Shannon Pratten of Milk Drunk Club on Making Motherhood a Little Easier
Shannon Pratten is the founder of Milk Drunk Club, a maternal health and lactation company, and the creator of MilkHaven, a reusable silicone breast milk storage system that launched in September 2026. A NICU nurse for more than 20 years and a lactation consultant for 14, she is also a mother of three, and was named a Q3 2026 FBW Awards Honoree in the Best Innovation category.
In this Q&A, Shannon shares what inspired her to create MilkHaven, what she wishes she had known before bringing a physical product to life, and where she wants to take it next, from reaching more homes to partnering with healthcare professionals.
Her perspective is a reminder that you don’t have to know how to do everything before you begin. You just have to be willing to learn, ask questions and keep going.
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Q: What stands behind the work you were recognized for, and what inspires you most about it?
After more than 20 years as a NICU nurse, 14 years as a lactation consultant, and raising three children of my own, I’ve seen just how much mothers carry. MilkHaven grew from wanting to make one small part of motherhood easier. What inspires me most is knowing that something I created can give mothers a little less to manage and a little more time to simply be with their babies.
Q: What is one thing you learned while building MilkHaven that you wish you’d known at the start?
That bringing a physical product to life is so much more complicated than having a great idea! I’ve had to learn everything from manufacturing and product testing to shipping and marketing. But I’ve also learned that you don’t have to know how to do everything before you begin. You just have to be willing to learn, ask questions, and keep going.
Q: What’s next for you and MilkHaven?
Right now, my focus is getting MilkHaven into more homes and into the hands of the mothers who could really benefit from it. I’m also exploring partnerships with healthcare professionals and businesses that share our commitment to supporting mothers. Longer term, I see MilkHaven growing into a collection of thoughtfully designed products that make everyday motherhood a little simpler, without adding more to a mother’s plate.
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