How should I handle these types of comments?

Question

I'm 31 1/2 weeks pregnant, and I'm getting a lot of annoying comments - from complete strangers! A typical conversation goes like this:
"Are you having twins? You're HUGE!"
"No, it's just one in there."
"Then you must be due any day now!"
"Not quite... I'm due in March."
The stranger then proceeds to touch my belly and ask if the baby is kicking right now. This happened three times yesterday! This is a picture, I really don't think I'm overly big for how far along I am:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r254/lucygoosey1721/MyPicture-1-1.jpg

How do I...
a.) Handle these comments?
b.) Prevent these comments from happening in the future?
c.) Keep them from touching my belly?

Thanks,
Lucy

A note to the person who asked if it's a girl - you're right! Just curious, how can you tell? Doesn't it have something to do with how high you carry...?

Answer 1

I got that ALL the time. At first it was hard, but then I realized who cares! You can't prevent these comments from happening, but remember...it's your body! Who needs to like it but you and your hubby?? Women carry differently, gain different amounts of weight, start off at different weight and have different size babies! Some people are just ignorant. As far as touching you, best thing to do is to stay NO. Again, it's your body! If they walked up to a normal women and touched her stomach they could probably have the cops called, so your no different. Stand up for yourself and say it politely, but "Please do not touch me, it makes me uncomfortable". Walk away if they start to rant or anything. You deserve respect and privacy like every other person in this world. Good Luck!!

Answer 2

It looks like you have a small frame anyways. So that makes you look pretty big. My sister was the same way. She was a size 0 when she has her first daughter and looked like she swallowed an over filled beach ball. Unfortunatly theres not much you can do about the people making comments. We all get them, as for the belly touching I think that also happens to everyone. It happened to me with all pregnancies. I just would take a step or two back when I saw the hand coming and just tell the person I dont know you please dont touch my stomach. Some people understood some people looked at me like I just told them to go to hell. As for dealing with it, you just have to learn to let it roll off. I had people tell me that I was downright fat. I was also 38 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child. Of course it upset me, but I just let it go. These are probably people you'll never see again and if you do who cares. In a couple months you'll have the baby in your arms and everything will be alright.

Answer 3

Great question. I am scared of that. Ha I'm only 9 weeks too. Well I had a friend who had the same problem. She was quite big like yourself. If your annoied of answering those questions. You can ignore them, come on you don't know them. Or you can politely say, "I'm sorry I'm in a hurry" and leave. Make an excuse. So you don't have to go through that. You can't prevent them. It's human nature to be like "Oh gawd your big" or something like that. People love seeing pregnant women. There is something beautiful about it!! Man tell them you don't like to be touched. It's rude for people to be grubbing at you. They should at least ASK! I am sorry about all this. Good luck, and have a safe and healthy pregnancy.


Baby Due - (08-26-2007)

Answer 4

You look big because you have a small frame. Just tell the truth about how you feel. You can't prevent people from asking. But when they ask about you if you are having twins just say. "No I am due in March and please don't touch my belly I don't like that" or something like that. So that way you get it all out ant they don't have to ask you 50 million questions and touch you. Who cares if strangers find that offenses. THEY ARE STRANGERS...LOL... which means you will never see them again. I feel people should respect your wishes. If they know up front how you feel then it won't happen. But if they ignore that then you have the right to rude right back to them and tell them stop to talking to you. =) Congrats

Answer 5

I feel for you I did have twins and I did get a lot of the same only starting @ 6 mons! you cant do much with the coments but I would really put my foot down on the touching you thing I would try to be polite first then if that did not work I would resort to a little more firmness.

Answer 6

First off I must say your belly is quite big...I have had 2 babies so far and both were 9 lbs,u look how I looked and people told me all the time how big i was,how many moths etc...I would say your baby is going to be pretty big,u look very petite yourself though..To the rude comments,when they are talking to u just walk away and act like u are in a hurry..I dont really like when people stop me either and talk my ear off about how georgeous my kids are,its time consuming and annoying at times..Just try to avoid it,when they ask questions kinda push it like ur not interested...answer yes or no and dont really make eye contact,this will give them the hint..I mean if u are too nice about it they will keep hounding you..Good Luck and congrats on the baby! btw,are u having a girl? =)

Answer 7

Im due in March and get comments like that. I havent gotten the twins comment yet though. Although I did get that comment when I was pregnant with my third son. Some one asked me if I was having twins and I said no, and then they just said, wow your huge. So I just went home and cried and cried and my husband had no idea why I was so upset about that..lol. I dont know how to handle them, except to just ignore them, or say, everyone is different, some are bigger than others and some are smaller. It doesnt mean you are having twins!

Answer 8

I think it looks like you were probably pretty small before you got pregnant, and sometimes that just makes the belly more pronounced. Some people just don't understand personal space and think a pregnant belly is public domain. Next time some one touches you, touch thier belly and ask when they are due ;)

Answer 9

Smile and walk away.
I always hate it when a stranger does these things.
You are no bigger than my first pregnancy and now on my second (4 months along) and people will tell me it looks like I am having triplets. I let no one touch me in public and if they won't take a hint and try to follow me, I'll tell them that They need to back off please.
There are a lot of sick people out there right now. Some who will stalk you, Buy a can of mace and try not to go anywhere alone, hon. Please don't put your face on the net, you can't trust anyone.
You are normal and a pretty mommy-to-be. Be wary of strangers. Be on guard.

Answer 10

Get a shirt that says "HANDS OFF!" and carry a bat. I'm the type of person that doesn't appreciate people who think they can just walk up to me and touch my belly, when people would come up and ask me how far along I was I would tell them I wasn't pregnant and start crying. It was so fun turning the tables on people like that. Goodluck hun the bigger you get the worse it gets, it's really a part of pregnancy for every woman I think.