What is the point of touching pregnant women that you don’t know? Why is this seen as acceptable? Then, why is it OK to touch and pick up their infant children?

Recently a law was passed in a state in America that says it is illegal to touch a pregnant woman’s belly without asking. I find it is sad that there is even a need for such a law. It just doesn’t make sense for a person to touch any stranger. Why are pregnant women excluded? Why are they seen as community property?

I’ve never been pregnant. I’ve had a lot of friends who have been pregnant and everyone says that their bellies were touched by strangers while they were pregnant.

You just don’t touch strangers. It just isn’t done. Being pregnant shouldn’t be a reason to worry that strangers will break that unspoken rule.

Going up to a child and touching her is bizarre too. I’ve seen plenty of strangers get right up in the faces of small children. I’ve seen plenty think it is OK to pick them up. There have been enough situations with children being kidnapped; you’d think people would realize this isn’t a great idea. Then there is the idea of germs. Babies get sick a lot. There is no reason for a mother to have to tend a sick baby that got that way because somebody with a cold had to cuddle with her child.

It is safest to only touch a person if you have asked. Then again, why do you feel it necessary to touch a stranger at all? Now, sometimes there are situations where you have to be touched by a stranger – say, at the doctor’s office.

My favorite doctors are the ones who ask if they can touch you. In part, you have given them permission to touch you by the very fact that you are there asking to be helped. It is like going to the mechanic and expecting him to fix the car from a distance. They have to get involved. But it is still kind for them to ask. It also puts you at ease, and that will make the interaction better. It will make things more difficult if you are tense.

So, unless you are a pregnant woman’s doctor or close friend – don’t touch her belly. If you are one of those two things, ask beforehand. If you aren’t one of those two things, don’t even ask if you can touch her belly. There is no reason to touch her. That is really weird.