Post # 1
Member
2217 posts
Buzzing bee
When people try to grab at your stomach when they find out your pregnant? As in… you dont even have a bump yet!
It hasnt really happened yet as not a lot of people know but it kinda hit me the other day when DH was rubbing my stomach that when we do announce (probably next week) how uncomfortable I’m going to feel if other people do it. Right now all I have is a teeny bit of bloat but the rest is “ALL ME” so to speak. DH family is really touchy feely and I dont know how Im going to react/or what to say when they do (because they will) without coming off like a b*tch?
Has anyone had to deal with this yet? I know I may feel diff once I get bigger but right now I feel like its a really intimate area to be touching someone. Its not like I go around to my non-pregnant friends and start grabbing at their flab lol. I feel like my instinct is going to be swotting their hands away with the look on my face “PAleeease dont touch me like that” :s
Post # 2
Member
2841 posts
Sugar bee
shanbp: When I was pregnant with my son, I don’t think anyone touched my tummy- not family, friends or anyone that I can remember. I guess most of the people I associate with understand personal space.
This time, the only two people who have touched it are my son and my husband– and it’s cute and it’s not over the top– my son has done it a couple times and my husband touches me just like he did before I was pregnant.
I honestly don’t think most people are just going to reach out and touch you– I think people think it will happen a lot– or if you’re SUPER close to a particular group of people they might think it’s OK? Not sure.
I have also never touched anyone’s pregnant belly- ever.
Post # 3
Member
188 posts
Blushing bee
I don’t think people will be grabbin at you. I would sock someone if they reached for my belly. I’m currently rockin’ 8 wks of bloat that only I will be rubbing, thank-you-very-much.
Post # 4
Member
283 posts
Helper bee
I get grabbed a lot, honestly I’m only 20 weeks and I’ve had heaps of work people grab my belly already and neighbours too lol. It used to worry me but when I got my bump I was super proud of it lol they can pat my belly all they want haha if you don’t like it though just ask them to stop. Your body your rules 🙂
Post # 5
Member
2217 posts
Buzzing bee
MrsEME: MrsZapatos: ya it probably wont happen as often as Im imagining, but there are definatly a few specific people Im 99.9% sure are going to and I need to figure out a way to get the message across lol. My MIL for one I’ve seen her grab pg people (who arnt that pregnant) and one of them was BM on my wedding day. She was 10 weeks and not showing at all, and really self concious …. someone must have alerted my MIL…who BTW had NEVER MET HER before the RD the night before…she literally ran to her and started rubbing her stomach…like WTF!!!!!!! My BM looked lke she was going to freak out lol……. she does NOT like people in her personal space to begin with. I was apologizing to her all day!
Post # 6
Member
2538 posts
Sugar bee
shanbp: I was shocked at how many ppl were rubbing/grabbing at a friend of mine’s belly during her baby shower. Every time she walked by someone would put out their hand & rub her belly. I would have flipped!!! I would either tell them you aren’t feeling well or that you get weirded out when ppl touch your belly.
Post # 7
Member
5179 posts
Bee Keeper
I live in a city where the stomach and belly rubbing was common place. Many people were surprised when I basically pushed peoples hands away when they tried to rub my belly. I like my personal space and to me it was very invasive and rude to not ask. Only my husband touched my stomach when I was pregnant. I dealt with that my entire pregnancy but that’s just me.
Post # 8
Member
969 posts
Busy bee
I’ve only had it happen once, and my automatic reaction was to stagger backward away from the person. Hasn’t happened since!
Post # 9
Bee
983 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2008 - A tiny town just outside of Glacier National Park
My rule was if we have never hugged or had an intimate/personal conversation, no touchy without asking. Anyone who touched me w/o asking was going to get a touch back on their stomach. But all told, only once did someone who fell into that category touch my belly and I gave him a pass because he was a retired OB.
Post # 10
Member
9918 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Isn’t it against the law to touch a pregnant woman’s stomach? At least in PA…I think. If anyone touches me when I am pregnant ugh…I don’t know how I’m going to handle it without being a jerk. Who feels they have the right to touch another person without asking??? I’ve never felt the urge to grope a woman’s pregnant belly…
Post # 11
Member
4194 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: July 2012 - Baltimore Museum of Industry
I’m 6 months, and just a handful of people have touched my belly- DH, Mom, Step-Mom, MIL (who asked first), a friend who asked first, two co-workers (one asked first, and the other is a new grandmother), and another pregnant friend. All people whom I hug, so it hasn’t been a problem. I do like the idea if a stranger touched my bump to touch their belly back- bet that would be the last time they do that to a pregnant woman!
Post # 12
Member
229 posts
Helper bee
I had a friend who didn’t like random people touching her belly and when they did, shed would just start touching/rubbing their belly back. Message was usually received very quickly!
Post # 13
Member
956 posts
Busy bee
I don’t know why I did it, but a while ago I reached out and touched my friend’s belly. I did it without even thinking. It still crosses my mind every so often “why the f did I do that?”. I felt like a twat.
Post # 14
Member
2217 posts
Buzzing bee
Well thanks ladies it’s good to know I’m not alone in how I feel. I think it’s ok if people ASK to first but I know I’m gonna end up waking backwards away from hands!
meadow_jersey: hahahahahahaha I’m stealing that an totally touching them back!!!
Post # 15
Member
437 posts
Helper bee
shanbp: I’m only 16 weeks and have already had lots of people grab my belly, and yes it does bother me! I’ve decided next time it happens I’m going to grab their boobs.
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