Am I the only person who finds belly touching incredibly invasive? I cannot seem to find a way to tell people not to do it without seeming rude or snobbish. It's easy to come up with sarcastic and ridiculous responsesto the "touchers" but I don't think I would ever use them. I am loving being pregnant but I feel so invaded with all the questions and touching. I'm not really a shy or introverted person so this feeling of wanting privacy is new.
Re: Belly Touching
Next time someone touches your belly without asking, grab her tits. She probably won't do it again.
Seriously, though, this hasn't happened to me yet because I'm only just starting to show, but I'll have no qualms being short or rude about it, especially if it's a stranger. What they're doing is rude; don't feel bad about letting them know it.
DS born at 34 weeks with (surprise!) gastroschisis turned short bowel syndrome.
131 days in the NICU, 7 trips to the OR, G-button, daily TPN....
I posted in the unpopular opinion thread not long ago that I actually don't mind people (that I know!) touching my belly. I think it's kind of cute for some reason. I initially thought it would bug me but I don't have a problem with it.
Personally, I LOVE when people touch my belly. It doesn't bother me in the slightest bit.
One of my closest friends was pregnant when she worked in a mall, and always had strangers touching her belly. She hated it so she started touching their bellies when they touched hers. It was the funniest thing ever to watch. Most people got really offended and then realized that they shouldn't have done it first.
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Parenting Tips"><img src
<a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Baby Names"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt18b901.aspx" alt=" Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker" border="0" /></a>
I don't get why women get so mad over belly touching.
Sounds like you need one of these too ...
******************************
Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
Ummm, you're totally wrong, that's not the same AT ALL. Grabbing someone's boobs or ass is sexual and is objectifying that person. Someone touching your belly is not on the same level at all. I agree 100% that it is out of line for a complete stranger to touch your belly, but I also think that saying "it's the same thing" as a stranger grabbing someone's ass is completely ridiculous. People have good intentions. No one who grabs a waitress ass has "harmless intent," but people who touch a pregnant woman's belly do. Not that it's okay, but it's not on the same level at all.
******************************
Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
Haha awesome shirt. Me and my husband both laughed over this.
I think it's all fine and dandy if you think it's no big deal, but others might have a different comfort zone, a bigger "bubble" if you may.
Personally, if we're close enough to hug, we're close enough for you to know to ASK me if you can touch my belly. If you don't know to ask, then you don't know me well enough to be granted that right.
I sound bratty? Perhaps. I just don't tolerate people invading my personal space. My body is considered my personal space. I wouldn't touch someone's body, in a sexual or a non-sexual way, without consent. I even ask babies if they want to be held by me, FFS, I'm not about to touch someone uninvited! It's called respect, and it goes both ways...
Same level. Petra is correct. Personally, I may be even more sensitive about someone touching my belly than my boobs or ass. To put it bluntly, it's called simple battery. Not that anyone would file charges against someone who touched their belly uninvited. And that's because certain types of people just don't get it and minimize it. But, I don't want anyone touching my body without an invitation -- boobs, butt, or belly. It's not for you or anyone else to say what is offensive to me. If it doesn't bother you, that's great for you. It bothers me. A lot.
I totally agree with this and I would like to raise the question, if I wasn't pregnant would it be acceptable to rub my stomach if I didn't invite you or at least give you permission? I don't think it would be. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean that I'm public property. I'm a pretty touchy, feely person in general so I'm not against touching, but I don't want to touch anyone, pregnant or not in a manner that makes them uncomfortable and this is what is happening. In addition, I don't want it to happen to me.
I thought I would hate people touching my belly, and I did at first, when my belly was more like a "fat roll" lol. It's getting better now and I don't mind as much. I'm excited about the movement and sometimes I'll call a good friend or family member over to feel DS move.
Otherwise, when I'm at church or in a group of people and don't want people to touch me, I basically just block them. Fold your hands over your belly, hold your purse in front of you, keep your coat on, don't stand quite face to face with them, etc. There are ways to make your belly less inviting - if I have my hands on my belly or arms crossed over it or whatever, someone is not going to walk up and shove my hands out of the way so they can put theirs on my stomach instead. It seems to work fine.