New mum uses breast milk to cure her daughter’s insect bites and mash her potatoes… and she even makes JEWELLERY out of it
Jerrica Krathwohl produces more milk than baby Elliana needs so has discovered new uses for it, including soothing her baby's itching skin and donating it to other mums
| A NEW mum who produces too much breast milk has found amazing new ways to use it – from soothing her baby’s insect bites to mashing potatoes. And she even makes JEWELLERY out of it. |
Jerrica Krathwohl sooths nine-month old Ellianna’s itchy skin by bathing her in a mixture of warm water and expressed milk.
The 27-year-old, from Indiana, USA, also makes a lotion of breast milk, coconut oil and vitamin E to spread on little Ellianna and calm her sensitive skin.
She said: “I just heat it up and cool it. It soothes her.
“Breast milk is so useful. I also taught myself to make breast milk jewellery. I’ve three pieces, including one with a lock of Ellianna’s baby hair incorporated in.
“They’re really lovely and make me feel close to her.”
Jerrica told of how Ellianna, who was born weighing 9lb 3.4oz at Community Hospital, Anderson, in November 2016, came out in a couple of blotchy lumps after being bitten while outside one day.
Hearing about the soothing properties of breast milk through online forums, she popped her young daughter in a bath – adding around 10 ounces of milk – towelled her off and settled her in bed for the night.
Amazingly, the very next day the bites had vanished.
“Annoyingly, I didn’t take any pictures. If it happens again I will,” said Jerrica.
“Nobody thought the remedy was weird. Using breast milk as a medicine helps normalise breastfeeding, and the numerous uses for milk.”
Since 2007, Jerrica has suffered from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), when hormonal imbalances cause a woman to develop cysts on her ovaries, sometimes making conception a challenge.
Jerrica, married to correctional officer Eric, 27, visited doctors and was given fertility drugs to induce ovulation, which helped her fall pregnant with Ellianna.
“I worried I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed as sometimes PCOS can have an impact on milk production,” she said.
“But, amazingly, I produced more milk than expected. So, I just kept on feeding Ellianna, then I began looking for other uses for milk as some had expired had I didn’t want to waste it.”
In fact, Jerrica produced so much milk she started freezing it at home – and giving it to other mums who needed extra.
She continued: “I can’t bear the thought of any little baby wanting milk.
“Some mums can’t feed. That’s not their fault, but I can help. So I joined a Facebook page and said,’ Hey, I’ve got milk available.’”
In total, Jerrica has donated 101 pints of milk to 14 babies.
The mum, who also weans Ellianna on mashed potatoes made with breast milk, is not a fan of the white stuff herself.
“I don’t actually like milk,” she laughed. “So, no, I won’t be drinking my own breast milk.
“But, I really see no shame in breast feeding, and while I have never wet-nursed, which is feeding another woman’s baby, I wouldn’t be against it.
“The most important thing is mother and baby is happy and healthy.”
A mum recently sparked outrage by using breast milk in brownies to sell at the school cake sale, without warning anyone.
Scientists recently claimed that breast milk cures CANCER by killing off deadly cells.