Some of the MommyMilk Creations pendants made by Alyssa Mogavero of Westerly. Photos from Etsy.com
By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
When Allicia Mogavero got pregnant with her first child, she was in awe of what her body was capable of.
“Making milk was just so cool to me,” said Mogavero, who wasn’t sure that she would be able to have additional children. “Once you’re done lactating, you’re done.”
Mogavero, now a mother of three, decided during her first pregnancy to find a way to preserve her breast milk as a memento. It wasn’t an overnight discovery, but after about a year and a half, she figured out a way to permanently preserve the milk.
But preservation was just the first step of the process. Mogavero doesn’t keep her breast milk in a jar or a bottle; instead, she makes it into jewelry.
Mogavero started her company, MommyMilk Creations, in 2007. Today, she gets orders for her unique pieces from all over the world.
“I’ve always been crafty and always made jewelry,” said Mogavero. She thought combining her hand-crafted accessories with her breast milk was a unique idea. Eventually, she started taking orders from friends and neighbors, and her business grew and grew. She now has an online Etsy store for mothers who want to get their own, personal MommyMilk Creation.
“It’s really popular,” said Mogavero, who makes the jewelry at her Westerly home. “A lot more popular than I thought.”
Mogavero said women who wish to have their breast milk turned into jewelry can send her 10 to 30 milliliters of their breast milk in a standard storage container or bag. She then uses a top-secret, five-step process to preserve the milk, and combines it with clear resin to make a bead. Depending on the milk –“Everybody’s milk is different,” she said – the beads will range in color and texture.
Mogavero hand-makes her breast milk bead molds, which range in design from hearts and stars to anchors and fish.
The beads are then personalized and stung on a chain or put inside a locket. The breast milk beads range in price from $64.00 (a charm for a bracelet) to $160.00 (a sterling silver locket with chain).
Mogavero said most of her clients don’t get MommyMilk Creations to show them off; instead, they keep them as private keepsakes. She said she’s sold hundreds so far, but realizes some people may view her jewelry as odd.
“It’s not for everybody,” she said. “You can’t expect everyone to like something like this.”
This story has been edited to correct the spelling of Allicia Mogavero's first name.
