International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Practice Exam

By day of life 5, how much milk does a mother typically produce?

1. 505 ml

2. 705 ml

3. 800 ml

4. 900 ml

The correct answer is: 705 ml

On day five of a newborn's life, a mother's milk production typically reaches around 700 ml per day, making the choice of 705 ml the most accurate among the options provided. At this stage, the transition from colostrum to mature milk is well underway, and milk volume increases significantly to meet the growing nutritional needs of the newborn. During the first few days after birth, colostrum is produced, which is a thick, nutrient-rich fluid that helps in establishing the baby's immune system. As the days progress, particularly around day five, the milk composition changes, and the amount of milk a mother produces substantially increases as her body responds to the feeding cues from the baby. This growth in milk production is driven by hormonal changes and the baby's feeding patterns. By this point, breastfeeding is usually more established, and the baby may start to consume larger volumes of milk, contributing to the increase in total production. Understanding this typical increase in lactation helps in setting realistic expectations for milk production in the early postpartum period.