Meet Our Breastfeeding Support Team
Ranada Swindle, CLC, ALC, CPST
Ranada is the mother of three children. All of which she breastfed, but not without her own set of struggles. After breastfeeding her youngest for two years she realized how much she loved breastfeeding. She is an Advanced Lactation Consultant and has been a part of the Childbirth Center Staff at San Juan Regional since 2010. Ranada believes that breastfeeding provides both mom and infant with benefits even beyond its nutritional component. She gives inpatient support to new moms, teaches a community breastfeeding class for expectant mothers and enjoys teaching new parents how to feed and nurture their babies.
Karen Tapia RN, BSN, IBCLC
Karen graduated with her Bachelors of Science degree from the Intercollegiate College of Nursing in 2003. She became increasingly passionate about breastfeeding after the birth of her first son, when she realized the importance of good breastfeeding support. Working with women and infants in the Washington State First Steps and W.I.C. programs lead her to the achievement of her IBCLC certificate in 2011. The San Juan Regional Childbirth Center added Karen to their team in 2014, when her family relocated to New Mexico from Washington State. Karen is a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association, New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force, and La Leche League International. She also is a Spanish language Interpreter for San Juan Regional Medical Center. When she’s not spending time with her husband and four boys, she loves to be working with other families to assist them in reaching their own breastfeeding goals.