Certified Lactation Consultant Practice Exam 2025 - Free Lactation Consultant Practice Questions and Study Guide

The significance of offering the first and second breast in sequence primarily relates to the composition of breast milk and how it adapts during a feeding session. When a baby is allowed to feed from both breasts, it ensures that they receive milk from the latter part of the feeding, which is richer in fat. The first breast typically provides foremilk, which is lower in fat but higher in lactose and water content. As the feeding progresses, the milk transitions to hindmilk, which has a higher fat content that aids in satiety and calorie intake.

Choosing the second breast contributes to a more balanced fat intake for the infant during a single feeding session. Therefore, the idea that it has no impact on the baby's net fat intake overlooks the physiological benefits of the varying composition of milk throughout a feeding session.

The other options relate to areas that are not as directly impacted by the sequence of feeding from both breasts. While weight gain can certainly be influenced by adequate fat intake, it’s more about the overall feeding behavior than just the order of breast offered. Offering the second breast has no direct connection to eliminating the need for frequent feedings; rather, it can establish healthier feeding patterns that could potentially lead to more effective weight gain. Hence, the correct choice emphasizes the importance