How to make Breastmilk Jewelry
Want to learn how to make your own piece of breastmilk jewelry? Well keep on reading, because in this blog I will explain you the entire process from breastmilk to finished keepsake. I will talk about the materials you need and how to preserve your breastmilk. Get ready to memorialize your breastfeeding journey!
Breastfeeding Struggles
Let’s start off with saying that breastfeeding is not easy. Many mothers and babies struggle to get their breastfeeding journey started and this struggle is very real. Even though breastfeeding is something natural and is the thing we do as mammals, it does not mean it comes as easy as that. It is something that we (mother and baby) must learn how to do. And even when we learn the best techniques, practice and persevere, even then, it is no guarantee to success. There are many factors why a breastfeeding journey just simply doesn’t succeed, and that is okay. Formula was invented for a reason and motherhood is already difficult enough. Give yourself a break, you are an amazing mom whether you succeed to breastfeed or not.
MY Breastfeeding Journey
When you succeed to start your breastfeeding journey, it is likely that you feel very proud. Many of us have had a rough start breastfeeding and it is just such an amazing feeling when you manage to get past that point of struggle. Or perhaps not, it is also possible that it was easy peasy for you from the very beginning. Or that you experienced your breastfeeding journey like a struggle the entire time, but you kept going because you felt it was the best option for your precious baby.
Either way, when you come to the end of your breastfeeding journey (and with breastfeeding I also mean pumping) it is the end of a very special period in your life. Some of us feel the feeling of grief when their journey is about the end, and some feel a rather kind of relief that the struggle is coming to an end.
You might recognize the mutual feeling though, of the desire to keep something tangible of this special period in your life; the journey you went on with your baby, your breastfeeding journey.
Time to make your own breastmilk jewelry at home
Here is where breastmilk jewelry comes in! A perfect way for you to keep some of your baby’s power food, the food you worked so incredibly hard for. Your precious liquid gold, safely preserved in a beautiful gemstone. But how does it work? How do you turn that magical liquid, that is full of antibodies, nutrients and protein into a gemstone? Oh and then into a piece of jewelry? Well, that is a very good question, and I can help you out!
Pumping breastmilk
To start you will need to pump some of your breastmilk and store it in a breastmilk storage bag. I always recommend using breastmilk storage bags because they come sterilized when you buy them. This prevents your breastmilk to grow any mould over time or to go bad. If you do not have breastmilk storages bags on hand, make sure that any other container you might use, is sterilized before you add your carefully pumped liquid gold to it.
You will only need about 5 ml (0.17 oz) of breastmilk for your jewelry piece but pump a bit more just to be safe in case of any spills. Store your breastmilk in the freezer if you are not ready to start on your keepsake yet, it can stay frozen for years and still be good to be used in breastmilk jewelry. But if you are ready to start, just store it in the fridge.
The jewelry piece itself
The next step is that you will have to decide what kind of jewelry piece you would like. This is a very personal preference, and you should look what fits best to you. From pendants, to earrings, bracelets and rings, you name it. Once you have figured out what you like best, it is time to start thinking about materials. Each jewelry piece is made with metal; like silver, gold or stainless steel. The difference is in the quality and looks. When we talk about silver and gold, the purest option is when it is solid. This means that the base material inside is the same as outside. Then there is filled and plated. I won’t go into detail about this, but it basically comes down to that gold or silver filled is more durable than when it is plated.
I personally prefer to work with solid Sterling Silver .925 and solid 14k or 18k gold, as this guarantees high quality, but I also offer some quality gold filled and plated options, as this offers a wider variety in price options. So when you look for your jewelry setting, keep all of this in mind.
How to make a breastmilk gemstone
Let’s talk molds! Your gemstone will be made with a material called epoxy resin. This starts out in a liquid form and over a 12-hour period your resin mix will set into a hard solid stone. You will want your resin mix to set in a shape that will fit in your metal jewelry setting, and thus you will need to find a mold in the exact shape and size to fit that jewelry setting.
The best molds for epoxy resin are made out of soft silicone, so that you can bend them and easily pop out your finished gemstone. Even better, if it is a transparent or semitransparent mold, so that you can see what you are doing when pouring your resin breastmilk mix.
You will need to precisely measure the space you have for a gemstone in your jewelry setting and then measure the size in your mold to match that. To give you an example, if you have chosen a gorgeous solid Sterling-Silver .925 ring setting that has space for a 9 x 11 mm oval shaped stone, you will have to make sure that the mold you get, produces a 9 x 11 mm oval shaped stone. If the size is not matching, it simply will not fit. So, to prevent any disappointments, make sure to have your measurements right!
Let’s pour that breastmilk
After you have decided on your jewelry setting and found the fitting mold, you are on to making your gemstone. For this you will need a high-quality, two-part Epoxy Resin. Make sure to look for an Epoxy Resin that is safe to use at home, non-toxic and specialized for jewelry making.
Want to give some sparkle or color to your gemstone? Have a look at mica colorants or any high-quality glitters, they can give your gemstone a lovely finishing touch! To have a subtle sparkle but still have the breastmilk look, I would suggest go with a light pearl shimmer.
How to preserve breastmilk?
Breastmilk needs to be preserved before you can add it to any keepsake piece. Failing to do so will result in your keepsake piece becoming moldy and turning brown or even black within a short period of time. As an expert, and after having tried many ways to preserve breastmilk, I have found that using a good preserving powder is the very best way to preserve your breastmilk forever.
When you use a breastmilk preserving powder, you mix your breastmilk with the special breastmilk preserving powder and let it slowly heat up until it becomes a thick paste. You then transfer it to a piece of parchment paper and let it dry completely. This can take between 24 up to 48 hours. Once it is dry, you can grind it into a very fine powder, this dust is your very own preserved breastmilk. This can perfectly be used in your epoxy resin mix to be turned into a precious keepsake.
The process of making your own precious keepsake
Making your own breastmilk jewelry is a process of gathering the right materials, preferably high-quality as you want your precious piece to last you a lifetime, and making sure all your measurements are correct so that the final piece fits together nicely. But most importantly, making sure that you preserve your breastmilk right, otherwise all your hard work turns out to be for nothing.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the steps or not sure where to start? Not to worry, I already did all the work for you! I have made easy-to-use do-it-yourself kits, which contain all the above named materials and simple step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process. Let me help you create your most precious piece of jewelry. You can find my Breastmilk Jewelry DIY kits through this link: www.mamamilkfairy.com/diy-kits