Forget the push present: Get a breast milk bead or a placenta pendant

Okay I'm going to admit that my initial, knee-jerk reaction to the concept by UK jewellery designer and founder of Mom's Own Milk, Vickie Krevatin, kind of creeped me out at first. Especially when I read that the products were not allowed to be sold on Etsy as they are made with what the online retailer classes as "human remains"! However after a trawl through her online store I'm actually totally converted. Krevatin is a committed breastfeeder and when she looked into having a keepsake made with her breastmilk to commemorate her feeding relationship with her son she was shocked to discover that waiting lists in the UK for the established companies were so long they didn't even bother to respond to her enquiry. Vickie, unfazed, decided to go it alone, and the online store, Mom's Own Milk was born. Vickie writes:

"I am still breastfeeding my son and he's four years old. I've always wanted to have a memento of our very special bond and thought there would be lots of time to have something made. As he got older I was worried my milk would start drying up, or he would self-wean. So after having contacted both UK and US breast milk jewellery suppliers I was shocked that the waiting list was so long, or that they didn't even bother to get back to me about my order. So rather than wait around, I decided to give it a go myself. And what an enjoyable and rewarding process it's been!"

Vickie – who also creates jewellery from placenta, locks of hair and cremation ashes – offers a very personal touch that is essential when dealing with such priceless materials. She is fastidious in her processes to ensure that no inclusions (as she calls the personal items that go into her jewellery) are mixed up and the finished pieces are gorgeous reminders of all those hours we spend nurturing our little ones through those early, vulnerable baby days. I was particularly touched by the words of Vickie's customers who post their thanks to the site. One customer writes:

"Thank you so much. I received my two beads today. (Large bead with milk and hair with gold flecks and small bead with milk flecks) They are so nice I couldn't put them on a bracelet for everyday wear. So I have made a sterling silver waterfall necklace using freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals left over from my homemade wedding tiara. It also contains a sterling silver star charm as it was one of my little one's first words!"

Another customer explains that after a "rocky" start the jewellery is a reminder of her perseverance:

"Today my pendant arrived and it really is something special. I ordered it as we have reached 1 year of breastfeeding, something we never thought would happen after a very rocky start. I wanted a pendant that would remind me of the special times we shared during our night feeds. Not only does this pendant remind me of that, once it's in the sunshine, many colours can be seen in the pendant..it's just magical. Thank you so so much, it's perfect xxx"

Did you have a special token made to remind you of the early days of parenthood? Email your stories to sophie.white@herfamily.com Visit Mom's Own Milk Check out more inspiration for precious keepsakes.