Breast Milk Jewelry Is Officially A Thing

Make no mistake, breast milk is pretty effing wondrous. But aside from being credited with lowering childhood cancer risks and providing babies with loads of antibodies, breast milk is also pretty cool for the simple fact that you can do lots of stuff with it. Just ask Vickie Krevatin, who puts her creative talents to work by using breast milk to make jewelry for new mothers as a keepsake. That's right; just like you'd bronze a pair of baby shoes or make hand print murals to keep track of all those important milestones, you can wear your own breast milk around your neck to commemorate your breastfeeding years. Such is the world we live in, folks.

Krevatin is the U.K. artist behind Mom's Own Milk, which, according to the Daily Mail, is Britain's "most prominent breast milk jewelry company." (I do have to wonder just how many such jewelry companies are really out there ... but I digress.) Her breast milk lockets, pendants, and other creations range in price from around $18 all the way up to $235. But if you're looking to find them on Etsy, you're out of luck; Krevatin says the online marketplace recently banned the jewelry after they blocked any and all products that used "human remains." (Apparently breast milk fell under that umbrella.)

On her official website, Krevatin shares the story behind Mom's Own Milk's inspiration:

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 jewelry 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!

According to Krevatin, there are plenty of people who turn their nose up at what she does. But hey, she's laughing all the way to the bank. "I know what I do is offensive to some people, who tell me it's disgusting," Krevatin said. "However, I am getting more orders than ever."

Amazed? Turns out that when it comes to unconventional uses for breast milk, jewelry is just the beginning. Here are seven other things you can do with breast milk that will kinda blow your mind.

1. Make Soap

Believe it or not, breast milk soap can fetch as much as $30 a bar, and is said to be great for delicate skin.

2. Treat Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is fun for no one. But if you express a little into your hand and rub it onto your baby's head, you'll be amazed at its natural healing powers.

3. Soothe Eczema

Breast milk doubles as a nutrient-packed lotion that's great for soothing. And considering how eczema affects nearly 10 percent of infants and small children, that can really come in handy.

4. Get Rid Of Diaper Rash

Have you run out of pricey diaper rash cream or butt paste? No worries — just pour some breast milk into your hand and apply generously if you're in a pinch. (It also doubles as an excellent nipple balm.)

5. Treat Ear Infections

According to Medical Daily, you can just squeeze three to four drops of breast milk into a baby's ear, and it'll work wonders, thanks to those powerful antibodies. (Just be sure to put the milk at the ear's opening, not directly into it.)

6. Use It As A Facial Cleanser

Yep, breast milk also makes for a great facial wash. But maybe that's no surprise, since you've already seen how awesome it is for the skin. Consider this, though: Back in 2010, a U.K. study found that breast milk actually helped clear up teenage acne. Kind of a miracle, right? (Though something tells me that expecting teenagers to regularly wash their faces in breast milk would be somewhat problematic.)

7. Eat It!

Okay, I know this may sound gross. But really, people do use breast milk from time to time in their cooking. It's been used in everything from ice cream to cheese. (And people say it's hot half bad, either.)

Image: momsownmilk/Instagram (1); Tzuhsun Hsu, Amanda Tipton/Flickr; Fotolia (3)