How did you handle it when strangers would touch your stomach?

Question

I want a polite but firm way of telling people not to do it without actually saying, "Don't touch me."

I'm normally a very outgoing person. I guess the reason I'm afraid to say something is because I don't want to be outright rude to someone who is, in their own way, just trying to be nice. But it bugs me that they're invading my personal space!

Answer 1

I gave up on polite, now I just touch their bellies back and ask when they are due. I guess you could say something like, thank you but no thank you the baby is taking a break from visitors. Or I am sorry, but that really makes me feel uncomfortable. A little more honest that way. Just say it sweetie.

Answer 2

I did not like it either, people would never touch a non-pregnant woman's tummy. It's like they think they aren't touching you but "feeling" the baby so that makes it okay. This is what I did: if it was an acquaintance and they asked I would say "No, thank you." It's firm polite and straight to the point. If it was a stranger and they started ooooing and ahhhhing when they reached for my belly without asking I'd take a step back and draw an imaginary square with my fingers in front of me and say "personal space." This is not rude, alot of people feel like their space is invaded when people get too close anyway, pregnant or not. I still do it if a stranger wants to get up in my face to talk and I step back and they step forward. You can't really do this with friends and family though, if they bother you sometimes as some family members do like my little niece wanted to touch my belly 5-10 times a day and hold her hand there for half an hour waiting for some action. I'd started telling her "One touch, per person, per day." Then give her a smile. It worked.

Answer 3

The only people that I think are ok to touch my belly were close friends and other pregnant women. If they ask then I'm also ok with it, but the problem is there are a lot of people who think it's ok just to rubbing my belly. The worst ones are when they give you advice or an opinion. I have a small belly for being 33 weeks, and I don't know how many people tell me I must not be far enough along or there is something wrong with the baby. Also they constantly tell me it's a boy because of the way I'm carrying her (she's always been low...one of the reasons I'm on bedrest now because she's trying to get and I dialated and went into labor at 30 weeks.)

I was told to get a t-shirt that says "don't touch the belly" but I'm honestly too shy to tell these rude people to stop rubbing my belly.

Answer 4

You have to develop a look, and body language that clearly screams do not touch me. Some poeple still will not get it of course, what I always did was just try to keep an eye on people when you are talking to thm ,and if they look like they are reaching toward your belly just turn to the side slightly,that is usually enough to give most poeple the impression you dont want to be touched. If all else fails, you could always wear a t-shirt that say "My baby belly is not public property" lol.

Answer 5

It depends.. do they just walk up and start touching, or do they say something first? You can beat them to the punch and put your hands over your stomach before they get the chance, or just move away a little when you see they are making a move. I don't know if there really is a polite way to say "don't touch me." I guess.. just smile and say "yes, i am pregnant, but i really don't like when people i don't know rub my belly. Please ask next time." Good luck, i choose the hands over belly approach.. if my hands are there, they have no where to put theirs!

Answer 6

I guess you could try rubbing there head or something to the same extent. I hated it too and now I hate when total strangers come up and touch my sons face with there hands. I don't know where there dirty hands have been. I hate it. Its so invasive to touch someones stomach. I thought about making up shirts saying hands off.

Answer 7

Lol, I'm pretty uncomfortable as well when people try to touch my stomach. I usually don't let them have the chance to by crossing my arms over it or when they do try to, just shrink back a bit. Just a tiny bit gives them the indication that I'm not the touchy feely type or that I'm not in the best of mood from the 'raging hormones'.

Answer 8

Just tell them that you don't mean to sound rude but you're not comfortable with being touched by people you don't know. It's understandable. I was the same way with my first pregnancy especially cause I was 19 and it was always weird guys that wanted to touch my stomach..lol.

Answer 9

Hello,

Well, most "strangers" who saw my very big belly(twins)would ask if they could touch my belly before doing so.

I would let my church friends touch my belly all the time though.

I would not be bothered by it though. People in general are in awe of seeing a big pregnancy belly and want to feel the baby moving or whatnot.

Hope this helps you................ : -O

Answer 10

I use to hate it when people touched my tummy without asking. I would always say "you have 3 wishes" it was better than screaming get your hands off me.