Don't Touch the Baby! - Dealing with People Wanting to Touch Your Pregnant Belly

When you're pregnant, you will find that almost everyone wants to touch your tummy. When you start showing it, more and more people will come to you to touch it. It does not matter if you are doing your groceries or walking down the street, someone is certain to start rubbing all over it.

If you think that you are the only one being driven nuts by this, think again. Your husband shares the same feeling too, and he might not like the idea of having other men's hands on your tummy. The best way to deal with this is to simply talk to your husband, and see how he feels. The two of you can come to an agreement on who can touch the baby. After all, do you really have to let everyone touch the baby?

If you think about it, your belly is a personal space too, just like the rest of your body. People who want to touch it should ask permission from you and they have to respect your answer. While some women don't mind at all, there are others who do not like it. If you do not want someone to touch it, then say so. You have the right because it is your body, not theirs.

If a child wants to touch your belly and you allow him or her to, make sure that you guide them in placing their hand. Children might get too excited and smack your belly while trying to reach for it. It's better to be cautious, because it is your baby that is inside you after all. This also applies not only to children, but to everyone in general. Try to explain that they must not poke at it. They might not understand but explain to them carefully that it will hurt you and the baby won't like it. They usually do it because they want to see the baby move.

If you find that nothing else seems to work, do not hesitate to call your husband or start swatting. You've tried your best to give them a warning, so they really cannot blame you if you smack a person's hand who tried to lift your shirt to touch the baby. It is normal to act this way and you know that they would not do it if you weren't pregnant. So feel free to choose whose hands can touch the baby. After all, it is your baby.