There is one aspect of pregnancy I was totally unprepared for - all the questions, touching, comments, and looks both by people I know and complete strangers. Some days I'd honestly say its the hardest aspect of pregnancy for me - I'm a total introvert.
If you're an introvert too, how did you handle it?
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
Me too. I really hate all the intrusive questions. I wish I had better advice for you, but I've just been doing the *nod and smile* to most people 
I did notice that the less I talked about my pregnancy, the more people seemed to get that I didn't want to talk about it all the time and discuss breastfeeding and my hip size! Being a pregnant introvert is definitely not the most pleasant experience I've ever had!!
I'm actually dreading the post partum period more... when people try and tell you all the things you are doing wrong >.<
papaya / 10473 posts
@Bookworm: I'm dreading it too! And visitors... I am dreading visitors so much. I feel like a terrible person admitting that!
I'm also really not excited about people wanting to hold and touch our baby. I don't know why I have so much anxiety about it.
pomegranate / 3160 posts
Ugh, this is what I'm terrified about. Maybe not so much the pregnancy part, but like @Bookworm: said, the post-partum part. I have a friend who just had a baby 6 weeks ago and is going crazy with all of the people who just kind of...appear and expect to see you/baby... 
coconut / 8681 posts
It was really hard for me too.... Especially at work! I felt like it opened me up to a ton of comments and attention that I didn't want at all. I didn't announce at work for that reason- people just figured it out as I grew.
I unfortunately don't think there's any way to avoid it =\
pomelo / 5469 posts
Probably the same way I dealt with people asking about my wedding. Just by being polite but brief with any responses and of course the smile and nod whilst listening to advice after advice...
I'm only just starting to show so I haven't gotten any attention from strangers yet so maybe I'll react differently when that happens.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
@grizz: You're not alone!! I am too... the thought of a whole bunch of people in my house when I'm healing from birth OMG, it just terrifies me. Luckily DH knows how I am and will kick people out or run defense for me lol! My co-worker had a baby a few years ago and said one of our mutual co-workers showed up completely unannounced at the hospital. 0_0 I think I might just give everybody a talk before hand about how hospitals are for FAMILY! Oi..
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
@ms.janedoe: Agh.. yeah. Not looking forward to people popping up at my door
bananas / 9227 posts
When ppl came to visit, I'd put a pillow in front of me so no ones sees her kicking up a storm - in case anyone felt the urge touch me! Other than that, ppl around these parts are awfully reserved, so I never got much prodding.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I go through days where i'm introverted and days where i'm extroverted, but when I don't feel like dealing, I just give short answers and avoid eye contact. I just...don't look friendly enough to approach 
I still get strange comments and discussions from people, but they don't go as in depth as they would if I were engaging in conversation. Often, if someone asks me a question, I say, "meh, we'll see" and that's that.
I've only been touched a couple of times, though. Everybody has asked EXCEPT one lady, and I skidaddled out of her reach very quickly. Honestly, only a couple friends and my MIL and my mom have touched my stomach and nobody's been crazy all up in my space about it. And this far along, my stomach is really sensitive and my skin almost hurts, so I would have no problem saying don't touch.
pear / 1563 posts
I wouldn't characterize myself as an introvert, but it still surprises me when a stranger says "when are you due," or something similar. I forget that it's all on display now in the third tri. Mercifully, my coworkers are not intrusive and I haven't really been getting personal or weird questions. I've gotten the odd belly touch here and there (only at the gym) but from ladies I would consider friends, or acquaintances at least.
@grizz: @Bookworm: Totally relate to this anxiety about the post partum period! I have talked to some mama friends about this and in general they've said that things were actually OK, that people were respectful and that I may be so grateful for help that it won't really be so bad. Me and FI are on the same page with keeping visits short and pre-planned, so I hope this works and that the PP period is manageable for us.
pear / 1837 posts
I think I must have looked really pissy during pregnancy because I almost never got comments or questions from strangers and I think only one person (an older woman at work) tried to touch my belly without permission, so I didn't really have a hard time with it.
Post-partum, I essentially had gatekeepers: my sister and DH. I didn't feel like I could advocate for myself when I needed space, so I'd basically let them know if I didn't want people around and they'd handle it, whether that was letting people know we didn't want visitors right away, kicking my FIL out of the hospital room after I had LO because I wanted to take a shower, making visitors leave after 30 minutes or so, etc.
cantaloupe / 6800 posts
I'm worried about this, it's already happened a few times and i'm not even in my third month yet.
I'm very private and don't like attention so when my SIL feels like she needs to touch my stomach I get so uncomfortable. Like hi, that's all me right now.
I don't like to talk about it and I am not excited to announce it because I don't want to talk to DH's family about it haha
papaya / 10473 posts
@ms.janedoe: @Bookworm: If anybody pops up unannounced at our house or at the hospital, something really bad might happen to them. haha
papaya / 10473 posts
@MrsTiz: That's how I felt too. I dreaded telling DH's family because it started a constant barrage of unwanted and outdated advice and criticism from his family.
I keep having friends say they can't wait to hold the baby at the hospital, or can't wait to kiss him, or that they can't wait to babysit... and I freak out a little bit every time. I am so scared that pregnancy will have NOTHING on the pp period as far as people overstepping what I'm ok with.
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