people touching the bump

elizabethtfashion1 · August 2015

Is it just me? I dont like people touching my stomach. I dont mind those close to me or those who ask, but the rest of them ie. People i barely.know! I understand people mean well but i find it totally off. I had it the other day 6 in one day. I know its cos i work with the public but im close to.snapping at the next little old lady. An the q's like "are u well" i know they r being nice but butt out in fact.no ive not been well, dont sleep much and cry alot. I neefd a sign on my forehead saying " u dont know me well enough so dont.go there" lol

susanb15 · August 2015

I agree wholeheartedly. I haven't had it happen too much yet, so no helpful tips. My sympathy.

dramaphile · August 2015

I think it's pretty common to be uncomfortable with people you don't know touching your body! Some people are just rude and don't understand personal space applies to pregnant women, too. There are some fun tips on how to stop people (my favorite is to touch their belly back when they touch you). I've only gotten it once so far (and from friends, but I personally don't mind it from people I hug regularly, although it's nice that most of them ask first anyway). I was too shocked to say anything at the time! My cousin worked at a grocery store in the South when she was pregnant, and she was constantly rageful about people touching her and asking her 8000 questions.

My current response to the constant barrage of "how are you?"s is "still pregnant!" Even people at work who've never asked me how I was before I was knocked up feel the need to get a daily update on my condition.

kmd91 · August 2015

Maybe I just don't get out enough, but my husband is literally the only person to have touched my bump, which of course I don't mind him showing the bump some love.

nmwheel1 · August 2015

I've never had strangers touch my belly but at my brother's wedding recently his now wife's mom and dad made sure to touch the bump. I was prepared and just didn't worry about it. They are such a close family and such nice people that I was 99% sure it would happen. Then again I've met them before. A total stranger doing it is very very strange

sarahsnowball · August 2015

I love the suggestion to touch their belly too

)
There is one lady at work who touches mine and I physically flinch every time and tell her that I hate people touching my belly. This hasn't stopped her so I've started to avoid her at work. I don't really understand why people who aren't close to me would want to touch my bump anyway. I've never felt compelled to touch another pregnant lady's bump :-/

helsbels222 · August 2015

I feel the same way. Why do strangers feel this is acceptable?
They sell shirts that might help. Just google "hands off the bump." There's one I found that I will be ordering that mentions punching in the face if you touch the bump

oliarnmom1517 · August 2015

People who truly know me know not to touch my stomach and yesterday was the first time any stranger tried to touch me and she didn't ask or anything she just went to touch me and I slapped her hand and it was an Asian lady who lives down the street from my mom and she's literally the creepiest person I have ever seen.. She will go into people's yards and look into their houses and then if your doing lawn work she will go get her son and they will stand in the middle of the street and stare.. And they won't move for cars or anything.. It's very weird.. Like extremely.. I'm not the kind of person to judge anybody because I know how it sucks to be judged but that's just weird..

Knottie68754264 · August 2015

I agree with most people that random strangers touching the bod is just not cool. But on the other hand I think of it like this: on average people are unhappy and when they see a pregnant woman it seems to remind them that there are pleasant things in life so they smile and want to feel close to that little bit of happiness. Even if they don't know you. Maybe I'm weird in seeing it that way because after all were not the first pregnant women in history. But I try to see it from their view that you are growing one of life's true miracles and it's an amazing thing. And trust me I have my days where random people just looking at me wrong drives me nuts so I understand the feeling of "touch me and I'll rip your head off" too.

ColoradoHiker · August 2015

I have strong personal space boundaries- I don't like anyone touching the bump except my husband, unless I invite them to do so. (My mom is one of the worst culprits!). I step back several steps and give death glares to random grabbers, and if they keep coming, I tell them very firmly that I'm not okay with them just randomly touching me. There's no need to be polite about this to strangers, especially when they are the ones being rude in the first place.

BlondeMomma92 · August 2015

I have moments where I get annoyed with even the people I know, when they make constant references to me being pregnant-- one of my friends was just like oh wow you got so huge out of nowhere... Mind you I don't even think I look that "pregnant" for the most part I'm still wearing regular jeans.!

Bettytteb · August 2015

The only people who have touched or even approached my bump with intention of touching are my husband and a close girlfriend. If a stranger came near I think I might flip out. I hate people getting in my personal space.

thegingeravenger · August 2015

I had an adult swim lesson go for it a few weeks ago. I matrix dodged it and told her I'm incredibly ticklish and thus HATE belly touches. It's a semi-truth, I just didn't add on how much I don't like people I don't know well touching me without my permission.

FilbertTree · August 2015

If you touch me without my permission, I will touch you without your permission. Possibly in the face. With a chair...

VexedMommy · August 2015

I went to a wake last weekend for a member of my bf's family. I didn't know anyone and bf and his mother were introducing me to family members. MIL has shown no interest in me or this baby and has been actively rude about it when we told her about it initially and when we told her the sex. While she was introducing me to a relative of hers she grabbed my tummy and said, "We're having a baby girl." I wanted to say something, but it was neither the time nor the place.

Alexis514 · August 2015

I have found that if I keep my hands on my stomach while people get close to me, they won't touch me.

sarahsnowball · August 2015

VexedMommy said:
I went to a wake last weekend for a member of my bf's family. I didn't know anyone and bf and his mother were introducing me to family members. MIL has shown no interest in me or this baby and has been actively rude about it when we told her about it initially and when we told her the sex. While she was introducing me to a relative of hers she grabbed my tummy and said, "We're having a baby girl." I wanted to say something, but it was neither the time nor the place.

Wow that would have really pissed me off if anyone had done that, let alone a rude MIL. You did well to keep your cool.

SJFTCA · August 2015

Luckily, I haven't had strangers touch me--that's just weird. Even most of my close friends, family, and colleagues haven't bothered touching me. But at school, kids ALWAYS want to touch the bump. I teach 11th graders, and I saw a couple of former students who were seeing the bump for the first time since it was tiny at the end of the school year, and they just wanted to touch and rub all over it. I know that when school starts back, I'll be dealing with it all the time--I assume at the very least it will always be girls and not boys bc that would feel even more wrong and inappropriate. I just don't know how to gently tell them that it's kinda awkward! I don't REALLY mind that much, but it just seems kind of wrong and weird.

urby87 · August 2015

I generally don't like to be touched unless I initiate the contact myself. I totally feel you. I went to an out of town wedding this weekend. It was in California, and I currently live in the Midwest. The humidity and heat combination in the Summer is brutal in the Midwest, so while the locals were complaining about the heat, I was actually enjoying the lack of humidity. An older lady I do not know turned to me in the dinner line, patted my bump a couple of times, and asked how I was doing. I was kind of shocked by it, but managed to get out something along the lines of, "I'm doing alright" with a forced smile. Fortunately, that's the only belly touching experience I've had with a stranger at this point.

mrssuperman918 · August 2015

Alexis514 said:

I have found that if I keep my hands on my stomach while people get close to me, they won't touch me.

I wished this worked for me

It's like by me doing that, it's an open invitation for anyone else to touch my belly >:|

mamavbs · August 2015

I have "resting bitch face", so I rarely have this issue...

nikki1223 · August 2015

I agree. I don't understand why random people feel the need to touch my stomach. I obviously don't care if my immediate family touches it but everyone else just makes me mad. I have already told my husband that he will need to stop people if they try at a friends wedding we will be attending.

alisonrmc · August 2015

mamavbs said:
I have "resting bitch face", so I rarely have this issue...

So do which is why my fiances family thinks im stuck up its awesome lol not

I think im like the only person i know who actually doesnt care anout the belly touching. Im usually uncomfortable with people hugging me ect but now when ppl touch my belly im just like yea look at that bump im growing that!! Lol

thegingeravenger · August 2015

SJFTCA said:
Luckily, I haven't had strangers touch me--that's just weird. Even most of my close friends, family, and colleagues haven't bothered touching me. But at school, kids ALWAYS want to touch the bump. I teach 11th graders, and I saw a couple of former students who were seeing the bump for the first time since it was tiny at the end of the school year, and they just wanted to touch and rub all over it. I know that when school starts back, I'll be dealing with it all the time--I assume at the very least it will always be girls and not boys bc that would feel even more wrong and inappropriate. I just don't know how to gently tell them that it's kinda awkward! I don't REALLY mind that much, but it just seems kind of wrong and weird.

I might just be weird, but this sounds like a great way to teach some youngens about asking before you just go up and touch someone.

Or since they're 11th graders making a funny sign for your desk that says "still your teacher, not a petting zoo" or something like that.

RaisingJulian · August 2015

With my first I had a woman who I honestly wasn't that much of a fan of ask permission one day to touch my bump. I got so excited just because she asked permission that I let her lol I have a coworker who constantly touches my bump this time around. It's awkward as I've only been working there for 6 months but other then her no one else attempts to touch me. I think it's weird how people always want to touch. Babies not moving right now, I don't know what u expect to feel other then a hard stomach.

SJFTCA · August 2015

thegingeravenger said:

SJFTCA said:
Luckily, I haven't had strangers touch me--that's just weird. Even most of my close friends, family, and colleagues haven't bothered touching me. But at school, kids ALWAYS want to touch the bump. I teach 11th graders, and I saw a couple of former students who were seeing the bump for the first time since it was tiny at the end of the school year, and they just wanted to touch and rub all over it. I know that when school starts back, I'll be dealing with it all the time--I assume at the very least it will always be girls and not boys bc that would feel even more wrong and inappropriate. I just don't know how to gently tell them that it's kinda awkward! I don't REALLY mind that much, but it just seems kind of wrong and weird.
I might just be weird, but this sounds like a great way to teach some youngens about asking before you just go up and touch someone.

Or since they're 11th graders making a funny sign for your desk that says "still your teacher, not a petting zoo" or something like that.

Omg, the sign idea is amazing! Hahahahaha

Bettytteb · August 2015

I got my first 2 unwelcome bump touches today. We were actually at a baby shower (for my hubby's best friend) and her mom and sister both rubbed the bump. I guess since they were at their daughter's baby shower they were just in a baby loving mood...but it was definitely awkward for me. Haha.

KeHill08 · August 2015

While we were home visiting, DH touched my stomach so MIL automatically thought it was ok for her to as well. Nope. He got a look and after her hands were already there she asked if it was ok. No, no it's not ok! I told her there isn't anything there to feel yet. I was only about 12 weeks at the time!

There is a family that my family is extremely close with to where they are family. My sister and I grew up with their kids as we are all around the same age. I'm anticipating one of the daughters to just touch without asking and I'm honestly ok with her doing it. There aren't many people I'm ok with touching without asking though. DH said I've become quite protective of my belly though, so maybe people just won't try touching at all. Hopefully that's the case, although I can just see his mom's side trying to touch because they simply don't respect what I say or my wishes...

lyankowi · August 2015

I think I have RBF no one touches me except my mom. My sister and ILs don't even try. I did have one coworker but I was (mostly) OK with her and she's the only one so far.

Soyyoyary · August 2015

I have a coworker love her to death. But the touching is irritating, she goes on let me wake him up. Poking me, she laughs innocently and Baby boy doesn't move at all I'm guessing he doesn't enjoy either .. I have addressed it but I think she thinks I'm joking. No else touches my bump everyone understands do not touch..

Kitta+1 · August 2015

I love belly touches. Also, the hormones have given me shampoo-commercial-model quality hair (I only had nice hair before, lol) and I like when people want to touch my hair, too. I just enjoy being pet in general, come to think.

I find it weird that I'm I'm the only one enjoying it, I thought there'd be more. No one else in my family enjoyed it with theirs, so it's not even like some weird hereditary thing. I'm just strange, lol.

kwaldy · August 2015

I've only had one belly touch that was uncomfortable. Hands were already on my belly before she asked permission and by that point I was already frozen. Haha...

torriegrace07 · August 2015

I don't understand the obsession with touching pregnant bellies! You are not touching the baby! Nor does the baby know you are there! You are touching my shirt, which behind that is my skin, in which is a ton of organs behind that. My son lays right by my pubic bone, so when you rub my belly, you are rubbing my organs. Cool. Go away. Don't touch me. If you didn't put that baby in there, it's not yours to touch!

Favoritemandms · August 2015

I have two co-workers who insist on touching my belly at all times. One is a woman who never washes her hands after using the bathroom and fully palms me with both hands and has never once asked. The other is a friend and she asked ONCE, but now continues to do it all the time. She's also now obsessed with touching my belly button, which not even DH is allowed to touch because that area is really sensitive. I have to walk around with my hand over my belly button all the time now.

jscasher · August 2015

Thankfully all of my friends have asked prior. I don't like it, but I'll allow it for a moment because they asked. Strangers and family, however, have no filter. They just do what they want!

jenn811w · August 2015

I never had a stranger touch my bump or ask to touch it. I have got comments but no touching and I honestly don't mind if people touch it as long as they ask and I know them. Haven't had the stranger ask yet but I do realized it's there, people are fascinated and curious by it so it's really not a big deal to me! I kinda like the attention!

rachswi · August 2015

My husband looooooooves touching and kissing my belly. So it no longer bothers me when people touch it because his hands are literally all over the bump, so I'm used to it.

onebadmotha · August 2015

Luckily, I haven't had any stranger bump gropes. The only person to ask has been my MIL, but she only wanted to touch if she could feel the baby move. I explained that I have an anterior placenta, so the only place where movements can reliably be felt from the outside is reaaaally low, so it would be awkward! Thankfully, she's not that inappropriate, so she just laughed it off and decided she could wait.

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