People touching your bump. Freak you out or make you feel good?

[LexieH]

Ok so this weekend it happened for the first time. My father in law asked if he could put his hand on my very small (14 week) bump and before i could answer his hand was on me.

I actually flinched as he came towards me. It felt weird. I've always though I'd be such a natural at being pregnant and enjoy every aspect. I thought i'd be so proud of the bump and be happy about people wanting to touch it and me.

So my flinch and reaction took me a little by surprise. I am now dreading the next time someone does it. I actually don't think I like it.

What is really strange is when friends and other people before me were pregnant I would ALWAYS want to touch their bump and be completely in awe of it. I would always ask first of course but never stopped to think if it would be weird for them.

Does anyone else feel the same? Or did anyone else feel like this at the beginning and then get used to people wanting to touch their bump and be ok with it?

never had strangers do it, but hated it when people at work done it. twice they never even asked and i felt too awkward to punch them ask them not to do it. only liked my sisters and hubby touching it :)

My reaction to anyone who did this without asking or not giving me time to reply was to ask them if I looked like Buddha? Because if they did that again good luck was NOT what they were going to get.

TheyDidn'tDoItTwiceTiggaxx

well i am in stitches over bluebeach's butcher.

they sell tshorts in new look maternity range with 'hands off my bump' across them. hopefully people should get the message with that!!

Well this is all very interesting!! TheDoctorsWife46 i literally would DIE if my FIL did the foot rub thing to me, errgggggg makes me want to puke too. Sends shivers down my spine.

But very very oddly after writing my first post and then spending the next few weeks banging on to anyone who would listen about how shocked i was that i hated being touched and how shocking it was to be touched! We went to visit a close & dear friend from uni (a guy!!!!) who when he greeted my gently put his hand on my tummy and whispered WOW, i didn't flinch it was kind of sweet and i was amazed that it didn't really bother me. The i met up with a whole load of girlfriends days later and they all put there hands on me and it also wasn't that bad. What's going on? Suddenly i'm over it!!/?!!

So the thing that I think i found weird the first time was the way my FIL did it, with some kind of ownership over the baby inside me that made me feel weird!

Still i wonder how i will feel as the bump gets bigger.

So far only my DH touches my bump, I'm 21 and a bit weeks, which I absolutely love. Not sure how I'll react if a stranger/someone tries to touch it. I don't like people coming that close/being huggy and touchy normally so I doubt I'll like having people touch it!

I am only 5 weeks with dc5, but with my other pregnancies I absolutely hated it.
I like dh doing it, I really like it. But anyone else makes me flinch. Even my Mum, I just can't stand it. I think it might hurt my Mums feelings a little but, but it just freaks me out, even if I try not to react, its pretty obvious.

My MIL rubbed my belly at the weekend, when we broke the news to them (at 10+2!). My first thought was "Jeez, here we go". My second thought was "This belly is food related, not baby related"

Later on, if any non-family start doing it I know I'll be backing away from them. Eurgh.

Hi there, 25 weeks gone here! To be honest, I think it's more family members and strangers who I really hate being prodded, poked and groped by. For some reason I don't mind friends doing it. But also, becuase it is family that do it, it does feel awkward telling them to bugger off and how would they like it if I rubbed their bellies? I hate the way that everyone just assumes a pregnant womans stomach suddenly becomes public property though. I would never dream of touching someone elses bump without permission!! I can't recall ever touching either of my sisters bumps when she was PG with her 2!

Oh and the only person I really feel comfortable with touching my bump is my DP :) I think it's a lovely way to help him bond with his daughter, especially what she did last night! I'd read that if your partener put his ear against bump he might be able to hear her heartbeat, he got a kick in the ear instead :o

I'm 34+4 and I thought I'd HATE it. But I actually don't mind too much if it's done respectfully IYKWIM.

If it's a stranger that's weird and not nice. However, friends, family, PIL etc doesn't bother me. There's a girl at work who, in her won words, is 'bump-obsessed'. She asked if I minded if she had a feel and I said no so she quite often pops up for a bump touch.

I think I don't mind so much because when she explained her obsession she just made it sound amazing. She says she finds it completely beautiful and a miracle of nature and, as a childless person, she is awed by it. Corny, but very sweet.

Awww bless, thats quite nice that is :) I don't mind when people ask very nicely, but when they just stroll up and start grabbing at it randomly I would just love to punch them in the face ask them to stop it even though it feels awkward with family. especially in-laws

Cyber-vomit. There is no way in hell I could tolerate FIL touching my bump OR my feet. DH has strict instructions never to leave me in a room on my own with him haha. Fortunately he lives a way off so see him very infrequently.

My sister has tried to feel, as has my 13 yo nephew (tentatively and having asked very politely) so didn't mind. Mum has felt but again don't live so near so fairly molestation free there. Actually invited MIL to feel the other day as DH was feeling a kick and she was hovering about looking hopeful - she scooted over really quickly and was very excited - quite nice really as we don't have the best of relationships.

Woman at work who I hardly know patted me last week and I nearly broke her wrist. Best mate (baby-phobic) tried to feel it last weekend with her fingertips. I pressed her palm against my tummy in time for a massive kick and her reaction was priceless - a huge "Errrgghhhh" style shriek which brought the entire bar in Manchester's Picadilly to a standstill. Classic.

If it a friend or family and invited then fine but otherwise it is a total invasion of your personal space and invites swearing from pregnant hormonal ladies!