Daily Inspiration: Meet Delaney Shumaker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Delaney Shumaker.

Hi Delaney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always known I wanted to work with babies. Growing up, whenever someone asked what I wanted to be, I’d say “a baby nurse.” After nursing school, I became a NICU nurse and truly landed my dream job.
When I got pregnant with my daughter, I was working night shift in the NICU and unexpectedly developed hyperemesis gravidarum—a condition I had never even heard of. I was throwing up anywhere from 7-20 times a day until the day I gave birth. I ended up on short-term disability, needed home health support, and could barely function. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t prepared—physically, mentally, or emotionally—for pregnancy or what was ahead.
When my daughter was born, I assumed breastfeeding would be the one thing I’d feel confident in. I worked with babies every day—it was what I knew and loved. But that wasn’t our experience. It took us four and a half months to figure it out, and it came with a lot of blood, sweat, tears… and milk. I felt like I had failed as a mother. I experienced guilt, anger, and even resentment, wondering why my body wasn’t doing what I thought it should.
Now, as we prepare for the possibility of a second child, I see things differently. I didn’t have the knowledge or support I truly needed—and I didn’t even know to seek it out. I also think there’s a real societal gap. Many of us aren’t surrounded by pregnancy, breastfeeding, or open conversations about it. My own mom was told formula was better, so I was never exposed to breastfeeding growing up, even though she now wishes she had that opportunity.
That experience changed everything for me. I believe moms deserve better. They shouldn’t be up in the middle of the night, overwhelmed, searching the internet for answers that are often confusing or discouraging.
Today, I’m a registered nurse and IBCLC working as an in-home and virtual lactation consultant. I approach my work like I’m your friend on FaceTime—I’m there for you, especially in those vulnerable moments. My clients can text me anytime, day or night, because support shouldn’t have office hours.
I want moms to feel prepared during pregnancy, confident when they start breastfeeding, and fully supported when challenges come up. Because they will—and that’s okay.
Moms deserve to enjoy breastfeeding. And that’s something I will always stand for.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
One of the biggest challenges has been helping moms understand the value of support before they’re in the thick of it. Most moms—myself included—go into breastfeeding with rose-colored glasses. We think, “It’s natural, it’ll just happen.” And because of that, it can be hard to invest in help during pregnancy when nothing feels “wrong” yet.
The reality is, lactation support is meant to be preventative care. It works best when moms are prepared ahead of time—but most of the families I work with come to me in a moment of panic. They’re overwhelmed, exhausted, and searching for answers in the middle of the night.
That gap has been one of the hardest parts of building this work—knowing how different their experience could feel with the right support earlier on.
But at the same time, every single mom I help reminds me why I do this. Being able to step into those vulnerable moments, bring clarity, and help a mom feel confident again—it’s worth everything.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a registered nurse and IBCLC, and I provide in-home and virtual lactation support for moms who want to feel confident, prepared, and truly supported in their breastfeeding journey.
What I specialize in—and what I’m most passionate about—is pregnancy preparation. My own experience completely changed the way I approach this work. I went into motherhood feeling blindsided, especially when it came to breastfeeding, and I don’t want other moms to have to learn everything the hard way like I did.
So I work with moms before baby arrives to help them understand what’s actually coming—how breastfeeding works, how to read their baby, what’s normal, and what to do when challenges come up. Then, once baby is here, I provide hands-on, real-time support to guide them through it.
I think what I’m most known for is the level of support I provide outside of a traditional visit. I tell my clients I’m like their friend on FaceTime—I’m there in the middle-of-the-night moments when things feel overwhelming. My support doesn’t end when the appointment does, and that continuity is something moms don’t even realize they need until they have it.
What I’m most proud of is helping moms go from feeling blindsided and unsure to feeling calm, confident, and connected with their baby. That transformation is everything to me.
I believe breastfeeding support shouldn’t start when things are falling apart—it should start before they ever do.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see a huge cultural shift happening in breastfeeding over the next five to ten years. More and more, we’re seeing it become out in the open—visible and normalized. I’m very open about it myself; I bring my daughter Sloane everywhere and breastfeed publicly because I want moms who are shy or hesitant to see that it’s possible. Society hasn’t always supported that visibility, but I think people are starting to understand that breastfeeding is a biological, natural part of life—and we should treat it that way.
I also see a big rise in virtual care and flexible support. Moms are busy—they might be working, have other children, or just prefer the convenience and comfort of online support. Meeting moms where they are, whether virtually or in-person, is becoming the new standard. That combination—cultural openness and accessible support—is going to be transformative for the next generation of families.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.morningmilklactation.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delaneyshumaker/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delaney.r.heller
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@delaneyshumaker