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October 2015 Moms
dajeume
member
Polite ways to decline a belly rub
dajeume
member
As your belly gets bigger, you may be surprised to see how many people want to rub it. People love babies and it may seem that they are all fascinated by your belly and the little wonder inside. You may be open to family, friends, or even strangers rubbing your belly upon approval, although for many expecting mothers, the belly rub requests can be a hassle. You may feel concern that others may harm baby or your body, or could also just be uncomfortable with other people touching you, and that sentiment is perfectly understandable.
Here are some effective, polite ways to decline a belly rub:
Make an excuse: Most excuses will sound fine. You could just say that belly rubs upset your stomach, or that your skin is very sensitive. Once people know it makes you uncomfortable, there should be complete understanding.
Tell them baby resting: If you say baby is resting, they will not want to awake him. You could also say, "he’s not kicking so there isn’t really a point." This will let them know there’s no reason they need to rub your belly.
Joke around: A simple decline would suffice, but if you want to add a light joke so there are no hard feelings, that’s another option for you. Something like, “No I’m ok, but can I touch your belly?” will keep things light but also let someone know you don’t want them to touch your belly.
Play the doctor card: If you say, “I’m sorry, my doctor says I’m not supposed to let other people touch my belly,” people will almost always understand your concern and say no more.
Tell the truth: If you just let people know that belly rubs make you uncomfortable - they will understand.
Just say NO: You never really have to worry about being polite when declining belly rubs. It’s your body and you don’t need to let anyone touch it. People may feel caught off guard or even slightly offended by a straightforward “no, thank you,” but it’s your right to decline if you want.
Here are some effective, polite ways to decline a belly rub:
Make an excuse: Most excuses will sound fine. You could just say that belly rubs upset your stomach, or that your skin is very sensitive. Once people know it makes you uncomfortable, there should be complete understanding.
Tell them baby resting: If you say baby is resting, they will not want to awake him. You could also say, "he’s not kicking so there isn’t really a point." This will let them know there’s no reason they need to rub your belly.
Joke around: A simple decline would suffice, but if you want to add a light joke so there are no hard feelings, that’s another option for you. Something like, “No I’m ok, but can I touch your belly?” will keep things light but also let someone know you don’t want them to touch your belly.
Play the doctor card: If you say, “I’m sorry, my doctor says I’m not supposed to let other people touch my belly,” people will almost always understand your concern and say no more.
Tell the truth: If you just let people know that belly rubs make you uncomfortable - they will understand.
Just say NO: You never really have to worry about being polite when declining belly rubs. It’s your body and you don’t need to let anyone touch it. People may feel caught off guard or even slightly offended by a straightforward “no, thank you,” but it’s your right to decline if you want.
Re: Polite ways to decline a belly rub
So sorry you had to endure that. I'd order that shirt ASAP
It's still pissing me off just thinking about it. Haha I've gotten myself all worked up again.
I am normally quiet and don't say much to people, but this pregnancy has made me a lot more vocal!!