A Pendant with a large heart shaped milk bead with a pink background
Hands up all those that have had a smooth, unmemorable breastfeeding journey with their loved one/s?
No hands?
Even my second journey with Ellie, which had no initial nipple pain or latch problems has never been unevenful and she surprises me every day. Last night she asked for "boobie" and then blew a raspberry on it and laughed!
When I think about breastfeeding I remember;
William would feed any time, anywhere and never said no. Ellie would only feed when she was ready and not before.
My right breast has always had a fast let-down and would choke even my 9lb son in his first few weeks and that when they came off during let-down they would get a face full of milk. My right breast was also my best pumper and after a while I didn't even bother trying to pump my left.
Both my babies needed only one breast per feed until they learned to ask for it and then went from having 2,3,4...... per feed just because they could.
The feed at the end of the day when they would fall asleep at the breast, snuggling close to me as we all get some well deserved rest.
The first time that William met Ellie and he was gracious enough to let her have the "Other" boobie while he had "My Boobie" (the right).
Breastfeeding has been how I have parented for the last 5 years. It's how I have nourished and comforted my babies and I wouldn't change a thing. All things worthwhile in life are challenging which makes them all the more cherished.
My Breast Milk Pendant and Ellie's Pendant
I want to remember this precious time for the rest of my life and now I have a beautiful keepsake as a daily reminder of each special moment and the pride I have felt for achieving what I set out to do so long ago now.
Claire and her adorable twins
I have known Claire for a while now. I first met her after she won a competition on the breastfeeding resource blog Dispelling Breastfeeding Myths. Her prize was a free nursing bra fitting and nursing bra so I travelled out to her lovely home in Kent to meet her and her lovely twins in May 2012.
A selection of charms suitable for Pandora bracelets etc.....
I think that before I moved back to the UK I could count on one finger the number of Mums that I had met who had successfully breastfeed twins. Since then I have met many such inspirational Mummy's who have defied the myth that "you can't breastfeed twins" and found the support and determination to breastfeed their twins. Claire is one of these Mums. Now, when I am asked about breastfeeding twins I can say with conviction that it is completely possible and direct them to a couple of great blogs that talk about their experiences.
Claire, AKA Twinkle Mummy to Spud and Sprout
Jennie, AKA Edspire, Mummy to Esther, William and little angel Matilda Mae
Claire also dispells another breastfeeding myth "small breasts = not enough milk" which she has written about here so I hope she won't mind me sharing that. I will however, keep her size a secret (a bra fitter never tells).
You can have your bead embedded in a bangle
I think it was towards the end of last year (2012) that I first heard about Breast Milk Keepsakes. I saw a picture of the first breast milk pendant on facebook with the names "spud" and "sprout"* and thought to myself "Gosh, those names sound familiar". I filed the keepsake away as something to do later on and went to Texas for Christmas until I saw a blog post written by Twinkle Mummy talking about the pendant she had with her sons names on. So I thought to myself that the person making them must have made one for Claire to review and again thought nothing of it but wanted one even more.
The First Pendant for Spud & Sprout
While in Texas The Breast Milk Keepsakes were launched and it finally all fell into place that Claire AKA Twinkle Mummy AKA Spud & Sprout's Mum was also actually the one making and selling the Breast Milk Keepsakes. It's Claire that has worked hard over the last year experimenting with her own milk to make her very own keepsake and is now making breast milk keepsakes for women around the World, including me!
My William and Ellie Pendant
On my return to the UK Claire and I made a pumping/bra fitting date and I travelled out to visit her family again along with Ellie (22mo). Our kiddies are pretty close in age and they played together very well while we talked colours, metals and shapes for the milk bead, and Claire even had a few minutes to try on some pretty nursing bras from Hotmilk.
Charms can be made for your bracelet
I hadn't pumped in over a year, so I was rather excited to express almost 50ml from my right side (my pumping boob). Ellie wasn't as excited and tried to fight the pump shouting "My Boobie!".
I do think that I received the better end of the deal. Claire sent my keepsake just a few weeks later and it is just stunning! I asked for a large star to represent my big boy William who is currently 5 who breastfed for 46 months and a small star to represent little Ellie who is still breastfeeding at 23mo. I've always loved silver and navy blue as a combination so that was an easy choice.
Ellie's pendant
Claire surprised me with a small pink pendant for Ellie when she gets a little older. It's so beautiful with a tear drop of milk at the centre and Ellie loves it already. Actually, every time Ellie sees one of Claires business cards, flyers or her facebook page she points and says "Mine, Mine!"
It's hard to explain to someone else why a Breast Milk Keepsake might be an appropriate gift for a breastfeeding Mum. Each breastfeeding journey is unique and special to both the Mother and child. Breastfeeding for many is one of the hardest yet greatest achievements of their time as a new Mum and a keepsake can help symbolise that time.
Cufflinks for your greatest supporter
To own your very own keepsake you will need to send Claire about an ounce of milk (30ml). You can then choose the shape of your milk bead, the background colour and the piece of jewellery you would like it embedded. I have taken some photos from the Breast Milk Keepsake Facebook page to show you an assortment of what is possible.
You can have something engraved on the back
I bet you are wondering how Claire does it, but that's a closely kept secret. It took Claire over 10 months of trial and error to create the finished keepsake toay so I don't have an answer for you. You can contact Claire to order your very own Breast Milk Keepsake at;
Website
*Names have been changed (excuse my poor graphics abilities)