Homemade Birth Art - suggestions anyone?

[savvybabygrace]

(x-posted in pregnancy)

Did anyone make some inspiring art for them to focus on during labor and birth? I've been wanting to make some for months now and I'm stumped...need some inspiration!

Or do you know a site/store with some inspiring art? I'm looking for something to relax me, to remind me to stay loose, open, etc.

Any ideas, or do you have pictures of your own birth art?

Thanks mamas!!

[sarahtdubb]

I had a party w/ art supplies and asked friends and family to make signs to put up around our house for my labor. It was wonderful. As I walked around the house and spent time in different rooms during different stages of labor, I could concentrate on the signs, think of my loved ones, etc. And they were also wonderful to have up around the house in my post-partum time.

Haha, every time I went to the bathroom I had terrible contractions, and I would just read those signs to myself over and over and over to get through! Oh, memories.

If you go to my birth story here and scroll down, you'll see a couple of them (my mom made a sign for me that said "you are SO not a LEMON!" because I was telling her about Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and the part where she talks about how women are made to feel like their bodies are like used cars, waiting to fail them, and Ina May write "You are not a lemon!" and it was like a light came on in my head and I knew I could homebirth )

Happy labor, mama!

[shanniesue2]

What is your motivation for wanting to do birth art? How do you feel it will be helpful to you in the birth process?

Birth art as a process can be very helpful. The value of birth art really comes from the process we go through as we create it. So it's important to approach birth art with an emphasis on "the process not the product."

Read the Birthing From Within book. It has a lot of discussion about birth art.

Here is one birth art process that might be meaningful for you to remember during labor is this (you can read more about it in the BFW book):

Think about giving birth. There are many images that we associate with birth. Think about the images that YOU associate with birth. Which image is the strongest one for you? Which image resonates the most with you?

When you create your image, it is recommended to use soft pastels, or watercolors, or clay. Choose a medium that is soft and pliable. This represents the softening and opening that we must do during labor and birth.

[Miss April]

I haven't started my "labor art" yet, but I have a bunch of Ina May quotes highlighted from my Guide to Childbirth book. I will probably combine them with some lotus imagery.

I will be sure to post pics when I finally get one done. I realize I'm coming down to the wire.

[savvybabygrace]

Thanks mamas!

I'm going to be making a labOrinth and a watercolor cervix painting...I think I will definitely be putting some Ina May quotes up as well!

[MamaMem]

I am all about the textures and colors of fabric. (Serious fabriholic) I am making a blanket for Baby. I asked anyone with positive presenc ein my life if they would like to contribute a block. Any color, fabric, anything. Esp if it reminds them of me or baby or just bc they like it. I know that I am getting lots of different stuff. I am a very texture oriented person and know that having all the "options" that fabrics present will fill the need for me.

[littlebb]

I am thinking up some ideas for my birth art as well. I think I'm going to keep it simple - maybe making some colorful or soothing backgrounds and put some inspirational quotes or mantras or affirmations on them to look at throughout labor.

I was also thinking of making my art supplies handy during the early stages of labor. My midwife had us think of some ways to stay distracted during early labor to prevent getting over anxious or excited and I just have this feeling that creative urges are going to hit me then. I have no idea why I get the feeling I'll be really inspired in ways I've never been before when early labor starts. But I figure I'll keep stuff handy just in case. Maybe my best birth art will be created literally at the last minute!

[littlebb]

Originally Posted by MamaMem

I am all about the textures and colors of fabric. (Serious fabriholic) I am making a blanket for Baby. I asked anyone with positive presenc ein my life if they would like to contribute a block. Any color, fabric, anything. Esp if it reminds them of me or baby or just bc they like it. I know that I am getting lots of different stuff. I am a very texture oriented person and know that having all the "options" that fabrics present will fill the need for me.

I am getting to be the same way! I took up sewing last September when I had surgery and was homebound for two months. I've come so far in my sewing and had no idea I would love fabrics and sewing so much (I used to be a firefighter and I'm not that girly at all!). I made our nursery quilt and I'm about to start on the curtains. I'm also making my sister's baby quilt (she's pregnant with her second) and her DD's big-girl quilt. I wish more women in my life had such an interest so I could collect fabrics or blocks from them to make a quilt for our LO.

One thing I am working on is a homemade book for our LO. I'm going home for a baby shower next month and I'm going to put out some paper for everyone to write their advice to our unborn LO. It can be something personal or simple, whatever they feel like writing. I'm going to compile everyone's advice and make it into a book. He might not appreciate it until college or later, but I think it would make a great item that could be passed on to his future kids. I'm kind of sentimental like that : )

[savvybabygrace]

I'm a fabriholic as well!!! Sewing is like meditation for me and I can't wait to make things for Reid like I have for his sisters. (just waiting on getting my machine fixed)