Breastfeeding may be natural, but it isn’t always intuitive—especially when you’re not getting good advice.
"Back in the day, my girlfriends would always tell me, ‘Oh, it's supposed to hurt!’” said Le Nece Nichols, a Lactation Education Specialist at MLKCH about her personal breastfeeding journey over 25 years ago.
What did her doctor have to say about her pain? Le Nece waves a hand in the air. “Oh, my doctor never talked to me about breastfeeding at all,” she recalled.
Unfortunately, stories like Le Nece’s are all too common. Moms of color are sometimes exposed to breastfeeding misinformation and cultural customs that make them hesitant to try.
Dispelling myths
“Breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt,” Le Nece said. “A lot of patients also come to me believing that they can’t produce milk at all, when they’re actually experiencing the common issue of having clogged ducts.”
These misconceptions are part of a larger pattern, as numerous studies highlight wide disparities in breastfeeding between White mothers and mothers of color. Black infants are nine times more likely to receive formula while in the hospital than their White counterparts; and Black moms are significantly less likely to breastfeed than other ethnicities.
To counter these challenges, Le Nece makes it a priority to teach her patients about the benefits of breastfeeding— how it provides nutrients and antibodies that protect babies against infections, boost immunity and support healthy development. She teaches age-old techniques like hand expressing, which is a helpful manual method for mothers who struggle to pump or who need to relieve their discomfort quickly.
The relief that moms experience when they can express milk, Le Nece explained, can be felt throughout the entire room.
"I love hearing a mother’s joy when she’s finally able to feed her baby,” she said with a big smile. “You hear a surprised noise, and you just know she’s overwhelmed with emotion.”
In communities like South LA, strategic education and outreach can make all the difference for moms who want to breastfeed for the health benefits it provides, as well as the beautiful bonding experience it can foster.
It’s why MLKCH opened a Lactation Clinic at our East Compton care center, where moms can get breastfeeding support, education and access to social support services in a comfortable setting.
We want to make breastfeeding accessible to everybody,” said Le Nece. “It’s a gift, not for one group or the other, but for everyone.”
A Unique Path to Lactation Education
Le Nece never envisioned herself working in lactation education. A trained nurse, her first job was working with teenagers and athletes with anxiety.
That early interest in behavioral health led to a job supporting patients with postpartum depression. She was struck by how important it was to support new moms with their mental and emotional wellbeing – something she got little of when she gave birth, herself.
“My doctor never even thought to talk to me about postpartum depression,” Le Nece said.
Le Nece pursued a master’s degree in psychology and, following a career break during the pandemic, returned to work in postpartum care with a new perspective.
“I realized I needed to offer my patients another component [to their care],” she said. “That’s when I decided to merge mental health education with lactation support.”
As a Lactation Education Specialist at MLKCH, Le Nece regularly hosts informational tours of the maternity ward; as well as seminars where local mothers can receive comprehensive breastfeeding support—both virtually and in-person. She also helps moms in need by occasionally leading a baby item drive, where she and her team secure lightly used bassinets, cribs and strollers.
“I never envisioned myself in this role, but I feel as though I’ve answered my calling,” she said. “I’m exactly where I am supposed to be, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing in healthcare.”
Award winning care
Le Nece’s efforts and those of the entire MLKCH maternity department are paying off. The hospital has been on Cal Hospital Compare’s “Maternity Honor Roll” for seven years in a row. In 2021, MLKCH received the World Health Organization’s “Baby-Friendly” designation, a prestigious recognition of the hospital’s commitment to provide lactation support and education to all moms.
High-quality breastfeeding education and support from our trained lactation specialists is just one component of the comprehensive care we offer to patients who give birth at MLKCH. Our maternity department includes prenatal care offered by our midwives and physicians through our medical group and features a unique midwife-led labor and delivery model. Our-section rate was 13.1% in 2023, nearly half the statewide (24.6%) and significantly less than the Healthy People 2030 goal of 23.6%.
Interested in taking a tour? Sign up here.
Do you need breastfeeding support? Book an appointment at the MLKCH Lactation Clinic.
Interested in signing up for prenatal care? Book an appointment by calling 424-296-3782.