Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Pratten.
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a NICU Registered Nurse for over 20 years and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for more than a decade. My journey really began long before that — through my own experiences as a mother. I had three unmedicated water births, two of them at home, and breastfed all three of my children until the age of four. Those years profoundly shaped the way I see motherhood, instinct, and the natural strength of women.
I founded Lactation of the Lowcountry to bring compassionate, evidence-based lactation support to families throughout the Beaufort area and beyond. My approach has always been rooted in human anthropology and intuition over trends — helping mothers trust their bodies, their babies, and themselves.
Over time, I saw how modern motherhood was flooded with pressure, shame, and misinformation — especially around breastfeeding. That inspired me to launch Milk Drunk Club, a community-driven brand that blends education, humor, and empowerment. It started as a creative outlet — designing cheeky, confidence-building apparel for breastfeeding moms — and quickly grew into a movement that normalizes term breastfeeding and celebrates motherhood in all its raw, messy, and beautiful forms.
Today, I continue to balance my clinical work, creative projects, and community events like our Milk Drunk Society support group and Build Your Birth Team fair. Every part of this journey comes back to one mission: helping mothers feel capable, connected, and proud of their bodies — because motherhood is powerful, and it deserves to be honored that way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road — but I think that’s true for most small business owners, especially in healthcare. Technology and marketing have been big learning curves for me. Coming from a clinical background, suddenly having to navigate websites, social media, and e-commerce strategy felt like entering an entirely new world.
Building community among other birth professionals has also taken time and intention, which is one reason I created Build Your Birth Team — an event designed to connect local perinatal providers and support families through collaboration rather than competition.
Insurance is another ongoing challenge. The healthcare system is complex, and advocating for fair coverage of lactation services can feel like an uphill climb.
Most recently, I’ve started exploring product development in the eco-friendly and maternal health space — a completely new venture that’s pushing me to learn about manufacturing, materials, and innovation. It’s both challenging and energizing, and it feels like the next natural evolution of my work to support mothers in a more sustainable way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Milk Drunk Club was born out of my passion to support and empower mothers through every stage of feeding — especially the ones that don’t always fit the cultural script. It started as a community and lifestyle brand that blends education, humor, and advocacy to normalize breastfeeding, biological term nursing, and all the beautiful chaos that comes with motherhood.
What sets Milk Drunk Club apart is the fusion of professional expertise and real-mom relatability. As both a NICU nurse and lactation consultant, I’ve spent over two decades helping families navigate feeding challenges. I wanted to take that experience and translate it into something modern, cheeky, and affirming — from supportive resources to bold, confidence-building apparel that helps mothers feel seen, capable, and proud.
Now, Milk Drunk Club is expanding into eco-conscious product development — creating sustainable, functional items that make motherhood a little easier while honoring our planet. It’s the next evolution of what the brand has always stood for: empowering women with practical tools, compassionate education, and a sense of humor about the wild ride of motherhood.
I’m most proud that Milk Drunk Club has grown beyond a brand — it’s become a movement of mothers who are redefining what confidence and community look like in modern parenting.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Absolutely. More than anything, I want readers to know that everything I do — from my lactation work to Milk Drunk Club and now product development — is deeply rooted in my own journey as a mother. I have three beautiful children, ages 10, 13, and 15, who continue to teach me more about patience, purpose, and presence every single day.
I’ve been homeschooling for over a decade, and it’s truly one of the greatest gifts of my life. They are my favorite people to spend time with, and watching them grow has shaped who I am as both a mother and a professional.
Motherhood has been my greatest honor and my biggest legacy — it’s the heartbeat behind everything I create, and the reason I’m so passionate about helping other mothers feel empowered, capable, and proud of their own stories.
Pricing:
- I’m proud to make lactation support as accessible as possible by accepting most major insurance plans, including Tricare, Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. My goal has always been to remove barriers for families seeking care — because every mother deserves expert, compassionate support without financial stress standing in the way.
- For families who prefer to pay out of pocket, I also offer self-pay options. A prenatal or initial lactation consultation is $200, and follow-up visits are $175. Each session is designed to provide individualized, evidence-based care that empowers families to feel confident and supported in their feeding journey.
- Our Milk Drunk Club apparel for moms and babies ranges from $18 to $55, with free shipping on orders over $75. Each piece is designed to celebrate motherhood with comfort, confidence, and a little bit of cheeky humor — because feeding your baby is powerful, and your wardrobe should say so too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.milkdrunkclub.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/milk_drunk_club
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LactationoftheLowcountrySC
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/milk_drunk_club
