Saturday, August 14, 2010

Mummy tummies the shape of things to come


Bronzed and beautiful, mums-to-be are throwing off the maternity garb and celebrating their baby bumps.
And women who have gone through an arduous journey with IVF are the latest fans of belly casting.
Nicole Shulman, co-owner of Melbourne business Belly Art, said these women in particular were keen to document every moment of their pregnancies.
"In the past two years we have been getting a lot of people who have gone through a long journey with IVF," Ms Shulman said.
"They have tried so hard for so long to get pregnant that they want to immortalise every step.
"For other people, they might have had three children and realise this is their last time being pregnant."
The business, which has been casting pregnant bellies for eight years, says the latest trend is a bronze finish plaster cast. And the bigger the bump, the better.
While many women would rather hide under a rock than show off their pregnant figure, Ms Shulman said women were waiting until as late as 40 weeks to be cast.
"Thankfully no one has given birth yet while we've been doing it," she said.
"The bronze ones look more like a sculptural piece."
They are hung as art on walls, children's rooms, in offices and even cafes, but Ms Shulman admits they are not to everyone's taste.
Mother of two Miranda Caciolo, 37, was so keen to preserve her pregnant shape she was cast from her thighs to her neck.
"If you are confident about your body, it should be something to show off," she said.
"I think I had a great shape when I was pregnant."