Turning your breastmilk into a DNA keepsake
How we preserve breastmilk for your keepsake
If you’ve ever wondered how to make breastmilk jewellery or what actually happens to your milk once you send it away this blog is just for you.
At The Spilt Milk Co. we create handcrafted breastmilk keepsake jewellery in New Zealand using a careful, proven breastmilk preserving process that turns your milk into a lasting DNA keepsake.
Does my breastmilk need to be frozen?
No. This surprises a lot of mums.
For crafting a breastmilk keepsake, milk does not need to be frozen for shipping.
In fact, frozen milk can actually cause problems. When it thaws in transit, condensation builds up inside the bag, increasing the risk of leaks during postage.
Breastmilk naturally contains powerful antibacterial properties, which means it doesn’t behave like regular dairy. When used for breastmilk jewellery, it does not “go off” in the way people expect and can safely be kept at room temperature for years without growing mould when stored correctly for keepsake purposes.
How to Send It Safely
Room temperatureDouble bagged in sterile breastmilk storage bagsSealed tightlyPlaced inside your order packaging securely
Simple and stress-free.
Is old breastmilk ok for a breastmilk keepsake?
Absolutely!
What better way to use up old frozen milk from the back of the freezer.
Because we aren’t consuming it, freshness isn’t the concern. Even high lipase or very old milk can be turned into beautiful breastmilk jewellery to treasure.
What happens when your milk arrives at the studio?
When your package arrives:
It is collected from my PO Box.Then checked into my system immediately.You receive confirmation that your inclusions are safely with me.Your sample is clearly labelled with your full name & unique order number.
From that moment on, your milk stays identified and separated at every stage.
There is no chance of cross contamination.
There is no mixing of samples.
Everything is processed meticulously and carefully in batches, but always individually labelled.
Your DNA keepsake is treated like it’s my own.
How we preserve breastmilk
Here’s exactly how I turn your milk into a lasting powder for your breastmilk keepsake jewellery.
1. Heat Treatment
Your milk is carefully heat treated. This is a controlled process that prepares it for preservation and stabilisation.
2. Adding Preservatives
It is then blended with specialised preserving agents to form a thick paste. This is the beginning of the transformation from liquid milk into a stable keepsake material.
3. Dehydration
The paste is slowly dehydrated over time until it becomes completely dry and brittle, almost like a wafer.
This step is crucial. Any moisture left behind could affect the longevity of your breastmilk jewellery.
4. Grinding into Fine Powder
Once fully dried, it is ground into a very fine powder. This powder is what gets carefully incorporated into your chosen design.
The full breastmilk preserving process takes around two weeks.
How many keepsakes can one sample make?
One standard sample of milk can make up to half a dozen keepsakes.Once it's preserved into powder, your milk lasts indefinitely when stored correctly.
Many mums choose to keep a portion in their baby’s keepsake box as a memento. Others come back years later to create another piece.
It’s your story, so you don’t have to decide all at once.
How long does it take to make breastmilk jewellery?
Preserving the milk takes about two weeks.
After that, your jewellery is handcrafted in multiple careful stages using jeweller’s resin and solid precious metals like sterling silver, 9ct gold, or 14ct gold.
Usually we allow around 6 weeks to complete a keepsake, this gives us enough time to order your custom made components, preserve your milk, and craft it over a few sessions so it's perfect and ready to send home.
Will my breastmilk jewellery last?
Yes, once properly preserved, your breastmilk keepsake is stable and designed to last forever.
The milk is no longer in liquid form. It has been fully treated, dried, and turned into a powder before being sealed inside your jewellery. There is no risk of mould developing inside the keepsake later on down the track.
When cared for correctly, your breastmilk jewellery piece will remain beautiful for decades.
Common questions about breastmilk keepsakes
“What if my milk looks separated or strange?”
That’s completely normal. Separation does not affect the preserving process.
“Do I need a lot?”
No. Only a small amount is needed to create multiple pieces. We normally request 10ml but can also work with less. If you don't quite have 10ml, read more about this process here: https://www.thespiltmilkco.com/blogs/news/dont-have-enough-milk
“Can you mix it with hair, ashes, or other inclusions?”
Yes. Many mums choose to combine breastmilk with:
Baby hairUmbilical cordBirth flowersCremation ashPet fur
Every piece is custom and personal, so choose the combination that feels right for you.
Why mums trust The Spilt Milk Co.
Sending your milk away can feel emotional. It represents long nights, feeding journeys, connection, and sacrifice.
That’s why everything in our keepsake studio is:Clearly labelledCarefully separatedProcessed in controlled batchesMade with solid precious metalsCrafted slowly and intentionally
We’ve worked with hundreds of families across New Zealand creating DNA keepsake jewellery that honours their story.
You are not just sending milk.
You’re sending a chapter of your life.
And it’s treated that way from start to finish.
Thinking about creating your own breastmilk keepsake?
Whether you fed for 2 weeks or 2 years, pumped, mixed fed, or exclusively breastfed.Your story deserves to be celebrated & preserved.
And when you’re ready, we'll be here to create something beautiful from it.
