WTF - What the... Fridays | Lack of Personal Space

Something about a pregnant belly makes people forget about personal space. There are some people who will forget about boundaries and touch you and/or your pregnant belly without asking. It is okay to ask them not to, to step back and respect your space, it may be awkward but you have every right to your space, your body and your growing baby. You don't owe anyone an explanation but some people are so fascinated with babies and pregnancy that they are insistent and can be intrusive. It is always your right to say "no" to unwanted touching. If you are feeling too awkward to saying "no" outright you can always frame your refusal in ways that can shut the situation down and have people keep their hands off your body,

Make an excuse: Most excuses should go over just fine, and most people will hear them and understand the "no" that prompted them. You could say that belly rubs upset your stomach, or that your skin is very sensitive.

Tell them Baby’s resting: You can always say that Baby is resting, and that you don't want them to wake her. It'll be a perfect reason once she's born, so why not start early? You can also say, "she’s not kicking now." In either case, you're still saying "no," while giving a little extra information about Baby, so that the person who's asking still gets to feel involved. This kind of response can be good for family, friends, or children.

Play the healthcare provider card: If you say, “I’m sorry, my healthcare provider says I’m not supposed to let other people touch my belly,” very few people - even really insistent people - are going to argue.

Tell the truth: Again, really and truly, you have every right to just let people know that belly rubs make you uncomfortable. Most people will actually understand. And those who don't? Well, hey, in this situation your comfort level is the only one that matters.

Remember, your body is your body, and that doesn't change because you're sharing it with Baby right now. If you wouldn't feel comfortable with someone touching you outside of pregnancy, there's no reason you should feel obligated to feel differently now. If you feel like belly touching is a nice way for you to share part of your pregnancy with certain people, that's wonderful, but you're the only one who can say how you feel about it. And if you're uncomfortable with people touching your belly, you have every right to tell people to keep their hands to themselves.

https://www.oviahealth.com/guide/10335/polite-ways-to-decline-belly-rub