People Touching Your Belly

[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...

[tattoo_mama]

Haha maybe you girls should get some tattoos or piercings, nobody except my dp has tried to rub my bump, I think they are scared of me...I always hear ppl in my shop saying "that goth girls pregnant"...im not goth! Lol
My niece who is 20 months loves touching it, only for the fact she thinks its a balloon...Lmao
Just remember ppl are curious creatures....nobody is trying to offend you by touching your belly! Try taking it as a compliment

[Junglemum]

I can't stand people touching my belly, not even DH unless i invite him to. A bit extreme perhaps...... but yanno.

Besides the rubbing back, or saying please don't, i find talking about how much i don't like it lets people know how i feel. My whole family know i really don't like it so now it is a bit of a joke and if a new person is around they say "go on , touch her belly, i dare ya" and everyone has a laugh, so at least it is out there!

[~ Mylitta ~]

Luckily I don't mind people touching my belly, but I still think it's good manners for them to ask first. There is a girl at my work who is now pregnant as well, and I don't think she will cope very well when people try to touch her once her belly grows. She is definitely NOT a touchy-feely kind of person, and it wouldn't surprise me if she actually flinched and jumped back if anyone tried to rub her belly.

For me personally, I enjoy showing off my bump and letting people have a bit of a touch (and a chat in the case of one girl, lol). But I'm not sure how I would react if it were a perfect stranger though...

[MummyNaomi]

My MIL rubbed mine once and I must have given her a weird look as she hasn't done it again, when people do it its usually so out of the blue that its a bit of a shock - but raising your eyebrows and asking "Are you right there?" usually does the trick.........

The other thing I read in a pregnancy magazine which I'd love to see say is "I'm not a Genie, so feel free NOT to rub me" LMAO

We have a newsletter at our work which we all contribute too, so I wrote a small funny article about the pro's and con's of being pregnant with one of the con's being "People rubbing my belly, the next person who rubs it will get a belly rub back, don't dare me" and I have been left alone at work since. Although it was written in a funny context, the message was still there

Naomi

[Glamourcide]

Haha maybe you girls should get some tattoos or piercings, nobody except my dp has tried to rub my bump, I think they are scared of me...I always hear ppl in my shop saying "that goth girls pregnant"..

Hahaha, agreed. I was pretty lucky when pg with DD, only my mum seemed to be obsessed with touching my belly all the time.. after a while I got to the point of practically yelling, 'SHE'S ASLEEP, NOTHING TO FEEL HERE!' as soon as she walked in the door to ward her off...
I did have issues with a couple of random strangers just waltzing up and giving the ol' gut a good pat every so often, mostly older people who probably just didn't realise that it's no longer 'appropriate' (was it ever? probably) to just touch a random person's belly, even if that person is pregnant. I just suffered through it with a smile though because the perpetrators seemed to be sooo happy for me to be carrying a baby... sweet, really. But still kind of weird.

[Catastrophic]

I am only just getting a noticable bump and already have people touching it... i love it when DF does it and the kids! BUT girls at work are doing it ! aghhh! me thinks its going to get worst before it gets better...

But what i hate more then people touching my bellyis... people touching my newborn! Aghhh drives me up the wall get your dirty hands away !

[*The_Mrs.*]

I absolutly hate it. I thought I would be one of those people that would want to share my belly with everyone. Yet it almost feels like someone is invading my privacy everytime. I would just rather everyone would wait until the baby is born and love on it not my belly.

[Melbournemumma]

I don't mind people rubbing my belly, although I have to say I haven't had very many. There's the guy in the cafe who's really nice. He's married and they've just had another baby. Apart from that there haven't been too many people.

But if you're not the kind of person who likes people invading their personal space at the best of times, I can imagine it would be annoying having people think they can touch your belly without asking.

[~*Niadalla*~]

Doesn't worry me at all. Same as all of the 'crikey you are HUGE' comments. I love the attention my belly gets.
Wait until I'm about 36 weeks onwards and people stare at me though. I was cranky last time about that....

[~Hestia~]

OMG I am so happy I found this thread!! Some of the tips you girls have said are hilarious
I have had a few girls at work rub my belly and I HATE it!! I probably wouldn't mind if they asked first. But when I'm at work, running around just doing my job & they stop me by rubbing my belly, I just find it so inappropriate. I'm sure they don't mean to be offensive, but it still is. I never know what to say to them. I have started telling some people that I really hate it, hopefully word will spread around & I won't have to worry about it
But it gets worse...the other day at work this lady I barely know came up to me and...LIFTED...UP...MY...SHIRT I was so shocked!! I normally hate confrontation but I just reacted & said something like "Don't do that!!" & yanked my shirt back down. I had no idea people would do this, lucky I had my Bando thing on because I can't do up my pants at all & my fly is always undone
I think if my MIL was to touch without permission I would say nicely "I'd rather you didn't do that". That goes for anyone close to me.
If a stranger was to touch my belly that's a whole other story. I'd have no hesitation in telling them where to go, I don't care what they think of me because I don't know them.
It's the acquaintances & colleagues that are hard to deal with. Because I see them everyday I don't want them to think less of me. Isn't that silly when we're the ones feeling violated?

[Toomanytoomany]

Cheezelmonster, I think I'd be reporting that - that is grossly inappropriate behaviour for the workplace. How dare they! In fact, anyone being touched in the workplace without being asked their permission should go and speak to their HR person and get a memo sent around reminding people about what is and isn't acceptable behaviour. As far as I'm concerned, it's sexual harassment.

[Glamourcide]

I would just rather everyone would wait until the baby is born and love on it not my belly.

You say that now, but just wait... once the bub arrives you will despise anybody who dares to lay a finger on it without your express permission!!
When I was in hospital after having DD, I barely got to touch her because my parents and in-laws kept inviting all their friends up to have a nurse, poor DD was being passed back and forth like a football... I wanted to just punch everyone and tell them 'SHE'S MINE! GIVE HER BACK!!'

[Turkish Delight]

oops. I'm one of those people who love to touch preg bellies. I always ask though. I can't help it, i find the pregnant belly to be the most beautiful thing in the world.

I used to walk around the house with a bra and shorts on and look at my belly in the mirror ALL the time when i was pregnant. I just love it.

Since i won;t be having anymore, i can only look and feel other people's bellies.

[ReggieB]

ATM, people won't touch my belly as it just look likes fat - not baby so as soon as i do look preggers even tho im 18.5weeks now i'll let you know.. can't imagine i'd like it though!

[MamaBones]

I dont remember people touching my belly much last time around...

Once I had a woman at the markets start rubbing my belly as EX-DP and I were standing there talking to her about her product, which made me uncomfortable... then she winked at my EX-DP and I just started fuming!!


I've had a few people touch my 8week belly already but not very many people. I think alot of people know that some women dont like it, so are abit more cautious these days!