Baby Memorial Jewelry

I’ve always tried hard to offer affordable and beautiful baby memorial jewelry. Below is some information on keeping a memento after the death of a baby, or pregnancy ends, which can be used whether you choose to order with me or another artist.

I have made pieces including inclusions such as locks of hair, hair with vernix, fabric with blood, cremation ashes, umbilical cord and cord stump, flowers from a funeral and other items. Please get in touch if you’d like a discount as I may be able to help.

Collecting Placenta and Umbilical Cord

If you are pregnant and your baby is stillborn 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 piece of umbilical cord for jewelry. 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 stillborn.

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. If you’re about to or have just delivered you’re welcome to call me, please as I am unable to work with pieces that have been in formaldehyde etc.

Cord/placenta Preservation for Baby Loss Jewelry*

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. If you are near Centerton, Arkansas, I will come myself to help.

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 (I 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. 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. 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 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 Inclusions instructions when you have your order number so I 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.

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 mortuary workers, I’ve found, 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 I 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 try to only use half of, before sending photos of the pieces to check you like the colors, etc. It really does make my work a lot easier and less stressful if you can provide a good amount if possible.

Cremation Ashes

The crematorium may have a special way to cremate small babies, although this will be more expensive. For an early loss, there may not be enough to keep or your baby may be cremated with others. Sometimes you may be allowed to keep some of the ashes from a joint cremation, so it is worth asking.

For a second trimester loss you may be given the option to include some items with your baby such as clothes, stuffed animals and photographs. This can help give you a little more ashes if you wanted to spread some or give other family members some ash. 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.

There had been a client whose dog passed away where the pet crematorium sealed the urn but we haven’t heard of this being done with human ashes. If you’d like to keep some for a memento from us you can ask the crematorium to separate some out or you can do it yourself any time afterwards. I only need, at most, half a teaspoon which is more than enough for a family order (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 mold first then add ashes as necessary.

Other Keepsakes From Stillborn Babies

Midwives are usually able to help take photos, footprints and handprints, casts etc. Please ask what they have available. If you have a few days available you can order from Amazon with Prime delivery.

I am always happy to offer discounts on family memorial orders.

*These instructions are not intended to preserve the umbilical cord or placenta for consumption. They are only for preservation to be made into keepsakes.