Anjali Rao says: “I am one of those sentimental moms who documents each and every milestone of my child and tries to hoard every keepsake possible. I believe there is no memory too big or small you think is not worth capturing. My emotions around pregnancy, childbirth and new motherhood are incredibly powerful. I am of the opinion that there is an endless list of memorable moments of motherhood to celebrate. So aside from capturing a million photos of my baby (no, am not kidding!) I still find ways to cling on to the beautiful memories that include my pregnancy and breastfeeding journey.”
No doubt, breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. It is proven that it provides immeasurable health benefits for both mother and child. Liquid gold as it is often called, it is a source of complete nutrition for a new-born.
Did you know that breastfeeding for one year is approximately 1,800 hours? 22 months and still going strong, my breastfeeding journey is something I am proud of. All you mommies will agree with me when I say breastfeeding is hard work and it is one of the most selfless acts. I have my moments of pure happiness and pure despair too. I fondly remember the first moments of bliss at the beginning of my maternal journey. There have been countless sleepless nights, yet beautiful moments, when my baby, soothed by the sound of my voice, calmly drifted away to sleep in my arms. The first year is filled with many sweet tender moments and is purely magical. I still savour the sleepless nights where my babu-girl looks up at me sleepily and grins. There are days of cluster feedings round the clock or fussy feeds during teething. But I confess, breastfeeding my daughter has been an unforgettable and rewarding experience.
This private moment with my little one is truly special to us because it has strengthened our bond. To me, breastfeeding has been a very memorable chapter, a cuddle-filled ritual with warmth and love – it is simply priceless! To my daughter, it has given an incredible gift of comfort, nutrition and sense of safety all by hearing my hear-beat while nursing.
I still am totally in awe of our breastfeeding journey and have a newfound respect for all mothers. My liquid gold sure makes me so proud. It has been so empowering that I wanted a memorable way to honour this momentous journey and immortalize it. I wanted to keep some of these little magic memories alive. I wanted to keep the memories of the twinkle in my baby’s eye when she cuddled up to my breast, the joy of her first smile, the cute burps and spit ups. That is why to mark this achievement and to remember a very emotional and rewarding part of my motherhood journey, I decided on getting my own one of a kind piece of jewellery.
My Breast Milk (BM) jewellery:
Breastmilk jewellery is made out of breastmilk and is of sentimental value for first-time mothers like me. This concept is so beautiful, wonderful and touching. It is a piece of genetically love-laced jewellery that commemorates the breastfeeding journey. It will be a special reminder too when my daughter grows up of and hears of what helped her become who she is. It’s something of us, of my little one and me – only ours.
Breastmilk Silver Pendant and Ear-rings Set:
I believe our lives are built on moments. These are the moments we want to capture in our memories. The breastfeeding moments remind me of milestones and momentous occasions.
A breastmilk pearl pendant on a silver chain – this ornament is a sentimental memento in a classic setting. The shape and size is prominent and is sure to catch everyone’s attention. I describe them as ‘tiny time capsules’ of wearable jewellery. This is one of my most treasured possessions that I will keep close to the heart for years to come. This will be a reminder of all those gentle moments I shared with my little one. This pendant is a classic souvenir which I will wear as a badge of honour!
The elegant earrings are simple pearl drops that are graceful, consistent in their lightness, and captures the eye with their extraordinary form. This piece is beautifully handcrafted with silver details. It is simple but striking and is perfect for a clean timeless look. This is also a tangible memory of my unique journey.
Finger Ring:
Modern and simplistic with the perfect flair of elegance, this unique and out-of-the-ordinary piece is custom designed. I really wanted to have something unique and just mine. A simple gold ring with milk pearl and the motif of a leaf. This is a perfect combination of elegance, beauty and precious memories. A simple ring with a milky pearl and a tiny leaf is elegance enchanted in simplicity. It is a memory enclosed in a pearl of milk. I know this one I will want pass on for generations as a true heirloom piece.
Umbilical Cord stumps Pendant:
I wanted something to symbolise my pregnancy and this pendant is just perfect. It means the world to me because it represents a very special phase of my life that lasted 9 months. It is a physical reminder of the miracle of childbirth because the umbilical cord connects the baby with the mother. It is a sacred part of the mother-baby bond because it literally is the lifeline which nourishes the baby whilst it’s in its mother’s womb.
With its high lustre, this breathtaking pearl-shaped resin pendant is meticulously set in gold. The stump inclusion within the resin is the remainder of the umbilical cord that gave my baby nutrients and oxygen. It is a very personal reminder of my pregnancy. This exquisite wearable memory will always be something that we will love and will treasure forever.
About Thaarika and jewellery making:
Thaarika from ‘The Liquid Pearl’ is very passionate about capturing and creating one-of-a-kind memorabilia keepsake jewellery. A mother of a 14-month-old baby boy herself, she understands other mommies emotions and crafts these special keepsakes that last a lifetime. Breastfeeding is not a choice but it’s a responsibility, she says. As a budding lactation consultant, she not only knows the importance of breastmilk and breastfeeding but also gives additional care and encourages moms to exclusively breastfeed their babies.
After some interaction with her, I shipped my breastmilk as per instructions. She kept me up-to-date every step of the way. She was very responsive and creatively incorporated the idea that I wanted. Just as I would with my own special memories, Thaarika handled mine with great care and, made these pieces with love. She even safely hand-delivered the gold jewellery after travelling 200 kms!
Breastmilk goes under a unique process of preservation. The entire process of jewellery creation is constantly monitored to produce a special and original piece of the highest quality. She uses a very professional method of preserving breastmilk so that it retains its colour and finishing forever.
To add to the jewellery, I have a few more keepsakes custom crafted by Thaarika. These personalized milk keychains are a gorgeous addition to my growing collection.
Conclusion:
I’m over the moon with how my jewellery looks. I am overwhelmed with emotion and I am so grateful to have such meaningful keepsakes that will help me remember even when my memory fails me. These keepsakes will carry with them distinct memories that will never be forgotten. This is a beautiful way to keep the lovely reminders of my motherhood journey with me forever.
Here’s to the long days and seemingly endless nights of feeding! Here’s to celebrating 22 months of liquid gold and memories to cherish forever.
