This London mom turned her breast milk into soap and made a business out of it

Nursing mothers are turning to a London business owner with requests to turn their unused breast milk into dense bars of soap.

Emily Payson, a mother of two, admits shewasn't expecting to turn her new hobbyinto a money-making venture, but that's what hashappened.

"Your milk is precious and you try to use every last ounce of it. You don't want to throw any away," said the 29-year-old registered nurse,who's on maternityleave with her second daughter.

PaysonsaidBooboo'sSoap started after she gave birth to baby Daisy six months ago. She struggled with breastfeeding, with the child rejecting it, resultingin overproduced milk bags stashed in the freezer.

Payson was inspired after a Google search detailedhow to transform eight ounces of breast milk, mixed with natural oils, into a batch of six thick bars of soap. She tried it. Four weeks later, the soap was ready to use.

"It's good for healing the skin like stretch marks, it's good for insect bites or rashes. It's really moisturizing and nourishing for the skin."

Word spread quickly, and now Payson ismixing batches for other mums.

Supporters and skeptics

But the thought of it all has somecringing.

Breastfeeding and breast milk is stigmatized in society, Paysonexplains, and can be taboo to talk about, let alone lather on in the shower.

"It's such a new idea that I think it's going to take some time for people to warm up to it," said Payson's husband, David.

"I was hesitant at the beginning, but yeah, I use it. It's weird at first,but you don't even notice."

Therespiratory therapistshared the news withall of his friends, including other menwho have beensupportive.

I'll do anything to help new moms and make other moms feel proud of their breast milk.- Emily Payson, Booboo's Soap

However, Booboo's Soap is drawing a lot of attention online with skepticschiming in. Paysonconsiders it an opportunity for education.

"We had lots of people interested and a lot mixed feelings. Some of ithas been about teaching how breast milk is natural and good for our skin," she said.

With eight batches already under their belt, the Paysons are working on about eight more from the hundreds of requests in the region, stretching as far away as Oregon.

How it works?

Before using her own breast milk, Payson tested outher homemade recipeusing cow's milk.

The winning cold-pressed recipe calls for a concoction of eight ounces of breast milk and natural oils such as coconut oil, Shea butter and sweet almond oil. The mix is then put inside the freezer to prevent it from scorching before being processed into bars.

It's then cured for one month before being shipped back to the rightful mum and family all for $80.

"I'll do anything to help new moms and make other moms feel proud of their breast milk," said Payson.

And she's teaching her eager husband how to make the soap himself to keep the business alive when she goes back to work.

"But she's got the special touch," he said.