What Is Gestational Art?
Treating the body as a painting canvas is a trend that has been growing stronger for some years now with the so-called “gestational art” (Belly-painting in English). The gestational art has as protagonist the belly of the pregnant woman.
The design created on the belly can be the taste of the pregnant woman, the father or even the whole family. This activity along with the subsequent photo session has become quite popular as a reminder option for this beautiful stage of pregnancy.
Benefits of belly paint
Maybe it just seems like a fad, but in fact this procedure brings benefits for the mother as well as the baby. During the belly painting process, both mother and baby have the opportunity to share extra relaxation time.
The tickling that is produced by brushes when sliding down the woman’s belly relaxes her and at the same time stimulates the baby. This type of activity strengthens the relationship between mother and child before birth.
What is the ideal time to do the belly painting?
The ideal time to do it will be when the mother is in the best condition to do it .
Not just physically. We must remember that the mother’s emotional state is of paramount importance for activities during this phase of pregnancy to achieve the desired results and satisfaction.
We recommend painting the belly between 6 and 8 months of pregnancy, of course the shape and size of the belly will be decisive.
These months are the most suitable because it is when, in general, the belly reaches a more significant size. However, this varies from woman to woman.
Some mothers do it a week or two before giving birth and others earlier. As we said before, it depends a lot on how mom is doing.
Can belly paint affect the mother or baby?
During pregnancy, there are many things that seem simple and harmless, but that make Mom worry. Products that were used daily in the past are now contraindicated to avoid side effects during pregnancy.
When painting the belly, the question arises whether the products used in this process may or may not cause any kind of problem for the mother or baby.
Fortunately, there is nothing to worry about. The paints used in this work are specially produced for body makeup.
The components of these products are not harmful to health, do not produce allergies and are easily removed with water.
How long does a gestational art session last?
Before scheduling an appointment with the artist who will do the belly painting, you should be aware of how the entire process works.
When women are pregnant and especially when the pregnancy is well advanced, they get tired quite often. Everyday activities slow down and energy is easily diminished.
A belly painting session can last up to three hours . It will all depend on the complexity of the chosen design.
If you feel any discomfort during the procedure, you should rest and when you recover you can continue. Usually after these sessions a series of photographs are taken, so they take some time. Short breaks for tea or fruit will help Mom’s state of mind and body .
Where can I do belly paint?
It will be necessary to look for the body painting artists that work in your neighborhood or even in your city.
It is recommended to avoid large displacements, since in addition to the time that will be spent preparing the painting and the photo session, a long trip can be uncomfortable. You can also consult social media, where you might have some tips from mothers who have already done this painting. Good luck!
Images courtesy of Heather’s living art.
