Do you care if someone rubs your belly without asking? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[eepeepee]

Originally Posted by sweetlowmom 

Seems like I'm the odd woman out here, but I actually LOVE it when people want to rub my belly! I feel like it means they are excited and happy and want to spread that special happy vibe to the baby, and get the baby's life-vibe right back at them. For me, it's one of those special things that you only get during pregnancy. Funnily enough, yesterday was the first day that someone asked me if I was pregnant, and just spontaneously reached out and rubbed my belly, and I was thrilled - I feel like, wow! I'm finally showing in a "pregnant" way and that is so exciting! I guess if it were a person that I didn't like, or found abhorrent in some way, it would bother me, but regular people, rub away! Just goes to show how everyone is different, and a lot of it is cultural too, Lynann.
 

I'm with you!  I've always been comfortable with physical contact and am pretty hug-y in general, so it hasn't bothered me yet.  Granted, I haven't had any real strangers try it yet, so we'll see how that goes...

[BabySmurf]

I brought this subject up in the June DDC not too long ago for a similar reason to OP! I went to a family party and my affectionate cousin came over to congratulate and give hugs, and she definitely went in for the belly rub...except she rubbed at my (bloated) belly button, and I was only about 13 or 14 weeks, so the baby bump was way closer to my pubic bone....I am really glad she didn't go "in" for it there! Lol.  being who it was, it didn't bother me, but it certainly did surprise me!

In general, I think that it's really cool that pregnancy and new babies can bring people together the way it does.  It's a really exciting time and kind of a rite of passage in a lot of ways...and most people are genuinely happy and excited about it.  I feel similar to another poster where, the bigger the baby is, the less it seems overly intrusive, so long as the person is asking permission.  There is a type of personality where the belly touching really doesn't bother me; they are doing it because they are genuinely happy for you, and there is a sense of camaraderie that makes it fun.   if you say no (sometimes I really just have to pee THAT bad!) they totally understand and it's a non issue. There is another personality type where I don't feel as comfortable with the advance - they seem to give off an air that the belly touching is more of a self fulfilling gesture, and many times they are the ones who don't ask.  I've learned to spot these types and avoid them as much as possible.  They are the ones who will touch your babies without asking too, and then be offended if you say not to. 

I laughed really hard when my cousin was pregnant over the summer and a very touchy feely person came up to her and asked how far along she was. (at about 4 or 5 months i think)  As the lady was going in for the belly touch, my cousin said "oh, I'm not pregnant!".  That took care of that. I doubt that I would have the guts to say something like that though!