Lactation: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Lactation

Sample item

A breastfeeding mother is very anxious. Her breasts are full and she produces plenty of milk, yet the baby gets little flow during suckling. Which process is being inhibited?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Milk ejection reflex

Suckling triggers oxytocin release, which contracts myoepithelial cells and expels milk from alveoli. Stress and pain inhibit this reflex. Milk synthesis is controlled separately by prolactin and by milk removal.

Option by option

  • A. Colostrum formation

    Colostrum formation occurs in late pregnancy and the first days after birth.

  • B. Galactopoiesis

    Galactopoiesis is maintenance of established production and is intact here.

  • C. Lactogenesis stage II

    Lactogenesis II is the onset of copious milk production, which is already present.

  • D. Milk ejection reflex (correct)

    Correct. Stress inhibits oxytocin-mediated release, so synthesised milk is not ejected.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Milk ejection reflex. Suckling triggers oxytocin release, which contracts myoepithelial cells and expels milk from alveoli.

Why is "Colostrum formation" not the answer?

Colostrum formation occurs in late pregnancy and the first days after birth.

Why is "Galactopoiesis" not the answer?

Galactopoiesis is maintenance of established production and is intact here.

Why is "Lactogenesis stage II" not the answer?

Lactogenesis II is the onset of copious milk production, which is already present.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lactation in OBG. Stress and pain inhibit this reflex. Milk synthesis is controlled separately by prolactin and by milk removal.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Lactation?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.