A couple turn breastmilk, placenta and ashes into jewellery as a keepsake for parents for £192. Anna Thachuk, 42, and her husband, Jeff, 54, say it takes two weeks turning each batch of breastmilk into powder.
It is then combined with clear resin to make rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and beads. Mum-of-three Anna - who experienced five miscarriages - came up with the idea when her sister was looking for keepsakes to remind her of breastfeeding. Together with her husband Jeff, the pair spent six months perfecting their formula to ensure there was no bacteria left in the milk which could cause the resin to discolour.
The pair launched in September 2018, and now have an average of 35 orders a day - with prices varying from £73 to £192 - for their unique and bespoke made jewellery. Each item is custom made for their clients and can take four to eight weeks to finish.
Anna, co-founder of Keepsake Mom, from Vancouver, Canada, said: “I didn’t click how important what I do is until I received a message from a mum who had lost a baby and had sent her last breastmilk to be made into a keepsake. She told me she was so thankful for what I do.
“I get to live my dream out of making jewellery and create something special and meaningful. I love making the items.
“We celebrate breastfeeding. We can create products with donor milk if a mother can’t provide their one and can even make our designs with frozen milk.”
Anna - who also works once a week as a sonographer - has always felt a connection with breastfeeding and counts herself “lucky” to have been able to breastfeed all of her three children - now aged seven, nine and 14. Breastfeeding is an amazing gift if you can do it,” she said.
“We understand not everyone can. But we can create our jewellery with donor milk but still personalise it with the mother’s chosen names, footprints or design.”
She perfected the formula for her designs with Jeff - who has a background in chemistry. Through research we saw that items can turn brown because of the bacteria,” she said.
“We perfected our formula to stop this happening.”
Customers are sent out breastmilk kits to collect their milk for their chosen product and it is then processed by Anna’s team into powder.
“This takes two weeks so none of the bacteria survives,” she said. "Then we work on creating a clear resin before adding their personalisation such as flakes, shimmers, locks of hair, dried flowers, or feet prints.”
Depending on the product, the entire process start to finish takes between four and eight weeks. Anna and her team can also incorporate placenta, and ashes into the jewellery on request.
“Some people like the keepsake to commemorate their lost babies,” Anna said. “I’ve experienced five miscarriages myself and it is absolutely devastating.
“One customer asked for a star for each of her losses. But we also celebrate breastfeeding.
“Lots of customers want to commemorate this.”
Anna, who first started making her jewellery on a stove in her home loves that her passion can make a difference to so many people.
“I love making the special items,” she said. “And continuing to have a connection to the breastfeeding community.”
