Womb With A View

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)--Most of us have heard of Van Gogh's "Self-Portrait." Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" and Monet's "Waterlillies." But "baby bump art?"

They say pregnant women glow. But ask many who are close to their delivery date and they'll tell you they don't feel all that beautiful. So some moms-to-be are adding an artistic twist to their baby bump.

Carla Tarantino-Marie is one such person. She is turning her pregnant belly into an art canvas.

'I planned this to be my only baby and only pregnancy, so I wanted it to be extra special in every way. It's going to be a nice way to make my big round belly feel a little more festive and maybe pretty," says Tarantino-Marie as she sits in a chair while artist, RoByn Thompson, paints a water scene on her stomach.

Belly painting is a growing trend among some expectant women. The American Pregnancy Association (APA) attributes it to the internet--where one picture can inspire many people.

"These are fun things to make that nine month journey easier and more enjoyable," says Brad Emler with APA.

However, there are some precautions that need to be taken when doing this. First, never put a real tattoo on your belly. Second, if you are using a Henna temporary tattoo, be sure it doesn't include black ink. Black ink can irritate the skin. You should also avoid certain paints.

"Acrylic, latex, craft paints, tempera, just because something says that it's non-toxic does not mean it's appropriate for use on the skin," says RoByn Thompson, the artist painting Tarantino-Marie's tummy.

"You want to use ideally water based theatrical makeup. You want to make sure what you're using is something hypoallergenic and FDA compliant," says Thompson.

"My husband is very excited to see it. Later, we'll definitely take pictures of the belly," says Tarantino-Marie.

As for charges, Thompson's artwork can run upwards of $250. She tells 9NEWS NOW she gets a lot of baby shower event requests.