people touching your belly?

[xxshellsxx]

I thought i would love this, people cooing over my growing belly.... Well today i realised just how much i hate this

I thought i was going to slap my sister earlier - she touched/rubbed my belly and as soon as she started i hated it and told her not to do it. Then as we were leaving she went to do it again and i physically jumped back and yelled at her

I never thought i would hate people touching my belly! It's fine when DH does it and when i've invited mum to do it it's not been an issue... maybe it was because she did it uninvited i don't know!

Not sure how to cope with this as i get bigger - what do you say to people who go in for a 'rub'

 

[Littleluce83]

Oh my gosh it irks me too. My Aunt said to me 'all people do is talk to your belly instead of you.' She then proceeded to rub it. I was so not impressed! I get that people love babies but I'm self conscious enough!

 

[xxshellsxx]

It's genuinely shocked me how much i hated it!!

I'll have to learn karate chops to slap away incoming hands i think lol

 

[Narla83]

I HATE this with a passion

U need one of these

I have a onsie with it on

 

[xxshellsxx]

I will have to invest in one of those for sure!

 

[pinkcatgirl]

I let people touch my belly as I get an incredible urge to touch pregnant bellies too! Even though it is really inappropriate when you think about it!

 

[Nina83]

I haven't been "rubbed the wrong way" yet. I've only been touched by a friend at work who is also pregnant, and I guess she's the only one who it's OK to touch because everyone rubs hers!
If someone tries I'll just let them know that there's a baby in there not a genie and no wishes are getting granted.
Mom, MIL and sister are the only ones who are allowed to touch (and DH of course)

 

[MommyFirefly]

Eeeeeek! I just shuddered. I hate it when people touch my belly. I always don't mind it when DH does it, but sometimes it bothers me when he does it too. I don't like to be touched at all right now.

 

[Breaking Dawn]

You should rub there belly back and say...if you can rub mine then I guess I can rub yours.

I have a friend who did/said this and both times the person went red in the face and pulled away bc THEY did not like their belly rubbed.

Lol

 

[Ashersmomma]

I hated when people tried to touch my belly when I was pregnant with DS. I would just back away and give them a "what do you think you're doing?" look.
So far with this one, no one has tried touching my belly, but I am seriously considering getting this shirt or something similar! Cafepress has a bunch that I would love to have
https://i1.cpcache.com/product/801893275/if_you_didnt_put_it_here_dont_touch_it_maternity.jpg?color=Black&height=460&width=460&qv=90

 

[MamaLa]

It's never really bothered me. And everyone usually ask before they touch.

 

[jzgrace]

I think its all about the personal boundaries that drives me crazy. Its one thing if they ask to touch it. My sil stuck her hand out and did a rubbing motion near my belly, raised her eye brows and said "belly?" Asking to touch. I didnt mind that. But sometimes you are just not in the mood for rubbing and touchy feely. I just feel like saying "there wont be any jeanie or wishes being granted so dont bother" ive been irritable lately.

 

[xxshellsxx]

So glad I'm not alone in this lol i do have a personal space issue maybe it was the 'uninvited' rubbing that made it so awful. I certainly will be be rubbing their belly back if they do. .. If I don't rub their faces with my fist first lol

 

[swanxxsong]

Oh Shells. I'm so sorry you had to begin experiencing one of my biggest pregnancy pet peeves!

My MIL told me she would be touching my belly and that she was "sorry not sorry." I just accepted it because I choose my battles wisely. LOL. But I had a ton of strangers touch my belly.

At the mall. At the grocery store. At kohls. Seemed anywhere I went, someone wanted to touch my belly. Hello, I'm not a troll doll, touching me isn't good luck or anything!

I would be honest. I told people, "Do I know you? Please don't touch my stomach," and often times people responded nastily! I even said it politely, but firmly. You don't walk around and touch strangers, come on! (Or maybe that's just me. Lol)

Anyway. I posted a huge rant on Fb more than once about it, because I was getting really upset how politely asking people not to touch me always ended up in people scolding me for being rude and "not appreciating the gift of life inside me." After that, anyone who knew me IRL refrained from touching my bump unless I invited them to (like if baby was kicking I asked my mom if she warned to feel).

I think just being honest about not being touched without invitation is not rude. It's your body, after all. Or if all else fails, as I've seen others post, there's lots of hilarious shirts out there -- though I've occasionally seen people have others thinks it's a joke and it encouraged them to pet the belly MORE?!

Bottom line. If you you don't like it, just let them know. I won't be afraid to politely remind people, again, that their hands belong to themselves.

Eta// I should add, all those aforementioned strangers? They did not ask. They just TOUCHED! Who in their right mind just rubs up on some random persons belly?!

 

[Elizdia]

Arghh i hate it too! My MIL actually kisses my belly
How embarrassing, i get all flustered and just think its so strange.

 

[Feronia]

Ewww, I can't believe strangers touch peoples' bellies! I've never had that happen thankfully, but it would drive me nuts. Even family should ask first!

If I were early enough (say under 15 weeks), I would just tell the person that they were rubbing my intestines. Or I guess you could act like you're not pregnant and really embarrass the stranger.

Otherwise, I really like swan's response, "Do I know you? Please don't touch my stomach"

 

[wifey2013]

I'm feeling the same way! I'm not even showing yet and people who know try to touch my belly. I hate that so much. When it's DH I totally don't mind, but anyone else I want to cut off their hands LOL. I can't even imagine if a stranger tried....

 

[AMB1216]

Am I the only one who wants people to touch their belly? I guess maybe cause mine is neglected x) My DH every once in a while will rub it, and his grandparents and sister rubbed it once but other than that I feel no love lol. As far as strangers go, I don't know how comfortable I'd be with that but I wish someone other than me felt the urge to rub my tummy.

 

[jzgrace]

I haven't been "rubbed the wrong way" yet. I've only been touched by a friend at work who is also pregnant, and I guess she's the only one who it's OK to touch because everyone rubs hers!
If someone tries I'll just let them know that there's a baby in there not a genie and no wishes are getting granted.
Mom, MIL and sister are the only ones who are allowed to touch (and DH of course)

That is so funny I said the same thing about the jeanie (genie). This is exactly how it feels to be rubbed on the belly several times a day every day. Lol

 

[Zeri]

I don't mind when family and friends do it, but I was in a store once asking about a hospital bag, and the store owner (male - mid 30's) said, "Oh, you're pregnant?", and then reached over and touched my belly! I was really taken aback and moved a step or two away from him after that. The only reason I didn't say something was that he's a foreigner (not native to my country) and I think he doesn't understand what's appropriate and was trying to be friendly.