Baby & Pregnancy Loss Keepsakes

Below is some information on keeping a memento after the loss of a baby, or a pregnancy ends, which can be used whether you choose to order with us or another artist.  I have some information on Cremation Ashes (CLICK HERE) for babies.  

If you are looking for a Keepsake Gift to acknowledge a loss for someone you know or yourself I have a growing collections of items that are created with compassion and empathy and can be found here at this link.

My Memorial Jewellery  &  Memorial Keepsakes are also available for creating something special for the parents.

**If you are someone or know someone who has experienced this terrible loss including young children, and needs some support financially to receive a keepsake, please do not hesitate to contact Kathy to discuss as she will always help where she can.

Collecting Placenta and Umbilical Cord

If you are pregnant and your baby is poorly or will be born sleeping it is unlikely that the hospital will allow you to keep the whole placenta. You can usually ask to keep a walnut sized amount of placenta and/or a small 2-3cm piece of umbilical cord for jewellery. You can take an ice block and insulated bag with you if possible (planned delivery), to put the cord in and give it to a loved one to take home that/the next day.

They may need to check the entire placenta first but ask them not to use chemicals on the piece you are keeping. You must promise not to consume this (such as a placenta smoothie) as this is not recommended if your baby has been poorly.

It can be left at room temperature but too long and it might not be pleasant to dry or work with. Please ask a midwife to help and perhaps show them this page so they can help preserve a piece. 

Do not allow the piece to have any chemicals on it please, as I am unable to work with pieces that have been in formaldehyde etc.

Cord/Placenta Preservation for Baby Loss Jewellery

It can be placed in your freezer where it can stay until you are physically well enough to do the next stage, if you aren’t emotionally ready please ask a friend or midwife to read this to help you. 

Keep the raw placenta/cord out of the fridge no more than 5 hours, and in the fridge no more than 4 days. You can freeze it any length of time for making keepsakes so this is best (we can work with things that have been frozen or dried for 30+ years). Once frozen it can be kept there until you are ready for the next stage.

Please do not send them to me raw.   You must get the placenta encapsulated (powdered) before sending it to us.

Do not allow the piece to have any chemicals on it, please as I am unable to work with pieces that have been in formaldehyde etc.

Instructions for drying umbilical cord

1. Defrost the cord somewhere safe away from pets, perhaps in a little bowl on a high shelf
2. Put your oven on the lowest setting it will go, perhaps 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Leave the door open a little bit so it’s not too hot (if it opens down you can prop it open with a wooden spoon)
3. Rinse your baby’s cord and pat it dry and cut it into pieces if you like. Then put it on some baking parchment on a shelf in the oven and leave to dry for 4 to 8 hours. It will still be a little bendy because of the Wharton’s jelly inside it but it will be very light and dry.
4. Keep half in a safe place and send the other half in the kit, which will arrive a week or so after you order. Follow the rest of the Sending Elements instructions when you have your order number so we can make your keepsake.

If you aren’t able to get the cord to a freezer then you can pack it in salt or cover it completely in alcohol. A small bottle of vodka would work, although this could post a fire risk when dehydrating. Please don’t use any chemicals on it because it could be hazardous when drying the piece.

Placenta

Please do not send either Umbilical or Placenta pieces to me raw.  We only use powdered Placenta.   ***You must get the placenta encapsulated (powdered) before sending it to us. You can ask your midwife or doula if they can help you with this.  I only require half a capsule.

Acquiring Baby’s Hair

If your baby is with you still you can ask a midwife to help you. If they are being cared for ready to be laid to rest or cremated then funeral home are wonderful at collecting the right amount without it being visible. We understand how important it is that their skin isn’t damaged by it and we can work with very small amounts. When you send in the hair in a sending kit I’ll need you to keep half back, and what I receive I will try to only use half of, before sending you photos of the pieces to check you like the colours etc. It really does make my work a lot easier and less stressful if you can provide a good amount if possible. 

Baby & Pregnancy Loss Cremation Ashes

When having your precious baby cremated you will be given the option to include some items with your baby such as clothes, stuffed animals and photographs.

Some families like to put some ash in when planting a rose, some people choose ash teddy bears, some choose beautiful urns or make them themselves and some people put the ashes somewhere safe. How you choose to keep them is as unique as your baby is.

If you’d like to keep some for a memento to be created by me, you can ask the crematorium to separate some out or you can do it yourself any time afterwards.

I personally understand the difficulty in handling a childs Ashes so am here to support you if you need it and offer suggestions on ways to make the process
easier. If you are local to me I am happy to help you in person. I only need at most, half a teaspoon which is more than enough for a family order of several
pieces. I’ve worked with just seven grains of cremation ashes and find that less is sometimes more.

The resin will magnify the ash. Some companies ask for several tablespoons full which is not necessary, and some resin artists mix the ash into resin before pouring but I pour the resin into the mould first and then add ashes as necessary so there is no excess resin unused and wasted which contain ashes.

Please note: If you are someone or know someone who has experienced this terrible loss including young children, and needs some support financially to receive a keepsake, please do not hesitate to contact Kathy to discuss as she will always help where she can. 

 

Another item I have previously made is a Resin Egg
with a little stillborn baby's ashes.  If this is something
that you would like to find out more about
please contact (click here) Kathy or they can be 
ordered here.