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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Belly touching

15 replies

Cnmorgan13 · 17/09/2015 14:11

Just curious how often this really happens. I'm 16 weeks along and getting a nice bump. Had a couple of good rubs from my mum and close family which doesn't bother me at all, but you hear the stories of strangers coming up to touch you and I do have a problem with this. I don't know if it's more a US thing than a UK thing and it hasn't happened to me outside of close family. Just curious if I need to watch out for the crazies when my bump gets bigger lol

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lotsoffunandgames · 17/09/2015 14:16

People will always want to touch your bump. I didn't like it and would just move out of the way and explain that I dont like it. But strangely enough I have to really restrain myself from touching friends bumps (and strangers!) It is just natural to be amazed by pregnancy I think. I don't touch bumps unless I ask first.

s098 · 17/09/2015 14:23

I've had one person ( a friend of my mums) try although she did say can I have a feel but she was already holding her hands out! Covered my belly up and said no. Feels a bit weird to me! You don't normally go around touching people's belly's so its not ok now.

mummyneedinganswers · 17/09/2015 14:31

My mum and close family would touch my bump which I don't mind burning did a few weeks ago have a girl come to me while I was out shopping she was a girl I hadn't seen in years and she started rubbing my bump and I was utterly creeper out and sort of stood there frozen to ground I didn't know how to react x

Junosmum · 17/09/2015 14:33

I had a colleague and my gran do this. It was odd for my gran as she is not a touchy person- I can't remember her ever hugging me. As for my colleague it didn't bother me. If it was a stranger I think it would. I need to develop quicker reactions I think.

A friend did it and I rubbed her belly back, that stopped it. I told her I didn't mind much, I just wanted asking first.

I've never felt the desire to touch a bump.

Hopefulnewbie · 17/09/2015 14:53

I'm 22weeks- have a noticeable bump but it's not massive.
I don't mind close family doing it, and I'm sure I did the same to my sister.
I've had a few people do it (like my neighbour, work people, friends) but I think for some people it's a natural reaction as in they don't really realise they do it. Now I have a more noticeable bump, I don't really mind as they mean it in a caring/ affectionate way.
However, it is was a complete stranger - I would prob back away cos I find that weird, I would never think to touch a stranger! Bump or no bump!

CarShare · 17/09/2015 17:25

It's not for me I'm afraid- I slap their hands away

Me624 · 17/09/2015 18:06

I am 16 weeks and a little bump is just starting to emerge ... if anyone tries to touch it I will swiftly duck them and they will get a piece of my mind. I'm not a touchy feely person and being pregnant doesn't change that!

May09Bump · 17/09/2015 18:14

No one ever touched mine - I must look like a mean bugger :)

I'm not sure how I'd feel, I sometimes remember what my gran said "a baby is a joy to be shared" and I always loved the elderly people coming over to my DS and pushing a 50p for the baby. They never crossed boundaries like kissing, etc. I quite like the saying it takes a village to raise a child, so why not start at bump stage.

I loved feeling the kicks myself though!

BexusSugarush · 17/09/2015 21:14

At 25 weeks with no one but my partner touching the bump, I feel like I am missing out. I would love for strangers and friends to be so interested and pleased for me that they'd want to feel baby in there, but maybe I only think this because it's not happening. I can understand people not liking the idea of it; personal boundaries. But sometimes you just want someone to be so overwhelmed by it that they can't help themselves!

PallasCat · 18/09/2015 17:10

Too early to have announced let alone be obviously showing (though I can see a bump!) but I've been thinking about this too.
I think I'll be fine about family/close friends doing it, but strangers absolutely not. I hate slogan t-shirts but if I find people try I'm going to get a hands off the bump t-shirt. TBH I think it's unlikely, as I definitely have bitchy resting face! Like PP's suggestion of rubbing them back though - I'll keep that one in mind!

MrsGentlyBenevolent · 18/09/2015 17:57

Haven't had anyone try to touch me, but then again I have an exceptional 'resting bitch face', no one would dare . I don't like being cuddled and touched in general, my poor partner is a super-cuddler though. I have to suck it up and let him touch, cuddle, kiss and talk to bump as much as he wants. Still, can't wait until baby's out, and leave the two of them to it!

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 18/09/2015 18:12

With strangers I have 2 tactics.

A) I tell them I'm not pregnant and begin to cry

B) I grab their tit. If they look shocked, I do a head tilt and say "oh sorry, I thought it was now all of a sudden ok to grab peoples protruding body parts"

Original poster

Cnmorgan13 · 19/09/2015 12:01

Lol I always thought it was one of those urban legends to freak introverts like me out.

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FishenNuggets · 19/09/2015 18:08

It's not an introvert/extrovert thing. I've always been fairly extroverted but hated people touching my stomach.

Even when DH did it, I had to stop myself jumping out of the way.

poocatcherchampion · 19/09/2015 18:09

Someone ibarely know did it to me at work the other day. It has stuck in my mind but it isn't too big a deal

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