Belly Casting

Someone recently emailed me asking for information on how to do a belly casting. Since I took the time to write it all out, I thought I should post it here too! The casting material is indeed the same that doctors use, and is available at medical supply stores, usually coming in rolls 4" wide by 5 yards. For just the belly usually three rolls will do, if they want to cast the breasts and/or arms and hands around the belly I'd go five to six rolls. Cut into strips of varying lengths...twelve to eighteen inches for the longest stretch across the belly, a bunch of six inch ones for smaller areas or for finishing, and a few three inch ones for the bellybutton and nipples if you want a detailed cast. Have these ready and set aside in their appropriate piles before starting. Plaster sticks to hair and will hurt when drying and pulling off! Pubic hair, underarm hair, and every tiny little hair on mamas skin... a lot of folks use petroleum jelly to coat the skin and plastic wrap across the longer hairs... I use olive oil based salves applied *thickly*. Be sure this is done before getting started. Cover the area she'll be in, as this gets messy...it does wash out of clothes (hand wash please before machine washing) and off the floor in warm water, but a few sheets are a good idea. Make sure mama has a comfortable chair and position...she'll be sitting there for an hour most likely. Time for sculpting can be half an hour or more, and time for setting can also be half an hour or more. It's also a good idea that she has a bathroom break before being seated too. Have a glass of water or a sugar free lollipop for mama available during the process too... make sure the room is warm enough but not too warm (the cast will warm as it begins to harden, be sure mama is aware that this will happen), have gentle music playing...be sure mama is relaxed. Some folks laying the cast like to wear latex or silicone gloves... I do not. I think bare hands provide a more soothing feel for both mama and the person laying the cast, and as I said, it washes off in warm water. ("get messy, get involved" is one of my mottos!) If mama and space is ready, get a shallow basin filled with warm water. Run the strips of plaster through the water... I recommend left to right if right handed, right to left if left handed... with both hands. This wets it and also keeps it straight (so it won't stick to itself) Start at the bottom of the belly and work your way up. Overlap strips, and be sure to have at least two layers all around...also including some up and down and diagonal strips to reinforce. The more layers the sturdier the cast...but it also gets heavier for mama and takes more drying time. Too many layers can also blur the details of belly button, nipples and hands if included. Be smoothing the strips as you go..sculpting the plaster. When approaching the belly button and nipples, place one of the small squares over each of these areas and carefully mold them to the shape. The cast will begin the drying process in about ten minutes, so it will begin doing so at the bottom where you started before you get to the top. After the last layer is applied, the cast will need to stay in place for another twenty to thirty minutes. You will be able to see it starting to separate from the body and mama will be able to tell you it's ready by how warm and heavy it's getting. When the cast is ready to be removed, handle it very carefully. It will need to air dry for at least forty-eight hours. It will be hard to the touch, but until it has cured, it can sag under its own weight if not adequately supported. After the cast is cured, you can smooth off any rough areas with a sanding screen or sandpaper, and leave plain or coat with a sealer called gesso (available at the hardware store) before you paint or decorate it :)

another special event

On December 8th at 11am I will be giving a talk titled "Herbs in Pregnancy" at The Blessed Baby Boutique and Mothers Center, 346 Main St. Wilton. The talk will be about the use of herbs in tonics and remedies during pregnancy, to be followed by a question and answer period. Peace, Dawnella

Mothers Moon Links

Here's the link to my *mostly* all-inclusive web-site...

http://www.freedompondmoonworks.com

and then there's my companion web-sites...

For select handmade products:

MothersMoon.etsy.com

A place for women to gather to talk about fertility, pregnancy & birth: themoontree.webs.com

For easy on-line ordering of select products:

mothersmoon.webs.com

For information on Storytimes for Children:

www.StorytellerMoon.com

For Mother Moon Music:

www.mothermoonmusic.webs.com

and

BarefootBooks

www.TheStorytellersBooks.com

Okay, so there's a bunch of places you can go to find out more about me, what I offer, et cetera... and I'm assuming that if you are reading this blog that my sort of thing interests you...super!...but sometimes the best advertising is controversy and it seems I have been made famous by another's personal blog. Being nominated for "Mother Who Should Be Arrested"...hmmm well everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I welcome you to share yours with Michelle. View her blog here:

http://youcantmakeitup.blogspot.com/2005/01/my-first-nomination-for-mother-who.html

Mothers Moon Natural Care

Mothers Moon:

offering gentle natural pre-pregnancy, pregnancy,birthing, post-partum, & breastfeeding support :: intuitive parenting classes :: bellycastings, blessingways & baby welcomings ::

women's reiki & meditation circles :: storytimes for children ::

home crafted organic soaps, beeswax candles,jewelry, silks, art & other natural products for nurturing mother, child & planet

Fees for services start at standard rates, but are evaluated on a case by case, needs by needs basis.(Including free birth doula services as well as postpartum consultations that are available to low-income, teen, and single moms who plan to give birth within thirty miles of my home.)

Dawnella Sutton: mothersmoon@fairpoint.net

member of: MELCA, The Birth Workers Alliance, MAID, Midwives of Maine, & LLLI

* schedule of meditation groups & womens retreats ongoing *

First Wednesday of the month:Attachment Parenting Group, Freedom Maine

Second Wednesday of the month:Trust Birth meeting, Freedom Maine

Third Wednesday of the month:Spiritual Parenting meeting, Freedom Maine Various dates:

BOLD meetings (under the red tent), Back Door to the Moon, Winslow Maine* & Mothers Moon, Freedom Maine.

Opening Yourself to Fertility, Back Door to the Moon, Winslow Maine*

Hypbirth, Hypnobirthing, and other Birthing Self-Hypnosis, Back Door to the Moon, Winslow Maine*

Women's Guided Meditation, Back Door to the Moon, Winslow Maine* & Mothers Moon, Freedom Maine

Women's Full Moon Drumming Circles, Freedom Maine

Summer Tea Over-looking the Pond, Freedom Maine

A chance to sample herbal teas & preview Mothers Moon products, ask questions about my doula services, find a private meditation spot, or talk with other moms.

Please contact me at mothersmoon@fairpoint.net for more information on any of these classes or events, including to schedule a tea for your own special group. *All Mothers Moon classes given at Back Door to the Moon have a five person minimum and are $25 per person. Pre-registration is required, please call Back Door to the Moon at 873 - MOON