Do you rub your belly in public?

[loulabelle]

I used to always do without realizing when I was pg. I have busted myself doing it on a few occasions after having dd too, just out of habit I guess.

[Sammiejane]

I do, especially on the train so the stupid business men that hide behind their newspapers when they notice someone getting on the train that might need their seat.
unfortunately it is usually someone old or a woman that gets up for me!!!
Once i had someone in her 70's get up for me when i was heavily pregnant, i couldnt take her seat, the two young guys next to her just buried their heads in their newspapers even more and i think i burnt a layer of skin off rubbing my belly that day!!!

[Sterla]

I do it a little bit. It's not a showing off thing at all, just me feeling how my belly is changing. It's nice having a hard belly instead of my usual soft flab!

[meow]

I put my hand on my belly where baby is moving, just to feel them better. Possibly looks a bit like rubbing. When I had my son in the hug-a-bub as a baby I was always touching him then too so I don't think there's anything wrong with touching baby in your belly.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I always rubbed my belly as a way of bonding with my baby. She would always have her bum sticking out so i would rub it and poke it and i ALWAYS talked to her. But i dont think i was overboard with. Because i had braxton hicks since 25 weeks id rub my belly whenever i had one.

[MummaSue]

No, I never rubbed my belly in public. When I was TTC it used to really upset me when I saw women doing this.... it felt like they were taunting me (which is ridiculous because how could they be?).

I was just really aware of doing it when I was pregnant in case there were LTTTC around me and I didn't know about it so I saved the belly rubs for just me and bubby.

[meow]

I find the idea of upsetting women who are LTTTC interesting. What do the women who feel conscious of this do with their child in public once they are born? Do you not take them out, or show affection etc in case of upsetting someone?

[MummaSue]

I find the idea of upsetting women who are LTTTC interesting. What do the women who feel conscious of this do with their child in public once they are born? Do you not take them out, or show affection etc in case of upsetting someone?

Good point.

But it's just how I felt about pregnant bellies. Not about people's kids.

[ezymay]

I do mostly subconsciously tho. Apparently that's how a few of my friend knew I was pg cause I was doing it right from the start!! I didn't even realise! In the early days this pg i was really sore in my tummy so i do it when I'm uncomfortable or in pain. As I get bigger I really like it as a bonding technique and like other posters to show others I am pg not just fat lol and for trying to get a seat on the train

[PumpkinZulu]

Honestly, when I was LTTTC, it didn't bother me. And a lot did lol. But seeing pregnant women gave me hope, and my eyes were always drawn to them and their bellies. Probably creeped them out lol. I font do it all the time, as I am aware of TTC issues, but for example, walking around Melb Central with DF yesterday, in the line for lunch I rubbed my belly...hehe maybe I looked super hungry.

As for packed trains etc, I don't rub my belly there. If I want a seat and a business man or teenager is sitting in the spesh seats, heck, I'll ask them to move! I don't expect people to do it off their own bat anymore, people are so rude Although, and the train a few days ago, a woman asked if I wanted to sit down It was a nice moment, my first public recognition of being utd. I refused as I only had a few more stops to go though.

[Jaycee]

I do, it's just an involuntary thing that happens and kind of comforting too

[briggsy's girl]

I was just really aware of doing it when I was pregnant in case there were LTTTC around me and I didn't know about it so I saved the belly rubs for just me and bubby.

funny, when i was LTTTC, it wasn't the rubbing, it was the belly itself! didn't matter what the lady was doing, if i was having a bad day emotionally, it was all about the overwhelming number of pregnant bellies and prams with little tackers in them. but reality is, it was about me and my inability to cope. i didn't have any problem with the people, just the situation - if i wasn't coping (which i wasn't, lots of times) i'd just tell DH to hurry up, i needed to go home. thankfully he got it!

when i was pg, i'm sure i unconsciously rubbed my belly - a lot. i had horrible heart burn and morning sickness from 3.5 weeks til birth - soooooo not fair! but i know i used to try and distract myself from the discomfort a lot of the time by trying to connect with DD - i'd often have my hand on my tum wherever she was kicking at the time, and i'm sure i rubbed a little but i really don't remember - it wasn't a conscious "look at me, i'm pregnant" kinda thing - it just happened lol

[dusty]

Yes from about 27 weeks on I did, all the time, it was completely involuntary and I wouldn't even realise it until someone pointed it out. I even miss it in a way as it was a special time.

[ShootingStar]

Nope. Only if its sore! Its kinda a pet hate of mine actually to see pregnant mums rubbing their belly. Dont know why, but it bugs the hell outta me.

[MrsBexie]

I rub my belly all the time, most of the time though it's to try to move her out of a painful area... Sometimes I do it because I can feel her moving inside and I like feeling the outside while she moves...

[luna moth]

Not in public. I'm like MummaSue - just hate the thought of making someone have a downer of a day. My belly's there all day every day, so I can bond and shower in the joy of this belly any time I like, so I tend not to do it in a crowded area.

I love when people comment on it though, that's the best.

But if I need a seat on the bus, then it's on for young and old!

And when I'm at home, I rub, sing, read, talk, explain everything.

[sconeonamission]

I do, sometimes its conscious, sometimes not. I love looking at other people's bumps Before I was pregnant with this bub, I just used to look at other people's prams. I had pram envy! Now, I have bump envy. Their bump is bigger than mine, or it looks better than mine! Mine is midway between looking fat and looking pregnant. I can't wait til people see the bump coming first!

Tbh, I hadn't thought about those TTC.

and yes, I still have pram envy

[Lisa B]

I'm a private rubber, but not for any particular reason it just feels private for me.

I agree with Briggsy that anything could set me off when I was having a bad day and LTTTC, just seeing a pregnant person could do it or even a new born. There was no way of someone predicting what could make me feel upset and there was nothing that the other person could have done even if the knew as nothing could change my situation or theirs. It wasn't about the other person it was totally about my own experience and emotions.