Who We Are

It all started with a conversation…

In March of 2018, Anita Esquerra-Zwiers and Becky Antaya, sat side by side at a meeting in Grand Rapids — only to discover they were both from the Holland/Zeeland area. Most importantly, both Anita and Becky understood the growing need for lactation support, and the broader importance of women’s health.

A friendship was born.

One year later, Breastfeeding Advocates of Ottawa County (BAOC) was created around shared values of education, advocacy, resources, and community connection.

Fast forward to 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the world changed. Parents were still having babies, but healthcare settings became a difficult place to navigate. Becoming a parent is isolating enough, but trying to chestfeed during a global pandemic made it moreso. The growing distance between new parents and their healthcare providers showed the BAOC team how badly lactation services were needed, not just for the health of the dyad, but for the family as a whole.

Expansion and Clinic Opening

By 2025, a conversation with a new supporter and new grant funding allowed BAOC to offer a new version of support: accessible, individualized, and most importantly, research-based.

Today, this version of support is the Lactation Collective — a place for community connection, resources, advocacy, and education. Lactation research and a hub for professional growth is also at the heart of our work.

This August, we’re opening a clinic to provide care for those with lactation care needs. It brings direct pathways to specialists and referrals whenever a situation calls for more than one kind of care.

At the Lactation Collective, we will not let cost stand between a family and support. It’s what drives us to provide the best support possible to everyone.

Our Team

  • Rebecca (Becky) Antaya

    PRESIDENT

    Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

  • Anita Esquerra-Zwiers

    VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER

    Registered Nurse (RN), Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, PhD

  • Tarajo (TJ) Hanrahan, MD, CBS

    CLINIC MEDICAL DIRECTOR

    Physician (MD), Certified Breastfeeding Specialist

  • Glenys Gonzalez

    Lactation Consultant (Spanish)

    CLC, Birth & Postpartum Doula & Birth Educator

  • Colleen Christophersen

    SECRETARY

    Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, Doula

Contact us

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