Pregnant friends, do you find this as uncomfortable as I do?

This week I will be 8 months pregnant.  As the date nears, I am becoming more and more excited!  I can’t wait to meet my little one.  As we get closer, I am also becoming bigger and bigger.  My baby bump is out and very obvious to the world.  As it would be expected, the bump is receiving quite a bit of attention.  Yet recently, something happened that made me so uncomfortable that I had no idea how to react.  Someone I know well and hadn’t seen in a while saw my bump for the first time and proceeded to rub it, kiss it, rub it again, kiss it AGAIN, and rub it SOME MORE, all the while talking to it in a baby voice.  I cannot describe how intrusive and overbearing I found these actions to be.  I had an emotional reaction (though I was able to manage it and not express it at the moment) at what I felt was an incredible intrusion on my personal space and body.  Just writing about this incident gives me chills again.

I cannot identify exactly what bothered me so much, but I do know there are a few triggers that were set off.  I felt very offended at how entitled the person seemed to feel in taking these actions so aggressively.  I interpreted their actions and mannerisms as if they felt that they had the right and authority to do this.  I keep on wondering what would lead someone to potentially have this sense of entitlement.  Could it be how well they know me?  Could it be that culturally, this could be seen as acceptable behavior?  And what was their intention?  To express their love to me? To express their love to the future baby, irrespective of me?  Regardless of what drove their decision and intention, I am wondering how the rights I still have to my body seem to be lost during this special time.  It seems that, despite being pregnant, I have not lost the right to decide when someone should or shouldn’t touch me. 

I have been pondering the balance between respecting someone else’s body and expressing cari~no towards the baby they are carrying.  I understand that it is exciting to see someone you love and care about carrying a baby, but I do not understand how expressing these emotions (even if they are incredible passionate) could take priority over that person’s personal body.  And here’s a realization: If you are making the mother uncomfortable, you are probably making the baby uncomfortable as well! 

Maybe it was how forward this person was in the experience I described above that led to my emotional reaction, though I would love to hear your thoughts (especially since I have one more month to go!).  How do you feel about those around you touching, rubbing, and/or kissing you baby bump?  How have you reacted in the past? 

I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment below.  If you enjoyed this post, share it with your friends and family!

Lots of love,

Judit