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Original poster

They warn you its going to happen but.... A complete stranger just touched my stomach

59 replies

AnguaVonUberwald · 05/09/2007 16:14

I was walking along the corridor talking to someone at work, and I told her I am pregnant. Two girls walking behind me, who I don't know - Squealed - Oh my god, are you. and then one of them leaned over and touched my stomach!!

Totally out of the blue - never even seen her before never mind talked to her!

I just said - Oh my god, don't do that!! I was warned about this but didn't think it actually happened!

I still can't belive it! Who the hell does something like that!! How do you stop them?

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joopie · 06/09/2007 10:33

i had the woman behind the boots pharmacy counter rubbing my tummy and talking about free prescriptions, BUT I WASN'T EVEN PREGNANT, waaaagggh. ive always had a sticky out tummy and have had people asking if im pregnant and touching my belly since i was 14 if a few months of bump rubbing is annoying imagine putting up with it for 13 years!!!!!!!!!

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 06/09/2007 10:40

i must have been a scary pregnant teenager (17 and 19) with my dcs, people never attepted to touch my bump!!

never understod how people felt it was ok tho, i felt odd enough when my mm was feeling kicking let alone if a stranger did it without asking

MrsFish · 06/09/2007 10:41

I must say I am on my second pregnancy now and I have never had the problem with strangers touching my bump. I am very glad at this, not quite sure how I would react if someone did tbh.

kittylouise · 06/09/2007 10:48

Nobody ever touched my bump, which suprised me.

Was also waiting with ready prepared arguments when breastfeeding in public, and nobody ever said a word, and I fed all over the place.

Must have been an intimidating teenager (was 17/18).

RGPargy · 06/09/2007 11:01

No one has ever rubbed my bump, except for DP and MIL, who are both very excited. no one even knows i'm pg, as i'm a fattie and people just assume i'm even fatter than before, which is rather disappointing!

Original poster
AnguaVonUberwald · 06/09/2007 11:02

I am still so shocked about it, the girl didn't even appologise but just carried on walking. What makes people think they can behave like this?

OP posts:
Original poster
AnguaVonUberwald · 06/09/2007 11:02

But RGpargy, you wouldn't want people to start touching your stomach would you?

OP posts:
RGPargy · 06/09/2007 11:06

AVU - No i wouldn't, but it would be nice for people to not be so surprised when i tell them i'm pg!!! Most are like "oh are you? How far along?" and i stand there, sigh in desperation and say "7 months".

Original poster
AnguaVonUberwald · 06/09/2007 12:03

RGPargy, I can see that is hard, its the otherway around for me, I feel like I am huge already and I told one person who said "I thought you were" - which has stressed me out a bit, as I am sure I shouldn't be showing this much this soon.

OP posts:
PregnantGrrrl · 06/09/2007 14:30

it's not THAT bad, is it? You can get maternity Tshirts that say 'Hands off the Bump' if you're that worried!

bananabump · 06/09/2007 15:04

RGPargy I feel your pain, no-one knew I was pregnant even at full term. In fact I went for a haircut on my due date and had to tell the hairdresser I was pregnant, she had no idea.

RuthChan · 07/09/2007 01:03

I had heard about strangers touching your bump, but wasn't expecting it to happen to me because Japanese people are so protective of their own personal space (which is enormous!!) and won't even look strangers in the eye, never mind talk to them.

However...I too found that my belly suddenly became public property and that every passing stranger thought he had a right to give me a good touch up.

It's quite unnerving really.
I ended up spending a lot of time with my arms wrapped protectively around my own middle.

oopsiedoopsie · 07/09/2007 06:54

anyone touching a bump without permission deserves a spade to the head imho.

PippiLangstrump · 07/09/2007 07:09

agree! annoying is an understatement. I'll have to put a sign up this time 'do not touch!'

Imawurzel · 07/09/2007 07:40

DH sits there with his hand on my bump in the evenings.
Other than him, my ma has touched bump which is ok, " customers at work have also touched, i don't really mind as in kinda know them (small shop) And the handyman calls out hi mum, or hi fatty then comes along and touches bump. He is odd. But too nice a guy to tell him off.
No strangers yet as i'm not really looking pg, i'm 23+4 now.

TwitmonstEr · 07/09/2007 10:28

I'm not a touchy feely person at the best of times, I tolerate my dc's and dp touching my stomach [its very big now and uncomfortable when they do], and the m/w but no one else, and I literally step away from any oncoming hands.

MarsLady · 07/09/2007 10:40

I tend to ask if I can touch... but there is just something so amazing about life growing inside. I almost can't help myself! Not many people ever touched my bumps if I recall rightly.

I'm forever smiling at pregnant women.

gingercat12 · 07/09/2007 11:00

I tend to smile brightly pregnant ladies, too as opposed to touching them.

I do not think people are sure about me yet, so nobody touched me, but my DH (whom I positively encourage ).

Hinagiku · 07/09/2007 17:09

I didn't really mind people touching my bump, what's the big deal? Also, I found that in social situations where alchohol was being consumed the rate of touching went right up, which is so obviously due to the well-known lowering of inhibitions effect. It's just human behaviour - nothing to get too "touchy" about, no?

DontCallMeBaby · 07/09/2007 17:16

The only unsolicited bump-touching I ever got was in a pub at Christmas, there was alcohol flowing (none in my direction obviously) and the guy was telling me how much he loved his two kids, and they were fab etc ... so I let him off. Other than that ... I just fear that my powerful 'fark off' vibes are going to lead to me NEVER making friends and the school gates.

soontobeamummy · 08/09/2007 16:17

I don't think it would bother me but my DP is 39+2 and is very funny about it but then she is not very tactile outside close family and friends as i am.
My mum is a belly toucher!!!!
She loves pregnancy and thinks it's beautiful, she will strike up a conversation with anyone and then ask if she can touch!!
If they say no thats cool but most people are more than happy as they are proud of their bumps. It also brings back happy memories for her.

I think i would be slightly more nervous when people have been out drinking.

My sister loves her bump being touched/cuddled.
It's each to there own.

empen · 08/09/2007 22:14

You would not actually believe how many people touch my belly. I am 7 months pregnant and actually look as though I am ready to drop. People usually ask me if I need to sit down, assume I am about to give birth and then give the bump a good rub. I wouldn't mind so much but quite a few of them manage to give me boob a rub in the process!!!!

Bouncingturtle · 09/09/2007 09:00

Hardly anyone has touched my belly apart from DH and close friends and my boss!!! Didn't bother me, but it would if a complete stranger did it.
I do tend to smile at other pg ladies, it's like we're all part of a secret club
I also get severe bump when I see skinny ladies with their perfectly round bumps.

ItsNotOnlyTheGoodBits · 09/09/2007 22:04

Ooooh! Bump touching...I just can't stand it. When I was preggers this happened a few times at work and with friends. If I saw it coming I would quickly step back and guard my bump with my hands. If I didn't see it coming I would say (rather loudly and through gritted teeth) "Dont do that!"

I would also add, in both instances "You wouldn't prod a fat person would you?!"

It usually got the message across. Thankfully I never got touched up by a stranger though.

jamjarparmar · 11/09/2007 13:26

I literally backed away from a colleauge who came towards me and bump with arms outstretched going 'OOH!!' I don't like it. You don't grab a ladies boobs if you think they are bigger than usual (do you?!) so why fondle someones stomach?! HANDS OFF MY BUMP I say!