How Do I Send in My Breastmilk Sample?
Before shipping your breastmilk sample, we recommend keeping it frozen or refrigerated until you are ready to send it. The sample does not need to remain cold during shipping and does not need to arrive fresh.
After your order is confirmed, we will send you a breastmilk collection kit with a leak-proof collection bag labeled with your name and order number, along with instructions for preparing and returning your sample.
U.S. customers:
Your kit includes a prepaid return shipping label, making it easy to send your breastmilk sample back to our studio.
Canada customers:
Your collection kit and return instructions are provided, but return postage is not prepaid. You will need to arrange and pay for shipping your sample back to our studio.
International customers:
You will receive the collection materials and instructions needed to prepare your sample. Return shipping costs are the customer's responsibility.
There is no need to use refrigerated or express shipping. The preservative in the collection bag helps keep your breastmilk stable during transit.
Can I use previously stored or frozen breastmilk?
Yes! Fresh, refrigerated, frozen, previously stored, or thawed breastmilk can all be used.
Your breastmilk does not need to be fresh. We can generally work with breastmilk that has yellowed, expired, or developed an odor, as long as there is no mold.
Do I need to refrigerate the breastmilk during shipping?
Not at all. Our storage container bags are filled with breastmilk preservatives to keep the breastmilk stable during transit, regardless of its age, so the sample does not need refrigerating. This makes the whole process much more convenient for you!
How much breastmilk is needed for a sample?
We only need 10 ml of fresh or thawed breast milk for your sample. Please do not add more than this amount, as overfilling the bag may cause it to burst during shipping. A little less can still work, but please try to adhere to the amount of 10mL so we have enough material to complete your jewelry.
Do I need to dry/preserve the breastmilk before sending it? What if my breastmilk is expired or has an odor?
No need to dry/preserve your sample. Again, our storage container bags are filled with breastmilk preservatives to keep the breastmilk stable during transit. After we receive your sample, we will cure and dry it ourselves into breastmilk powder for crafting your jewelry piece.
Due to this curing process, we can work with breastmilk that has expired or has an odor, as the curing powder stabilizes the breastmilk into a powder, so the expiration/odor will not matter then.
What if my breastmilk is expired, yellow, or has an odor?
That is usually fine.
Because the breastmilk will go through our preservation and curing process, we can generally work with older breastmilk, including milk that has expired, yellowed, or developed an odor.
Can I send formula instead of breast milk?
Yes, you can send a formula sample for us to craft your jewelry. However, formula contains fats that can get trapped during the curing process, so your jewelry piece is more likely to turn yellow over time compared to using breastmilk.
Related Questions
How durable is breast milk jewelry?
Will the jewelry’s color change over time?
Can I use hair or a piece of clothing instead of breastmilk or ashes?
What if there is no preservative in my breastmilk collection bag?
What happens to any leftover materials after my jewelry is completed?
