International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Practice Exam

What term describes the long-term maintenance of breastfeeding?

1. Lactogenesis

2. Galactokinesis

3. Galactopoiesis

4. Lactation reflex

The correct answer is: Galactopoiesis

The term that describes the long-term maintenance of breastfeeding is galactopoiesis. This term refers specifically to the ongoing process of milk production that occurs after the initial stages of lactation. While lactogenesis pertains to the initiation of milk production during and shortly after pregnancy, galactopoiesis focuses on the sustained production of milk as breastfeeding continues over weeks and months. Galactokinesis is not commonly used in the context of breastfeeding maintenance, and it typically relates to the movement of milk through the ducts rather than the production itself. The lactation reflex, on the other hand, describes the physiological mechanisms that facilitate breastfeeding, such as the letdown reflex, but it does not encompass the sustained aspect of breastfeeding. Therefore, galactopoiesis captures the essence of long-term breastfeeding maintenance, emphasizing the production and regulation of milk over time.