People Touching Your Belly

[Ellie]

I hate people touching my belly...and have now started putting my hand on the other persons belly and giving theirs a good old 'wobble'...spins people right out!!!!

[krysalyss]

I think you have a right to say no to people touching your belly. I remember inviting people to touch mine as I had a lot of people with animals as pets and it was a real spin out for them to get a close look at a pg belly. They always expected it to be jelly like and were suprised at how hard it was. I also dont mind if people are wanting to communicate with the bub. But it is definitely good etiquette to ask before touching. If I were you I would just be straight about it. It is your body.
When I used to work in a zoo you would be amazed how many people would go straight up to a kangaroo with pouch young and start touching and even pulling etc. Good way to get yourself attacked me thinks. Perhaps you could rear up on your tail and give them a good kick with your legs?

[Sterla]

I've never had anyone come up and touch my belly. DH does of course, which I love. My sister (who is 14) has a couple of times, but it's more of an awkward poking which is then followed by a "Ew, your belly is so hard" . I think I prefer not having people come up and touch - it would feel like an invasion of my personal space.

[LaDeeDa]

I told the last person who groped my stomach without asking that if they did it again I was grabbing a handful of their titts!!!!

[Toomanytoomany]

I wonder why we feel so uncomfortable saying, "Don't do that, please." I know we don't wish to cause the other person discomfort, but that other person hasn't considered that before acting rudely, have they?

I encourage all of us who don't like the belly rubbing (me included) practise saying firmly but politely, "Don't do that, please." We don't owe anyone any explanation why we don't want our bodies touched. And if they have an issue with it, all you should need to say is, "I don't like it." That should be enough!

[Lolli]

This thread caught my attention. The thought of people touching my belly used to make my skin crawl.

Especially my dad. He cam eup to me when he first found out I was pregnant and tried to put his hand on my stomach before I even had a bump. I hated it. I remember putting my fingers up in a cross sign and saying "BACK OFF". I think word spread pretty quick amongst my rellos after that

[QueenMab]

I agree with everybody's comments about doing it right back - they should realise that it's inappropriate to touch without an invitation to do so.

When I was PG a workmate of mine went to touch my belly & I actually shreiked & jumped out of her way lol, she was mega offended but I preffered that than to be felt up by a collegue...

[tutmae]

Oh, I don't mind it if friends do it (most of them ask or quickly step back and say "sorry! you must hate that!!), but this random woman came up to me in this shop, grabbed my belly and started rubbing and jiggling it saying "oooh, I just loooved being pregnant! you must toooo". Not only was I just plain shocked, but my m/s is still around and she's very lucky she didn't get thrown up on with all the jiggling. That might have sent the right message. Heehee.

Surely if you just tell your MIL that you're not comfortable with it she'll understand. Or maybe you can just make sure you have one or both of your hands resting on your belly to block her when she goes for the touch.