Belly Casting
Belly casting is a unique way to honour and preserve the amazing reality of how your body changed as your unborn child grew.
Photography only provides a two dimensional image but a belly cast adds the dramatic third dimension of depth. In the years to come, you can view it from all angles, touch the curves, and explore the inner concavity where your baby curled up waiting to be born. Some people choose to leave their belly casts plain while others paint their belly casts or add a wide variety of embellishments. The options of finishing the cast are unlimited from painting and bronzing to decoupage and stone finishes or just left with a natural varnish.
Even if you are uncertain about doing this kind of birth art, do it anyway. As time goes by, and your love for you baby grows, this memento will mean even more to you.
About Belly Casting
I offer Belly Casting Services in the comfort of your own home. I will bring all the materials and will do all the clean up. We will discuss the pose that you wish to use prior to starting. Belly Casts can be of just the belly to make unique belly bowls or of the complete torso from shoulders to hips.
I work in two casting mediums and you can choose which you would prefer. Alginate casting allows for a very lifelike cast but is expensive to work with. It is a fast setting product that does not always leave room for adjustment. I have had alot of success casting only using plaster and plaster casting strips. Unlike the home belly casting kits I take the process one step further. I make a relief mold using a substance called Hydrocal. It is a plaster of paris like material but is many times stronger and much more durable. Hydrocal impressions also give a very exact mold.
After we have discussed the pose and the material that we are using I will ask you to help prepare for the process. As I prepare the casting area and materials I will ask you to get prepared for casting. You will need an old bedsheet to wrap around your hips. If we are doing a belly bowl you can wear a sports bra as well. I will ask you to liberally apply petroleum jelly, that I will provide, to all areas that we are casting. This is the release agent for the cast. You are welcome to have your birth partner at the casting too. They may also wish to help with the birth art.
You will be asked to hold your pose either sitting on the edge of a seat, which will result in a more round, more full-bodied sculpture. You may also choose to stay standing but leaning against something for support. You will need to assume a position which you can remain fairly still in for about 20 minutes. It is not recommended that you lie down.
Once you are comfortable in the desired position the fun begins! A light spray of plaster will be applies followed by many layers of casting strips for a strong mold. Once all the bandages are in place it takes a maximum of 15 minutes for the bandages to dry. I will then remove the mould carefully and place it in a packing box. I will transport the mould back to my office, where it will continue to dry for another 48 hours. I will do the final casting in my own work space where I have an assortment of tools to help render a beautiful cast for you. I will return your belly cast for you to finish yourself, or for additional charges I can finish it for you. Your belly cast will be returned to you in 14 days from the time of casting.
How much does it cost?
Plaster Casting with Unfinished Hydrocal Relief Mould
Shoulders to Hips $200.00
Belly Bowl $80.00
Alginate Casting with Unfinished Hydrocal Relief Mould
Shoulders to Hips $400.00
Belly Bowl $125.00
Birth Art Finishing. Quotes available on different techniques.