How to react to people touching your belly?

CurlGurl1 · December 2010

I'm getting used to people I know touching my belly-- I've accepted it as something that comes along with the territory, but I was pretty shocked yesterday at lunch when our waiter, who I have never seen or met before, reached in and rubbed my belly. I had been warned that this might happen, but it happened so quickly, and I was so stunned I didn't say or do anything. But I'm not ok with strangers touching me-- even if it is with perfectly good intentions!

How are you all reacting when people touch your belly?

ckolak:-) · December 2010

I've only had people I know touch my belly. I have no advice for random strangers from personal experience but my favorite response is to rub the offender's belly back.

rrcraz7 · December 2010

I don't like it at all, even from close family members. My MIL tells me that I really need to get over it. I really think my MIL should respect personal space. It took me years to get used to cheek kissing and hugging hello & goodbye so the belly rub is very weird to me.

I generally take a step back when I see the hands going in for the kill. Or if I know I'm around people who do that kind of thing I cross my hands/arms over it so they can't get to it. I've thought about rubbing them back.

msj215 · December 2010

First let me say I'm not for belly rubs. I just moved home from FL & while I was there, I wouldn't let anyone touch me. Now the reality. My family hadn't seen me (except in pictures) so when I came back home this is the 1st they are getting to see me pregnant. Well, before I could even say hands off, I've had hands all over my belly. It has actually been nice. It's only been family/close friends that have touched me & it hasn't bothered me like I thought it would. Only one stranger has touched me & she asked 1st. She was so sweet, I couldn't say no. So for me, I'm going w/the flow. I guess a person by person basis.

maddie789 · December 2010

I just outright told my cousin to not touch my belly, that unless she helped make the baby, she doesn't get to touch the belly. While it's in a joking manner, people know I'm serious.

As for strangers, I'd probably be so caught offguard, I'd immediately step away from them... it just blows my mind that people think that is okay...

MG7 · December 2010

ckolak:-):
I've only had people I know touch my belly. I have no advice for random strangers from personal experience but my favorite response is to rub the offender's belly back.

I like this idea! I don't mind if people I know touch my belly at all but I can't imagine how odd it is for a stranger to do it. Why would someone think that's ok???

ITGurl0626 · December 2010

MG7:

I like this idea! I don't mind if people I know touch my belly at all but I can't imagine how odd it is for a stranger to do it. Why would someone think that's ok???

I'm the same way. With people I know I don't mind if they touch my belly, I have yet experienced a stranger trying to touch me. I hope it doesn't catch me so off guard that I don't react the way I want to...

Holly520 · December 2010

ITGurl0626:
MG7:

I like this idea! I don't mind if people I know touch my belly at all but I can't imagine how odd it is for a stranger to do it. Why would someone think that's ok???

I'm the same way. With people I know I don't mind if they touch my belly, I have yet experienced a stranger trying to touch me. I hope it doesn't catch me so off guard that I don't react the way I want to...

Me too. Most of my friends are really respectful and ask before they touch.

ascar29 · December 2010

i don't like it. i think its weird and im the type of person that kisses everyone goodbye etc. people were trying to touch my belly before i was even showing!! I would always step away. I don't mind if its like close friends or whatever people i see all the time, but i would never go up to someone and just put my hands on them i think its werid. Oh and my BF grandmother KISSES my stomach everytime i see her! That i find even more weird and i don't know how to get away from it!!

GHBEA · December 2010

ckolak:-):
I've only had people I know touch my belly. I have no advice for random strangers from personal experience but my favorite response is to rub the offender's belly back.

This.........the most touches I get besides DH and my DDs are from the children I take care of.

cdabg · December 2010

Tell them unwanted touching is assault and to keep their hands to themselves....works well when strangers try to touch your baby too...I hate that even more. Some lady ignored me in Target and touched DS and I told her to move or I would break her hand....Not normally this nasty, but with a new baby or being pregnant the last thing you need is to pick up illness/fever from some random person who probably didn't wash their hands all day. I'm a total germ-phobe though.

CurlGurl1 · December 2010

ascar29:

Oh and my BF grandmother KISSES my stomach everytime i see her! That i find even more weird and i don't know how to get away from it!!

Oh wow! That would be so awkward for me, and I love DH's grandmother. Good luck with that one!

CurlGurl1 · December 2010

ckolak:-):
I have no advice for random strangers from personal experience but my favorite response is to rub the offender's belly back.

This is great advice. Hopefully there won't be a next time, but if there is, I will use this tactic for sure.

The_Quiet_One · December 2010

CurlGurl1:
ascar29:

Oh and my BF grandmother KISSES my stomach everytime i see her! That i find even more weird and i don't know how to get away from it!!

Oh wow! That would be so awkward for me, and I love DH's grandmother. Good luck with that one!

Yeah, my grandmother does it. I'm not a fan, but she's my grandmother, so I let it go. My stepsister-to-be did this funky scritchy thing that I actually kinda liked -- it was way less invasive and creepy than the pat/rub.

I like the idea a friend had: a shirt that says "Touch my belly and draw back a bloody stump."

Alternately, don't feel badly about blocking someone's reach with your own hands or stepping back out of the way. Or having a word with someone's manager about inappropriateness at the dining table.

srdaniel · December 2010

ckolak:-):
I've only had people I know touch my belly. I have no advice for random strangers from personal experience but my favorite response is to rub the offender's belly back.

Love this! I've never thought of it before, definitely trying this out next time.

slprice79 · December 2010

ascar29:

i don't like it. i think its weird and im the type of person that kisses everyone goodbye etc. people were trying to touch my belly before i was even showing!! I would always step away. I don't mind if its like close friends or whatever people i see all the time, but i would never go up to someone and just put my hands on them i think its werid. Oh and my BF grandmother KISSES my stomach everytime i see her! That i find even more weird and i don't know how to get away from it!!

My own mother kissed my stomach the other day and I was like seriously, thats really not appropriate. I couldnt even imagine if someone other than her did that, its so weird! But at least you are not alone lol! I was so shocked I just stood there and didnt know what to do either! What is wrong with people?!

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