How I wish I knew about breastmilk jewellery for my first babe.

I remember when I first became a mum 3 years ago, I had no idea if I was going to breastfeed or not. I mean I was so frightened about becoming a mum in the first place, that I hadn’t really thought about how I was going to feed her! My first encounter with breastfeeding, was a seminar that my doctor suggested I go to, and far out after that I was more scared of breastfeeding then I ever was before. I just put it to the back of my mind and tried not to think about it. Well came the day my babe was born, she was so very tiny and didn’t really suck very well.  The nurse hand expressed colostrum from me and fed it to her through a syringe. Every couple of hours a nurse would come in and help me try to get her to latch. But because she was so little, I would feed her then my husband would give her a top up feed through a syringe. After a day or so, I thought I had it sorted. Four days after she was born, a nurse came in and watched me. She started to panic and flutter about. Next thing I had the breastfeeding consultant in saying this and that. Apparently my milk hadn’t come in and it should have (this is when I started to regret not doing any pre-birth reading!!) and that I should be expressing to help it. I had previously asked to express but was told not to. So, cue first time mum guilt. I wasn’t feeding my child properly, I was a failure of a mum, how come I didn’t know what to do. You name it, I felt it. I was extremely tired as every two hours I was feeding her to make sure she put on enough weight to stay out of the nursery. Any question I asked the answer was breastmilk. Gunk in their eye, squirt of breast milk. Baby pimples, squirt of breast milk. Snotty nose, squirt of breast milk. Breast milk was the answer, so I was starting to understand how important it was. So, I persisted even after my first horrid experience. Fast forward, I ended up feeding her until she was one. Second time round wasn’t the same. I was much more confident and willing to ask for help. I asked for help, but also knew exactly when I didn’t need any advice. My second was such a strong sucker, so we had the opposite and she ended up creating an over supply of milk. We spent a lot of time trying different positions, so she wouldn’t choke and helping her learn to slow down. Oh, the amount of times I was so close to mastitis in those first few weeks. We are now eight months in and I don’t think we are stopping anytime soon. However, she has had two teeth for a while now and continues to bite me, so she is walking a thin line.

I wish I had know about breast milk jewellery for my first, as it was a journey I would never forget. Its by no means a new concept, it was definitely around when she was born. I just had no idea it was a thing! The tight feeling when my milk came in for the first time- as a first time mum- my gosh it is something different thats for sure! The pain of cracked nipples, but the determination not to give up, its that persistence and will power that I like to capture. Being sleep deprived is a whole new experience in itself, but then on top of that trying to look after someone who is so dependant on solely you. I remember very vividly one time looking at my husband and actually asking him what I was suppose to do with my baby after he handed her to me one night while she was crying. He looked at me confused and replied you need to feed her. Oh yeah, right how do I do that again- argh! Parents deserve medals, especially all that is being learnt in those first few weeks. So I really wish I could have made myself a little something to celebrate my journey. Being able to create these memories for you is exactly why I love doing what I do. Whether it is breast milk jewellery or keepsake jewellery, freezing those moments are what I am all about.