Andrea Tyrrell ​CMT, CD(DONA)

Belly Castings

 

     A belly cast is a three-dimensional plaster sculpture

of a woman's pregnant abdomen as a keepsake of her 

pregnancy. It can also be known as a belly mask,

pregnancy cast, a pregnant plaster cast, or prenatal cast.

      Belly casts are often made during the seventh or

eighth month of pregnancy and a series of casts  may be

made during the pregnancy. They are made by preparing

the skin with a coating of Vaseline or a similar lubricant

and adding strips of wet plaster gauze over the abdomen

to make the cast. Some women also cast their breasts,

arms, hands and thighs into a full torso sculpture. The

plaster sets in about 20–30 minutes. Once set, the cast is

gently removed by the mother using a wriggling motion. It takes one or two days for the cast to dry completely.

     Gesso can be painted onto the mask after drying to stop it absorbing moisture from the air. Gesso also works as a surface primer for painting and preserving it. All casts are treated with this clear finish unless otherwise specified. The cast can then be decorated with any number of finishes or designs including the baby's hand and foot prints, or left in its natural state. Most popular decorations include painting and decoupage. This is a great way to honor the mother's body and freeze a moment in time before the birth of your child.

         

                   Pricing:

                             Belly Cast- $100

                             Belly Cast w/ Chest - $150

                             Additional Artwork - $50 - $150