Three hours after giving birth to a beautiful six-pound baby girl 22 years ago, Lilian “Lily” Vargas attempted to breastfeed for the first time. However, she encountered an unexcepted interruption: the baby was fast asleep.
“I’m a brand-new mom, so of course I called on my nurse for help,” Lily recalled. “Without saying one word, the nurse made a full bottle of formula, walked over to us and popped it right into my daughter’s mouth.”
It was a shocking experience, Lily recalled. “She never bothered to explain anything to me or even to help me try and wake my baby up.”
Lily’s experience is unfortunately all too common. Although nearly 90% of Hispanic moms in the U.S. start breastfeeding, many switch to formula within the first two days of their babies’ lives, often due to a lack of in-hospital lactation support and pressure to conform to different cultural norms.
Lily is now an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC) at MLK Community Healthcare, where she is passionate about educating her patients on navigating breastfeeding issues from latching issues to milk transfer difficulties.
“I’ve never forgotten that nurse,” Lily said. “That’s what drives me in my work every day: to make sure no one else has that experience.”
Empathy
Now a mother of four, Lily has gone on to exclusively breastfeed all her children. Breastfeeding is a cultural norm in many Latin American countries—including El Salvador, where she was born.
“Back home, if you’re on the bus and need to feed your baby, no one would make a big deal about it,” she said. “That’s not always the case here in the United States.”
Her experiences growing up in an immigrant family in South LA gives her a deep sense of empathy for the mothers she serves. Her work is especially valuable in LA County, which has the largest population of Central Americans in the United States.
“I understand the challenges of my people firsthand,” she said. “When you share common ground with someone—whether it’s a similar upbringing or the experience of breastfeeding—you can connect with them in a meaningful way.”
Baby-friendly
Further, Lily’s experiences drive her unwavering commitment as an IBCLC at MLKCH. The hospital, which received the prestigious “Baby Friendly” designation from the World Health Organization for its pro-breastfeeding policies, offers new mothers immediate breastfeeding support from the moment their baby is born.
“Our team is trained to help mothers navigate common breastfeeding challenges right at the start, like how to get a good latch or how often to feed their babies,” Lily says. "We make sure no mom feels alone or uninformed—that’s what real support looks like."
This support is crucial, as studies show that women who receive lactation education in the hospital are more likely to continue breastfeeding once they return home.
Lily recalled helping a young woman from Colombia who had recently arrived in the U.S. and was struggling to navigate her new environment while heavily pregnant.
“She was so overwhelmed, trying to figure out how everything worked here,” Lily said. “She wasn’t sure where to turn, but I was able to connect her with the Welcome Baby program, which provided her with support like diapers and other vital resources as she prepared to give birth.”
By the time the young woman delivered her baby at MLKCH, she was ready to start her new life with confidence and proper support.
Driven by a profound belief that every mother deserves a chance to succeed, Lily encourages all new moms to reach out. “You don’t have to do it alone,” she said. “There are people here who care and want to help you succeed. We’re here to support you every step of the way.”
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