I received this item at no cost to facilitate my review. All opinions and breast milk remain my own!
I always knew I would breastfeed my babies. I never knew how much I would love breastfeeding. I never knew I’d breastfeed for so long. I never knew how much the breastfeeding relationship would mean to me.
I’m nursing my second baby as I plunk away at this post, in fact. I stopped nursing Cub when he was 27 months old, and we would likely have continued a bit longer had I not gotten pregnant with his sister. Cub and I still talk a lot about breast feeding. He always wants to know who drank whose milk (that I drank milk from Popo, that Papa drank milk from Grand-Maman, and so on). Also, based on his understanding that mammals nurse their young and reptiles do not, and that he knows (much to his chagrin when he’s trying to use my pump) boys don’t produce milk, he’s also concluded he is a reptile.
I have a crystal clear memory of Cub latching on for the first time, instinctively kneading my breasts like a cat. With Little Miss it was the same. I have been extremely lucky to have had very easy breastfeeding experiences.
In the grand scheme of their lives, they will have been my nurslings for but a blink of an eye. I presume that it’s not even something they will remember firsthand. It’s also pretty unlikely they’ll want to reminisce with me about our breastfeeding relationship when they’re teenagers.
Now I have a tiny pearl that commemorates our breastfeeding bond that I can keep close to my heart even when my nurslings have left the nest.
This is my breast milk pearl made by Morgan at North Faun. That’s right: this beautiful jewel is made from MY milk.
I honestly didn’t know that breast milk jewellery was a thing until I saw Morgan’s Instagram feed. I wondered… how do I even get my milk to her? (Turns out, all I had to do was put a small amount in a breast milk bag, tape it shut for good measure, put it into another Ziploc bag, and then slip it into a small padded mailer!) Obviously, once the milk arrives at Morgan’s workshop, it’s not safe for consumption, but it’s still perfect for making jewellery! (She recently received milk all the way from Singapore—a 5-week journey—that wasn’t smelly or even separated.)
Morgan solidifies your milk with a special preservation process before she begins crafting the piece. I know that wearing jewellery made of your breast milk is not for everyone’s tastes. That’s what’s incredible about Morgan’s craft: your jewellery can be made of almost any keepsake:
- dried placenta (Granted, if breast milk jewellery isn’t for you, I suspect neither is placenta.);
- fabric from a cherished blanket or piece of clothing;
- dried flowers (The perfect way to preserve your wedding bouquet!);
- sand, crushed rocks, shells;
- baby’s first lock of hair;
- ashes… and almost anything else you can think of.
Left to right: placenta, ashes, amethyst
The inclusion is encased in museum-quality resin, which is treated so that the piece should last indefinitely. (You’ll want to care for your treasure according to her instructions.)
My breast milk pearl arrived like this:
I chose to add a shimmer to my milk, which is what gives my pearl such an opalescent allure:
I am completely enamored with my North Faun breast milk pearl. I do not wear much jewellery: for the past 10 years, I’ve worn the same cubic zirconia necklace (you can actually see it in my two birth photos) that my boyfriend-turned-husband gave me at the dawn of our courtship. If I’m going to wear bling, it has to mean something. This pearl is worth more to me than any precious stone: it will one day be totally irreplaceable.
The pearl itself is stunningly subtle: nobody has to know it’s made of breast milk. (But I’ll probably tell anyone who comments on it.) I expect to be wearing it for decades to come, and I’ll give Little Miss Cub her Papa’s cubic zirconia one day!
Shop & Connect
North Faun has a wide variety of pendants, rings, earrings and beads to suit your style and chosen inclusion. Check out her site and follow her on Instagram.
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Lisa says
So neat. I would love to do this and save a memory for my nursing time with all my kids.
Sandra Lamb says
I would love to get one of these done how.much r they I don’t have instagram abd I hope I hit the.comment button properly lol any ways can u send me.an email at blackrodent@hotmail.com thanks so.much
Barbara says
I love this idea. Breastfeeding was the most challenging but special bond between my son and I and I think this is such a classy way to remember that special bond!
E3+D says
I had never heard of breast milk jewelry until a few days ago but now it’s on my must-have list! The timing is perfect for me as I am currently tandem feeding my two kiddos, so one piece would represent them both. So beautiful! <3
Susan Willis says
I have also been surprised with how much I have cherished the breastfeeding relationship with my son. I too always intended to breastfeed for a year or so but now I intend to continue as long as he wants (provided it is true when they say no child will still want to nurse by highschool ?). I would love such a beautiful and important piece of jewelry.
Allie says
Breastfeeding my daughter was hard at the beginning (like I told my husband, getting kicked in the boobs by a tiny baby when you have block milk ducts is probably the closest equivalent to being kicked in the family jewel…), but we finally got the hang of it and now it’s the best part of our day! I would SO love a memento of this special time and the breast milk pearl is just gorgeous!
Amber S says
This is so beautiful.
Katie Sherlock says
I love the idea of using breast milk! I also hardly wear jewelry but I would make an exception for this! It’s beautiful and so meaningful.
Corrie says
Such a cool way to freeze time. I will definitely be doing this ❤️
Kathy Harrigan says
I wish I had known about the pearls with my son, such a great keepsake I hope to get for my daughter due to arrive anytime.
Melanie S says
I love it! Would love to have one to commemorate my breastfeeding journey as well.
Kristin D says
I was looking into this idea! So happy to know that there are places in Canada that make breast milk jewelry too!
Brittany Neufeld says
I would love the opportunity to win one of the North Faun beads! I have 3 kids and I was planning on getting one made for each of my children, so this would really help out financially.
Monique T says
What a wonderful keepsake!
Melissa M says
So pretty! I have milk saved from all 4 of my babies but never knew what to do with it! And she is local to me!
Amber Ludwig says
What an amazing memory to keep forever!! I just adore that they trap the hardships and joys of nursing into one beautiful pearl!! I would wear it with so much pride <3
Camille W says
It’s the first time I’m hearing about this! It’s absolutely stunning and so very meaningful and special. I’d have to think about what I’d like to use but breastmilk is definitely a strong contender.
Dorothy W. says
Wow! That is absolutely precious! I never heard of such a thing. I would love to try her service one day.
Lisa L says
Breastfeeding has meant so much more to me than I anticipated when I began 18 months ago. I would love a beautiful symbol of our special bond.
Edye says
Love this! Such a unique piece 🙂
Julia Grey-Garnett says
I’m like you and don’t wear jewllery often but reading your review put this on my need list. I had a very difficult breastfeeding journey with my first daughter and so far a wonderful one with my second daughter. What a special keepsake.
KCS says
Beautiful piece, I hope to get one for Mother’s Day!
Sara Neely says
Sadly, my breastfeeding days are over but I have a friend I know would absolutely love this and I’d love to gift it to her!
Diana Powell says
I would put a flower from our wedding bouquet . What a wonderful way to remember a special time in your life .
Kristina Leezer says
So cool! I really love it.
Amber says
Would love one of these. They are so beautiful.
Hanjia says
This is such a meaningful way to preserve something and keep it close to heart! Makes them one-of-a-kind!
Sarah Chamberlain-Boyle says
These are totally beautiful! I would love one of these for each of my children! <3
Amber L says
This is probably the coolest thing ever! I really like how at the beginning of the review you said you always knew you were going to breast feed! I too feel that way, and boy am I ever happy I can. Even at 4am I am still grateful. Thank you for yet again another great review and giveaway!
Katherine M. says
I miss my baby girl Sasha dog soooo much and I’ve loved feeding all my babies. I like that you can add more than one inclusion into the locket
Arista sedivi says
Thank you for this giveaway. I would love to win a necklace keepsake for my son’s umbilical piece! 🙂
Kristin Faircloth says
Thank you for doing such a special giveaway. Breast milk jewelry is something I’ve been considering for awhile.
Jen Emery says
Breastfeeding was a difficult journey with my first two. There are so many factors as to why we failed to nurse past 4 and 6 months. It’s my hope to get to at least a year with my third baby. He is now seven weeks old, and breastfeeding has been an easy, peaceful journey so far! This kind of memento for it would be very special!
Kristin Burke says
Thank you so much!
Cloe St-Amour says
Great review as always! Such a net product!
Bethany G says
Breastmilk jewelry is such a neat way to commemorate the breastfeeding relationship! I would love this.
Elizabeth KD says
What a beautiful way to remember such a special time with my babies!
Amy J says
Thanks for sharing! I love jewelry like this!!
Judy Cox says
These really look nice. Thanks for the cool giveaway.
Jamie S says
I love your review and I’m so interested in getting a piece of breastmilk jewelry! I also don’t wear much jewelry (none on at the moment). Something so special would be a daily reminder of our bond even when she is older and doesn’t want me around so much! I also like all the different options for inclusions…
Viv Sluys says
I’ve never heard of such a creation. It’s a very neat idea. At first I was a little weirded out about the idea but the breast milk one is definitely beautiful!
brittany jackson says
I have a bag of milk in my freezer to do something with. I’m so scared of loosing it. this would be a great idea. maybe make a whole pearl necklace
wendy browne says
I ran across her instagram last week too. Very detailed, thoughtful review. I told my sister that I’d buy her a bead from her dog’s ashes.
Jessica Lodge says
I think this is a beautiful idea. The jewelry is also very beautiful. Thank you for the review, I had never heard of this and it’s very cool.
Dani Regalado says
How cool is this?! I first saw this several months ago, and I was excited that something like this existed. Breastfeeding is one of the most rewarding and awesome and trying things I have done. I would never take back the bad. It outweighs the bad by a mile (or 500);)
Alexandria Lawrence says
I would absolutely do breast milk! I wasn’t able to BF my first because I was so young and naive. I went back to work at 2 1/2 month PP and didn’t know about pumping laws. I was forced to pump in a common area with no door, and not nearly frequently enough. Looking back it was absolutely insane! I’m 6 months strong with my #2 and have 350 ounces donated. I feel so honored and blessed to be doing something wonderful for my baby and others who need help.
Laura says
I think the pearls are gorgeous. Very neat. I had never heard of anything like this before!
Juana Esparza says
I would get the metallic vintage leaf – medium purple.