased demand. This principle helps mothers establish and maintain an adequate milk supply, ensuring that their infants receive enough nourishment during their growth phases.

In contrast to the other options, the idea that more nursing leads to a decrease in milk supply contradicts this fundamental principle. Additionally, milk production is not fixed; rather, it adapts based on the baby’s nursing patterns. Lastly, while the duration of breastfeeding does play a role in supply, the frequency and effectiveness of nursing are more directly linked to the body’s ability to produce milk.