Tampa Bay BELLY CASTS

We recommend scheduling your belly casting session between 34 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. By this point, you’ll have a full, beautifully round belly while still having a comfortable cushion of time before your due date.

Because appointments are scheduled in advance, we encourage you to reach out early in your pregnancy to reserve a date during that 34–36 week window. This helps ensure availability and gives us plenty of time to plan your cast and design consultation.

Don’t wait too long—babies sometimes arrive earlier than expected!

Yes. We offer in-home casting appointments throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. We bring all necessary supplies and equipment, while the finishing and decorating work is completed later in our studio. Families outside our service area are welcome to schedule their appointment at the Buddha Belly Center in Tampa.

Plan on about 1 to 1½ hours for your appointment. This gives us plenty of time to get you comfortable, create your cast, clean up afterward, and make the experience feel relaxed rather than rushed.

Most clients find the process quite comfortable. The plaster gauze is applied with warm water and is gentle on the skin. We recommend a comfortable seat, good airflow, and a cool drink nearby to help you stay comfortable during the appointment. Our goal is to make the experience feel relaxed, personal, and enjoyable.

Before the casting begins, we protect your skin with a homemade, all-natural lotion or vaseline to prevent the plaster from sticking. If you choose to wear a bra, we'll cover it with plastic wrap to protect it as well.

We apply strips of plaster gauze, dampened in warm water, directly over your body. Depending on the shape you've chosen, plaster may be applied over your belly, breasts, shoulders, neck, upper thighs, or other areas. Several layers are applied to make the cast sturdy without being too heavy. The plaster takes about ten minutes to stiffen enough for removal. This step takes between 30 and 60 minutes total.

No problem. We offer a full consultation before any work begins and are happy to walk you through our gallery of completed casts for inspiration. Our artists love collaborating to help you find the right vision.

There's lots of room for creativity, including hand-painted designs, metallic-looking finishes, fabric, ribbon, decoupage, lace, and other adornments. Depending on the artwork, we often add a clear protective coat as a final layer, and finish with a ribbon for hanging your cast. You can browse our gallery to see dozens of completed designs.

We can repair, finish, and decorate most belly casts regardless of where they were originally made. Bring it to us or send us photos, and we’ll assess what’s possible. While we can often work wonders, the extent of repair depends on the condition of the cast.

Once your belly cast is complete, our artist will hand-deliver it to your home. If you’re outside our service area, we’ll arrange a convenient time for pickup at the Buddha Belly Doulas Center in Tampa.