How to preserve breastmilk for keepsake?

Preserving Breastmilk for Keepsake: A Cherished Journey
The journey of breastfeeding is often filled with profound moments, and many mothers seek ways to commemorate this unique experience. One increasingly popular method is the creation of breast milk keepsakes, particularly in the form of jewelry. This not only serves as a sentimental reminder of the bond shared with their child but also transforms a natural part of motherhood into a lasting treasure.
Understanding Breast Milk Jewelry
Breast milk jewelry is crafted from expressed breast milk, which is preserved and transformed into various types of jewelry, including rings, pendants, and lockets. This art form allows mothers to carry a piece of their breastfeeding journey with them, symbolizing the nurturing bond they have with their child. The process typically involves sending a small amount of breast milk to a specialized jeweler who then encapsulates it in resin or other materials to create a durable keepsake.
The Preservation Process
To ensure that the breast milk retains its properties for crafting, proper preservation techniques are crucial. Here’s a general overview of how to prepare breast milk for keepsake creation:
1. Collection: Start by expressing breast milk using a clean pump or by hand. It’s essential to collect the milk in a sterile container to prevent contamination.
2. Storage: Once collected, the breast milk should be frozen immediately. The CDC recommends storing breast milk in a freezer-safe container, ensuring it is sealed tightly to avoid freezer burn. It can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, although using it sooner is preferable for quality.
3. Shipping: When ready to create your keepsake, thaw the breast milk in the refrigerator or under cool running water. After thawing, it should be shipped to the jeweler promptly. Many companies provide specific instructions on how to package and send the milk to ensure it arrives safely.
Creating Your Keepsake
Once the jeweler receives the breast milk, they will begin the transformation process. This typically involves mixing the milk with resin, which is then molded into the desired shape. The result is a beautiful piece of jewelry that encapsulates the essence of your breastfeeding experience. Some artisans even offer customization options, allowing mothers to choose colors or additional elements to personalize their keepsake.
Emotional Significance
The act of preserving breast milk in this way goes beyond mere aesthetics; it holds deep emotional significance. For many mothers, these keepsakes serve as a tangible reminder of the time spent nurturing their child. They can evoke memories of late-night feedings, the closeness shared during breastfeeding, and the journey of motherhood itself.
Conclusion
Creating a breast milk keepsake is a heartfelt way to honor the breastfeeding journey. By following proper preservation techniques and collaborating with skilled artisans, mothers can transform their breast milk into a cherished piece of jewelry that tells their unique story. Whether worn daily or kept as a special memento, these keepsakes serve as a lasting tribute to the bond between mother and child, encapsulating the love and dedication that defines motherhood.

Is frozen breast milk better than formula?

Breast milk is better for your baby than formula – but freshly expressed breast milk is preferable to refrigerated, and refrigerated is better than frozen.

What is a good stash of breastmilk?

For most who work an eight hour work day, you can expect baby to each about 12-16 ounces in an 8 hour period at daycare, so a comfortable freezer stash is 36-48 ounces.

How much breastmilk is needed for jewelry?

Typically we require 30ml for 2 – 4 pieces, depending on size. Small designs require less milk which means we can easily create many multiple pieces. If you have placed a large order for milk jewellery and you live outside of Australia, please do not send any more than 50ml of milk per package.

How do you preserve breast milk for years?

Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of the refrigerator for up to four days in clean conditions. However, it’s optimal to use or freeze the milk within three days. Deep freezer. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored in the back of a deep freezer for up to 12 months.

How do you store breast milk for memory?

Storing breast milk after expressing
Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.

How to keep breastmilk jewelry from yellowing?

Keep it out of sunlight and away from chemicals and it should last okay. If you just constantly wear a breastmilk ring or something I feel like it might yellow in a matter of months. Ultimately it depends on the quality of resin though and its resilience to the sun, that and breastmilk that is dried and cured well.

How much breastmilk do you need for a keepsake?

Your breast milk can be easily shipped using a small box or padded envelope. Breast milk storage bags work great for shipping as they rarely leak in-transit, but if you don’t have those, high-quality freezer bags work, as well. Only 30mL (1 ounce) of breast milk is needed per jewelry piece.

How long does breast milk jewelry last?

Once we have finished your jewelry, your breastmilk and DNA are preserved indefinitely. As your gems are infused with your very own inclusions, they are not always replaceable, so it is important that you care for your jewelry properly. By following our care instructions, we believe your jewelry can last forever.

How do you preserve milk long term?

Make sure to freeze milk before the expiration date and give it an inch or two of headroom to expand. A plastic jug, like the one milk often comes in, works just fine. It’ll keep in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw it by putting it in the fridge and letting it slowly come up to liquid temp.

How do you preserve breast milk for keepsake?

One common method for preserving breast milk is freeze-drying. This process involves freezing the breast milk and then removing the moisture through a process called sublimation. The freeze-dried breast milk is then ground into a fine powder and mixed with a special resin that is used to create jewelry.