Don't touch my bump!!

[Penny2012]

I don't mind close family and friends touching my bump- people who I'm close to, who would hug me anyway for example. But why oh why do strangers/family who you don't actually know that well feel they have the right to touch it? F off!!! Anyone else feel this way? I'm glad I'm pregnant but the stomach growing isn't actually my favourite part. I feel swollen and self conscious. I'm not a curio!

I'm another one who loves it! I just see it as people being interested and bumps are almost magnetic, they draw people in.

I think people just want to share my happiness.

I'm obviously in the minority too!

I always loved it when people showed an interest in my baby bumps and was never offended at all! Am 8+6 with DC3 and can't wait to have a big bump to show off again.

However, I am aware that some people don't feel the same way and would never touch a pg woman's bump, no matter how close we were, without being invited to first!

I don't mind either. I think they are magnetic. Some people cant help themselves an as i also think pregnant women are pretty beautiful i understand why. I have never had any one 'fondle' my bump, just kind of stroke it's hardness. Fondle sounds more sexual or loving. Fondling is weird. If any stranger did anything sexual to me without asking I would but furious, but a quick bump stroke is fine by me.

It hasn't happened to me but the idea seriously freaks me out. Why don't they just fondle your big swollen boobs while they're at it? Let's all join in.

Someone touched my belly yesterday while congratulating me.

She was pretty embarrassed however when I explained I wasn't pregnant! There is no baby there, just too much cheese and beer.

Having said that I really didn't mind that much when people touched my belly when I was actually pregnant.

On no threeleftfeet!

I realise I am probably overly sensitive, but I just think that the only one who gets to touch my body (other than to shake my hand) are my husband and medical providers. I'd let close friends and family touch it, but colleagues and strangers are just so beyond my comfort zone I might have a hormonal moment at them.

It's OK, I know I have a huge belly! I get people offering me seats on the train every so often, I'm used to it.

Yesterday I thought it was quite funny, she was a sales person - albeit a very nice one - but I'm sure congratulating potential customers on their beer bellies wasn't what she'd meant to do!

Urgh I hate this.

I wish I was brave enough to rest a hand on their tit and watch their reaction...

"how do you like them apples huh?"

YY. Bump touchers horrified me.

One woman who I wasn't fond of asked if she could feel my bump. I said yes, as long as I could hold her boobs while she did it. Needless to say my bump went unmolested.

Yanbu. Even if DH gets a bit too snuggly with it I say, 'it's still my body!'

some people are obviously more comfortable with it than others just the same as some people are generally more touchy feely than others anyway.

for me the annoying thing is just the fact that people seem to just walk into the room say hello to me and their hands go straight to my bump like it's their right to do so. THAT is what i find annoying.

CakeBump that is actually hilarious!!! I wish I was brave enough, too!!!!

Springforward, I love your response!

I am third trimester with my first and was dreading this random people grabbing your bump thing. Happily NOBODY has done it. But this nay be because i am not very huge and people might be unsure if i am actually pregnant or just fat! But i am very very pleased to have escaped the random strangers patting you thing so far, and i hope it continues.

I do think it mayhave something to do with one's vibes and personal space... I smile at people and don't think i seem cold or intimidating, but i definitely would not approve of someone stroking me, and maybe that is mysteriously also helping.

Aother thought... I am slim and tall, which might be helping to reduce the bump exposure. Either way i am v relieved not to be grabbed yet.

I got random people smelling my baby's feet!

Urgh hideous. I'm 25 weeks and the only person who did this to me (without asking) was MIL. It's not that I dislike her at all, but we're certainly not BBF. My sister said she was surprised I didn't belt her. As ridiculous as it sounds, it felt really violating...

Thankfully I haven't really had this... mustn't be giving the right vibes . Some close friends have asked if they could and of course I let them. Some women I work with but don't really know that well just touched it but they seemed well meaning so it was ok. I haven't had any random strangers though that would NOT have gone down well at all. I get more people randomly smiling at me though, like old women and young schoolgirls... it's quite sweet.

I am planning on carrying a riding crop so I can whack hands that come at me. I think it's incredibly demeaning that people think that if you are carrying a child somehow your body is public property, like you've stopped being a private person and are not just a walking incubator.
Blergh!