...just because I'm pregnant.

Okay, so no-one tries it on me cos they know I have a quick slap reflex, lol:suspect:. But loads of other pregnant women I've spoken to are feeling terrorised by people, even strangers, who think your tummy is fair game if there's a baby inside.

WHY??? Why do people feel it's all right to put their hand on someone else's tum?

Have you done it? Did you ask first? Do you think it's all right to just go up and slap your hand on a protruding pregnant belly?

Please someone explain this weird compulsion to me.

Cosy:confused:

I never got this either.....never done it to anyone else can't remember if anyone did that to me whilst I was preggers.

I think family felt compelled to.....but it was sort of okay for family...not complete strangers though.

Congrats on your Bump BTW :D

Moonie

I think it just gives them a cosy feeling, cosy. :P

I didn't want to touch my sisters belly when she was pregnant, the baby was very active and it reminded me of Alien too much.

Thanks, Moon!

No, I haven't even let my family near my belly, I'm so mean, lol. But I have had one person I hardly know come at me with hand out to touch, and I backed up feeling really shocked that they'd do that without asking. I've seen it happen to others a fair few times, too. But I just don't get it.

I really am liable to hit out, it's a reflex. I'm surprised there aren't more people lying prone at the feet of pregnant women, lol!

Originally posted by owdlad
I think it just gives them a cosy feeling, cosy. :P

If being tucked up in a hospital bed with a thick ear and a concussion is cosy, owdlad:P . LOL.

Originally posted by cosywolf
If being tucked up in a hospital bed with a thick ear and a concussion is cosy, owdlad:P . LOL.
I think some people want to touch a pregnant belly cos it's like reflex action similar to saying 'aaaarrrrr' when you see a cute puppy.

I must admit I have touched my friends pregnant belly's (not sure if I asked or not - but they didn't mind - I don't think).
However I can see where you're coming from and totally appreciate that you'd feel a little put off if someone did this.

I will make sure I for one remember this post in future before I go groping pregnant friends bellies. :lol:

How long is it till you pop then Cosy?

I know exactly how you feel and did tell all my family and friends to ask before touching, at the beginning, but at xmas it was v strange as I was more comfortable with my new shape and wanted my family to touch me!
Becoming pregnant does not mean your belly is public property! I have had two complete strangers come up to me with arms outstreched and have had to really bite my tongue, and restrain the old slapping arm!
It's wierd, cos as baby gets bigger, and I have got more used to it, I want to share the experience! Can't win!
Also I finish work on Friday, and use the tram twice a day at peak times and nobody has ever once stood up to let me sit down, or stopped barging past me to get on/off the tram. It didn't bother me to start with, but I'd really appreciate it at the end of the day and will certainly be more considerate to pregnant women in the future

Tell them to move, smellie...nicely at first of course:D. So far i haven't needed to, I always seem to be with someone who moves them for me, lol:hihi:

DB - hello sweetie, due to pop May 3rd. You can touch my belly, lol:P

Cosy

Originally posted by cosywolf
...just because I'm pregnant.

Okay, so no-one tries it on me cos they know I have a quick slap reflex, lol:suspect:. But loads of other pregnant women I've spoken to are feeling terrorised by people, even strangers, who think your tummy is fair game if there's a baby inside.

WHY??? Why do people feel it's all right to put their hand on someone else's tum?

Have you done it? Did you ask first? Do you think it's all right to just go up and slap your hand on a protruding pregnant belly?

Please someone explain this weird compulsion to me.

Cosy:confused:

My eldest sister was pregnant in 2003 and I must say I never felt compelled to feel her tummy even if she was carrying my gorgeous little niece who I now spoil absolutely rotten (take my responsibilities as uncle extremely seriously). Getting back on track... I wouldn't ever feel a pregnant woman's tummy unless invited to do so and then I still think I'd feel a bit odd doing it.

Originally posted by smellie1
[Also I finish work on Friday, and use the tram twice a day at peak times and nobody has ever once stood up to let me sit down, or stopped barging past me to get on/off the tram. It didn't bother me to start with, but I'd really appreciate it at the end of the day and will certainly be more considerate to pregnant women in the future [/B]

Tsk, sympathies there... my friend was pregnant in the summer and she fainted whilst stood up on the tram - a couple of people actually stepped over her so they could get off the tram! Luckily there were a couple of nice people around to help her up and make sure she was OK. After that, she just used to go and ask people if she could have their seat... no one ever refused!

I really don't understand this, and my wife felt "strange" about it happening too, especially as you say when strangers, or people you hardly know do it.

Mind you, it's not as weird as DB...


Originally posted by DaBouncer
similar to saying 'aaaarrrrr' when you see a cut puppy.

DB you say Ahhhh when you see a CUT puppy, does mutilating small animals make you feel warm inside, are you sick ?

;)

Originally posted by foo_fighter
I really don't understand this, and my wife felt "strange" about it happening too, especially as you say when strangers, or people you hardly know do it.

Mind you, it's not as weird as DB...



DB you say Ahhhh when you see a CUT puppy, does mutilating small animals make you feel warm inside, are you sick ?

;)

ROFL! I hadn't noticed that!

DB, get your a*se back here and explain yourself, or a tribe of hormonal women inclined to cry over cut puppies will be out baying for your blood!!!

I can't help it - I feel sorry for cut puppies, they must have stepped on broken glass or something :P

Come on you know what I said, it's not my fault if my keyboard can't keep up with the speed of my typing skills ;)

Now... if you dont mind, I have little animals to mutilate :o (Just kidding guys)

I've never personally known any pregnant people so my opportunities for tummy prodding have been limited... :P I can understand why people would want to do it though, its just that 'awwwwww' factor (lickle baby! :) ) I pride myself on being fairly non maternal but the sight of a heavily pregnant belly is enough to make even me want to rush out and reproduce :) Its obviously a biological thing ;)

Hi,
Is this something women do to other women or are strange guys going round invading the personal space of complete strangers? I don't think I've ever seen this happen and certainly have never had the desire to do it myself.
Maybe if a stranger tries this rather unappealing move you should slap their hand away and say
'Do you mind I've got wind'

On a similar note, after my wife gave birth, ans we were ever out shopping, beit Asda or Meadowhall, people would want to poke their head round the hood of the pram and peer in to have a look, some (especially old people) would touch my daughter's hand or even face. I don't know if its just me, but I really did not appreciate that - perhaps I was just an over protective new dad, but I don't know where that person's hands have been - for all I know they've just been to the toilet, got the runs and did'nt wash their hands.

I was also over protective during late stages of pregancy, - for example we were in Asda once and a 'lad' was acting the fool with a trolley which resulted in the said trolley hitting my wife - nothing at all serious, but I grabbed the lad and pushed him into a display of cereal boxes - that was really out of character for me, i'm a little bloke that would avoid any such confrontation at all costs.

Matt

Originally posted by DaBouncer
I think some people want to touch a pregnant belly cos it's like reflex action similar to saying 'aaaarrrrr' when you see a cute puppy.

I couldnt have explained it better myself DB... Its so true... :)

Your with a friend talking about their little son/daughter to be... Gets the soppy mode going... an before ya know it... its happening the wandering hand goes straight for 'the belly' awwww... then you leave your hand there asking when's it gonna move/kick :hihi: its weird lol

BTW... I dont touch strangers pregnant bellies only friends... hmmm! i dont ask all the time for a touch :? but i will in future :wink:

Originally posted by DaBouncer
I think some people want to touch a pregnant belly cos it's like reflex action similar to saying 'aaaarrrrr' when you see a cute puppy.
Damn that [Edit] button, it was WWAAAAYYYY better before !

;)

I think this is very common everywhere. I didn't mind family or friends rubbing my belly, but strangers...ahem!

The only exception was when I was pregnant with my daughter. I went with some neighbors and their families to a flea market. This was in sort of a poorer area of town, and alot of the people there are spanish speaking.

An older woman walked up to me, and before I could say "hola", placed both her hands on my stomach, gently rubbed it, and said something to me in spanish. My spanish is so poor I hardly understood her. My neighbor (who spoke spanish) gave her some money and told me to thank her, which I did. The lady patted my face, and left.

My neighbor explained that this woman was a 'bruja', a witch, and she was blessing me and my baby.

Someone else said she shouldn't have done this, but I didn't mind. I'll take a blessing anytime I can get one! And there was something very calming and soothing about this lady. I swear I could feel the energy coming through her hands!

Would I ever put my hands on a stranger? Not unless invited, and maybe not even then.

When my children were infants, occasionally someone would ask to hold them. I always said no if I didn't know the person, and tried to be gentle, because I had the feeling they meant well, but there's no way I could let a stranger handle my child.

:) Sierra

I have had a few friends who have been preggars, and I have been asked to feel their bellies from time to time. I think that it is a natural thing to do, and I'm someone who doesn't like kids or have any paternal feelings at all. In fact to show how strange I am, I ususally become shocked and dissapointed when I hear that someone is pregnant.
Obviously you wouldn't do it to anyone who you didn't know that's at best, an invasion of privacy at worst assult.
I have been invited to do this on a number of times by the women in question, but one girl I know didn't like it and told me in no uncertain terms, which is fair enough.

For men this can be a very confusing issue and sometimes women have to be much less subtle with their male friends.