What is a Pregnancy Belly Cast?
A pregnancy belly cast is a plaster cast of a pregnant woman’s belly, created to commemorate a woman’s pregnancy. Most belly casts are made at the end of the third trimester, but can also be created at any point during the pregnancy and even postpartum.
Benefits of Making a Belly Cast
Making a belly cast is a unique way to document a woman’s pregnancy, and can be a fun experience for both the mom-to-be and the family.
- Fun Activity: Creating a belly cast is a fun and creative activity for mom, as well as friends and family. Its an easy and approachable introduction to the world of art and sculpture.
- A Unique Way to Celebrate: It’s a beautiful way to commemorate a woman’s pregnancy and create a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
- Long Lasting: Pregnancy belly casts will last as long as a typical plaster art piece, so it can serve as a lasting reminder of the experience.
Creating a Pregnancy Belly Cast
If you’re interested in making your own belly cast, you’ll need:
- Plaster of Paris
- Rolls of cotton stockinette
- Scissors
- Pen and Long Ruler
- Smock or Old Clothing
- Unsanded Tile Grout (Optional)
Creating a belly cast is a fairly simple process that requires minimal materials and only an hour or two of your time.
Steps for Creating a Belly Cast
- Make sure you are wearing clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty, or slip on a smock.
- Cut enough stockinette to go around your hips, plus two to three times more. For instance, if the circumference of your hips is 60 inches, you will need to cut around 180 to 200 inches of stockinette.
- Using a pen, draw a line on the stockinette at the designated line of your belly. It’s important to draw the line so you can mark off equal sections when it comes to applying the plaster.
- Mix the plaster in a liquid form in a bucket or container per the Plaster of Paris package instructions.
- Once the plaster is ready, beginning at the top edge, dip the stockinette fabric into the liquid plaster.
- Once the fabric is coated, carefully and slowly apply to the body like a body wrap, making sure the fabric follows the shape of the body and there are no wrinkles.
- Smooth out any lumps or wrinkles that you find and that the fabric adheres tightly to the body.
- Once the fabric is smooth and securely adhered to the body, let the belly cast sit for about 15 to 20 minutes before peeling the fabric off.
- Once the fabric is off, apply unsanded grout to the plaster shape to strengthen it and protect the surface from erosion over time. (Optional)
- Allow the belly cast to dry completely, which typically takes 24 hours.
- Once the belly cast is dry, you can paint, decorate, and customize it with your desired colors, fabrics, and embellishments.
A belly cast is an amazing way to commemorate one of life’s most amazing experiences. Whether you are giving it as a gift, or keeping it as a reminder of your pregnancy, making a belly cast is a great way to make this special time even more special.
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