I don't get it...belly rubbing.... - Page 3

[Ninetales]

I don't like to be touched. If you wouldn't just touch me or hug me when I'm not pregnant, I don't want you to do it when I am. Unless you ask first and then I will probably let you.

I'm only a huggy touchy person with a very few people, and those people are fine to touch my belly. Like I said, if you wouldn't otherwise, I'm not comfortable with it now.

[DCMama01]

Unless a man I've never met did this, I can care less.

[caro113]

(since I'm behind ... You're pregnant?! Congrats!! I may have noticed, but forgotten. I know you really wanted another baby)

For me, it's a personal space thing. I don't like people invading my personal space. The only person who was allowed to touch my belly was DP and that's it. I find it rude that people just come up to a pregnant woman and rub her belly. Who do you think you are? Go away. How about I rub your belly. Or better yet, I'll rub your butt and say "Oh it's getting so big!!" How would you like that? Maybe it's just pregnant hormones, but I don't like it. Of course, my family thinks it's incredibly rude and when I bought a maternity shirt at spencers as a joke (It said "Touch the belly, lose a hand") they gave me these disgusted looks. Because that wasn't rude at all

I dunno .. I just don't like my personal space invaded. Maybe it also had something to do with the fact that my mother kept saying how it was "her baby" and wanted to touch "her baby". That was down right creepy.

I understand many women like it and that's fine. I just don't like it for me.

[JennTheMomma]

I think there are all different reasons why women would not like it. I liked to touch my own belly or have my DH touch it. Strangers would be creepy and I would not like that. However, once I was in my last trimester touching my belly kind of hurt. My skin was very sensative and it was hard to wear clothes because of the touching.

[JollyGG]

Why would someone feel they could violate my personal space just because I'm pregnant. I don't get it. Don't touch my belly and I won't touch yours.

[Ruthla]

I had to vote "other" because I've never experienced this. I keep reading about all these women who have their bellies touched all the time when they're pg- and nobody's ever done it to me except for DP or DD (and maybe my Mom if I invited her to feel the baby move?)

[JollyGG]

Originally Posted by umbrella

It's funny, her dad is the same way about hugs, and always has been. I'll be walking from one room to another, with things in my hand, and he'll get in my way and stop me, so we can have a leisurely hug, just standing there, holding each other. I like that and all, but seriously, I was on my way somewhere. I'm holding stuff. This isn't the moment to just sway and hug.

LOL. My husband does the same thing. I though I was the only wife with that issue. The worst is when I was headed to the bathroom. "Really don't want to stand there and cuddle with you while my bladders ready to burst. Sorry hon."

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by JollyGG

LOL. My husband does the same thing. I though I was the only wife with that issue. The worst is when I was headed to the bathroom. "Really don't want to stand there and cuddle with you while my bladders ready to burst. Sorry hon."

Oh my. Mine too!

[devasma]

Originally Posted by JollyGG

Why would someone feel they could violate my personal space just because I'm pregnant. I don't get it. Don't touch my belly and I won't touch yours.

That's how I feel about it. It seems that a lot of people view a pregnant woman as public property - it's ok to touch her in ways that would otherwise be inappropriate, ask her questions about health issues that would normally be off-limits, etc. I understand that it doesn't bother a lot of people, but don't assume that because I'm pregnant, it's ok to randomly touch me. It's not. I also don't like it when all someone can talk about is that I'm pregnant. Yes, I'm pregnant. No, I didn't lose my pre-pregnancy identity. Yes, I can have conversations that don't relate to babies. And - surprise! - I can perform normal, everyday tasks without compromising mine or the baby's health.
Maybe I'm just a pregnancy scrooge!

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

Originally Posted by caro113

I dunno .. I just don't like my personal space invaded. Maybe it also had something to do with the fact that my mother kept saying how it was "her baby" and wanted to touch "her baby". That was down right creepy.

I understand many women like it and that's fine. I just don't like it for me.

Yep,I think this is linked to it for me. I get the same sort of emotional response if someone touches my stomach as i do when someone says, "Take good care of my grandbaby!" I love you, mom/dad/mil/fil, but I am not gestating this child for your personal fulfillment.
I am a very possessive parents (of infants, at least), so perhaps that's a part of the reason why.

[boheime]

Originally Posted by Veronika01

The only people I like touching me is my dh and my children. Anyone else needs to respect my personal space and back off. So yeah, I hate it from strangers and family (outside of my own little one) alike. Touch me and die, LOL.

Yes!

[Mama_2_Boy]

I picked 'other' just because only certain people are allowed to rub the belly, DH or DS...if anyone walks up and just starts to touch it, I find that really inappropriate.

[itsajenism]

Originally Posted by caro113

I find it rude that people just come up to a pregnant woman and rub her belly. Who do you think you are? Go away. How about I rub your belly. Or better yet, I'll rub your butt and say "Oh it's getting so big!!" How would you like that?

When I'm pregnant, I hate being touched. It's even a struggle sometimes to let DH or DS touch me, especially my belly area.
I have no idea why, but it makes my skin crawl. I'm not as irked about being touched when not pregnant

I also don't like the fact that people who normally wouldn't touch me (strangers, extended family, etc) suddenly think it's ok because I'm pregnant.

[KLM99]

I don't hate it or love it, I just think it's really weird. I can't imagine reaching out and touching anyone - I wouldn't even have the desire to. So I just don't get why people even want to do it. And seriously, have we not all heard enough pregnant moms saying they don't want to be touched? Shouldn't everyone know by now to at least ask?

[rhiOrion]

I don't think I'll mind it at all from people I know once you can feel the baby kicking from the outside. But right now, you're just rubbing my fat. I don't mind if DH rubs my fat, but I'd rather not have anybody else rubbing all over me. Plus the baby is way down low and if people really were rubbing for baby...well, that would be sorta X rated.

Strangers touching my belly is probably always going to annoy me, though I'm sure to what degree depends on hormones at the time.

[thefreckledmama]

For me, it totally depends on who it is, and how they're doing it. When people I barely know come up and rub my stomach like they're petting a dog, that annoys the crap out of me. When it's someone I'm close to, and they're rubbing my stomach because they're marveling at the wonder that is the person inside me, then it's ok.

[hapersmion]

If I wouldn't like a person to touch my belly when I'm not pregnant, I don't want them touching me when I'm pregnant either. I just really don't like being touched in general, so I don't think my dislike is related to pregnancy - it's just that people wouldn't come up and put their hand on my belly when I'm NOT pregnant.

[cloudbutterfly]

So far it's only been good friends and close relatives, and all female, so I've enjoyed the belly patting I've gotten. It makes me feel like my baby is loved already, and I'm happy that he has people who are excited to meet him.

I would think it was really weird if a stranger did it, but that hasn't happened to me yet...nor do I think I will, just based on the local culture in my city.

[aramat]

No touchie!!

I'm not touchy-feely anyway. LOVE when my husband touches, and love when my kids touch. NOBODY else.

The next thing is after the baby is born and everyone comes over to the baby with unwashed hands, and, what do they touch? They touch baby's hands, which are the first and only things baby puts in her/his mouth!

Just don't touch my stuff; you're not qualified!

I also was the kid who didn't like to have sleepovers at my house. And I'm the adult who rearranges everything after the maid leaves. I guess I have problems sharing.

[NiteNicole]

Everyone who knows me knows that I am not a toucher. I don't like it. I like my space. I don't mind hugs and cuddling with my daughter but even she knows that sometimes I need my space for me. My husband also does the random hug thing and it drives me nuts. Do you not see that I'm trying to do something here? My hands are full or I've just said, "I'm going to the bathroom" this is not the time for some dorky hugfest!

I have an aunt who is sort of famous for stating that she understands your boundaries, but she's going to trample all over them anyway (I know you don't like to talk about money, but how much DID you make last year? I know you're sensitive about your weight, but I'd put you at about 220? Is that right? I know you're sensitive about that mole but I just can't help looking at it. Hey, y'all, look at the size a' that thang!). I. DO. NOT. PLAY. She approached me a few times when I was pregnant and said "I know you don't like people touching you, but I just have to rub that belly" I alternatly took a step back, grabbed her wrist and moved her away, and threatened to grab her ass.

I might not mind the actual touching so much, but the part of being pregnant I enjoyed least was feeling like public property. Everyone feels free to comment on everything you do, say, think, or eat. Everyone asks such personal quesitons, and everyone feels free to touch just because they want to. No thank you. I don't lovingly stroke your breast because they're looking extra perky today, keep your hands off my belly.