I'm only a few weeks away from my baby shower and I'm having big anixety about people trying to touch my belly. It's happened a couple of time already and I've instinctively jerked backwards.
I don't want to seem rude or ungrateful. My family is really great, they just aren't great at respecting boundaries.
Any suggestions?
Re: Belly Touching
I can't imagine someone reaching for your belly with out asking - seems very odd and completely inappropriate.
With my friends and family they all ask even though I tell them it's fine every time and no need to ask... if a stranger asks (or were to reach for my belly) I say no (or pull away) and tell them that I am not feeling well.
Sorry people are putting you through this you have enough going on!
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I feel you. I was the same way. my only suggestion is to keep your hands on your belly, and if you really don't want them to touch you, back away, and politely as possible say that you really don't want anyone touching your stomach.
I had a really hard time during my pregnancy with people doing that. At my cousins twin's b-day party, one of her DH's relatives that I had never met reached out an touched me, I stepped back and then she said "oh do you mind?" I said yes, and then she said the most inappropriate thing I have ever heard "oh, well you know how when you are pregnant your belly becomes public property. [haha]".
EXCUSE ME?
People get weird with pregnant women. It's like they lose all their social graces.
You have to do what you are comfortable with.
Every.time I see a post about this, I'm always the minority. I LOVE allowing people to touch my belly. I don't see what the big deal is. When I was pregnant with my first I worked in cosmetics in a department store and constantly had ladies rubbing my belly and trying to feel movement.
I can't see why it bothers everyone so much. Growing a baby in your belly is an amazing thing, and don't want to be selfish by keeping the wonder all to myself!
This. I thought I would be one of those "hands off" pregnant women but I really find the whole thing endearing. I love the fact that everyone is so happy for me. But I also understand other people being put off by it.
I like it too, yet nobody ever really touches it. Baby was kicking up a storm yesterday and I went to find my friend who works in the same office building as me cause she has never felt a baby kick and she was scared that she was going to break me. I had to tell her that she wasn't going to break me and could push on it, and she will kick you back. She did and to see the look on her face was priceless! I find that people don't ever touch it, even close family, except my mom she loves it.
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I can totally see how some women just don't want to be touched, especially if they are enormously uncomfortable to begin with and it's just so wrong to suggest that gifts at a baby shower = entitlement to grope the guest of honor. It's not selfish to have a reasonable expectation of personal boundaries and space when you're pregnant. Period.
I generally don't mind my belly being touched by the majority of my friends or family, either, but that easy-going feeling does not extend to certain immediate family members, like my mother and occasionally my MIL, who weird me out with their unwillingness to STOP groping me after a reasonable amount of time (we're talking 5+ minutes here, hands wandering all over), extreme frustration when baby won't move for them and overall too intense "excitement."
I know that growing a baby is a miracle, but that doesnt mean EVERYONE should be involved. Im 32 weeks with DS2 and when people go to touch I just back away and cover up with my coat. Being pregnant is an intimate time that should be between you, your hubby and family. My sister and SIL will just walk up and touch..I jump because they catch me off guard but I still let them. Its your body and dont feel rude to say no or back off. I think asking is more respectful and that gives you a chance to decide. Best of luck and be true to yourself!
With my 1st pregnancy I was very protective and it would have bothered me for someone to touch my belly. I must have worn the danger look on my face, tho because no one did.
This time around I feel much more comfortable with myself and the whole process and people are touching my belly left and right. Friends, strangers, everyone. I do not mind it at all, which actually surprised me at first. But like a PP I enjoy the happiness people are directing toward me and my baby.
How about wearing a cute prego-tee shirt with Yosimite Sam saying "Back Off!" hahahha... You could actually design something like that on CafePress.com.
Really???
I love this!