Health
Is it ever OK to touch a pregnant woman’s belly? Experts and moms weigh in
For most women, a pregnant belly is a miracle to celebrate — but not necessarily an open invitation for strangers’ hands.
Almost every expectant mother has been on the receiving end of a well-meaning reachout to her tummy. Is this socially acceptable, or are the belly rubbers crossing a boundary?
Multiple etiquette experts — and two mothers with very different viewpoints — weighed in on the hot topic.
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Jamila Musayeva, a certified etiquette expert and coach in the U.K., believes that touching a woman’s belly without her invitation or permission is “absolutely unacceptable.”
“Touching a woman’s belly is being in her intimate space,” she told Fox News Digital. “This space is only for partners, siblings, parents or people we deem close to us. An acquaintance or a colleague touching is not acceptable, let alone a stranger.”
Multiple etiquette experts — and two mothers with very different viewpoints — weighed in on whether it’s OK to touch a pregnant woman’s belly or not. (iStock)
There is no universal protocol when it comes to touching a woman’s belly, Musayeva noted, as it varies based on the person’s religious, cultural and personal values and beliefs.
“One should be aware of these factors as well as use common sense to understand when it is appropriate to do so,” she said.
“If the pregnant lady demonstrates the slightest doubt or pause, it is better to refrain from touching.”
“As a general rule, I would suggest taking into account personal cues from the pregnant woman. If for some reason someone really wants to rub a belly, one should ask the woman if one can do so. If the pregnant lady demonstrates the slightest doubt or pause, it is better to refrain from touching.”
For pregnant women who don’t welcome hands on their bellies, Musayeva recommended using verbal and non-verbal cues to keep unsolicited touches at bay.
For pregnant women who don’t welcome other people’s hands on their bellies, one etiquette expert recommended using verbal and non-verbal cues to keep unsolicited touches at bay. (iStock)
“With verbal communication, let the person know that you do not like receiving belly touches if one is reaching out to touch you,” she said.
“Be affirmative in your tone, but add a smile. It is possible that a person comes from a different culture where touching one for greeting and affection is acceptable.”
She also said, “You can also place your hands over your belly and if someone is about to touch it, let their hand land on your hand instead of the belly.”
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Michelle McMullen, owner of MGM Etiquette in Dallas, Texas, agreed that discretion is called for when it comes to touching pregnant bellies.
“A symbol of hope and humanity, the enormous belly of a pregnant woman may seem irresistible to touch — yet you must resist,” she told Fox News Digital.
An etiquette expert said that discretion is called for when it comes to touching women’s pregnant bellies. (iStock)
“While the idea of a new life sparks joy for many, the emotions of pregnancy can be complicated for the mother,” she went on. “Feelings of vulnerability and protectiveness are common.”
In most instances, McMullen said, laying hands on a woman’s belly would be considered intrusive.
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“If you are very close to the woman — husband, mother, sister or child — you may ask permission to touch her,” she advised.
“For all others, a warm smile and congratulations are more appropriate ways to express your sentiment.”
Two mothers’ viewpoints
Megan Elizabeth Guist, a mother who lives in South Lebanon, Ohio, said she was very protective of her belly during her pregnancy nine years ago.
“I have had multiple pregnancy losses and was told I would never be able to carry full term — then we got pregnant with our miracle baby,” she told Fox News Digital.
Megan Elizabeth Guist, a mother who lives in South Lebanon, Ohio, said she was very protective of her belly during her pregnancy nine years ago. (Megan Guist)
“I loved rubbing my belly and talking to our baby, but I did not like people outside our family or inner circle touching my belly.”
She added, “I feel that all too often, people invade a pregnant woman’s space.”
“I loved rubbing my belly and talking to our baby, but I did not like people outside our family or inner circle touching my belly.”
If someone were to ask permission to touch her pregnant belly, she said she would have been more likely to allow it.
“I am someone who gets claustrophobic with too many people, and my pregnancy magnified that for me,” Guist said.
“During my pregnancy, my husband and ‘bonus son’ were really good about acting as a buffer for me in public and not letting people get super close to me,” she noted.
“During my pregnancy, my husband and bonus son were really good about acting as a buffer for me in public and not letting people get super close to me,” Guist said. (Megan Guist)
Another Ohio mother, Karen James-Hall, had a different opinion about people touching her belly when she was pregnant with her daughter, Erin, 39 years ago.
“I loved every belly rub or touch that I got,” James-Hall told Fox News Digital.
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“I felt like the person who touched or rubbed my belly was getting to know my baby before she got here,” she went on.
“I believe all of this gave me the happiest baby once she was born. She felt so loved from her first breath outside the womb.”
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Research continues to uncover new details on how fasting may help extend life.
A new study published in the journal Nature Communications investigated how intermittent fasting can boost longevity in small worms often used in aging research.
Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas compared worms that were fed normally to those that underwent a 24-hour fast in early adulthood and were then fed again, according to a press release.
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The scientists measured a variety of factors, including stored fat, gene activity related to fat metabolism and lifespan.
The results showed that the life-boosting benefit did not depend on the fasting itself but on the body’s behavior after eating again.
Experts say sustainability is key when choosing a long-term weight-loss strategy. (iStock)
Study lead Peter Douglas, associate professor of molecular biology and a member of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine at UT Southwestern, suggested that these discoveries “shift the focus toward a neglected side of the metabolic coin – the re-feeding phase.”
“Our data suggest that the health-promoting effects of intermittent fasting are not merely a product of the fast itself, but are dependent on how the metabolic machinery recalibrates during the subsequent transition back to a fed state,” he said.
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“Our findings bridge a gap between lipid metabolism and aging research,” he added. “By targeting aging, the single greatest risk factor for human disease, we move beyond treating isolated conditions toward a preventive model of medicine that enhances quality of life for all individuals.”
Lauri Wright, director of nutrition programs at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health, called this a “high-quality” study that adds an “important nuance to how we think about fasting and longevity.”
Intermittent fasting typically involves limiting meals to an eight-hour daily window or fasting every other day. (iStock)
The benefits of the refeeding phase after fasting were “especially interesting,” Wright, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
“The researchers showed that longevity was linked to the body’s ability to turn off fat breakdown after fasting, allowing cells to restore energy balance,” she reiterated.
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“From a scientific standpoint, that’s a meaningful shift because it suggests fasting is not just about burning fat, but about metabolic flexibility.”
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Fasting may support longevity through triggering metabolic switching, enhancing cellular repair and stress resistance and improving markers like insulin sensitivity, research shows.
Limitations and cautions
Although this study provides “important insight” on the power of refeeding, Wright noted that the findings should be approached with caution, as the study was done on worms and cannot always be translated to humans.
“Additionally, it explains how a process might work in a controlled lab condition rather than real-world eating behaviors,” she added as a limitation. “Finally, the study is short-term and doesn’t give us the long-term translation on lifespan outcomes.”
The review found intermittent fasting was barely more effective than doing nothing, according to the study authors. (iStock)
Wright cautioned that fasting is “not a magic solution for longevity, and how you eat overall matters more than when you eat.”
“I advise, first and foremost, to focus on diet quality, including a variety of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and minimally processed foods,” she said.
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For those who are considering fasting, it’s better to stick with a moderate plan — like a 12- to 14-hour overnight fast — rather than going to extremes, Wright said. After fasting, she recommends focusing on well-balanced meals.
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Several groups of people should be cautioned against fasting, according to Wright, including those with diabetes who are on insulin or hypoglycemic medications, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, anyone with a history of eating disorders and older adults at risk of malnutrition.
Anyone considering intermittent fasting should consult with a doctor before starting.
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More than three million people travel to undergo cosmetic surgery each year, statistics show — but the potential savings come at a cost.
Most people opting to pursue this so-called “medical tourism” are chasing budget-friendly price tags.
International surgeries, such as hair transplants in Turkey, can cost as little as $4,000 to $5,000 compared to $20,000 to $30,000 in the U.S., but often come with extreme risks, according to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sheila Nazarian of California.
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The doctor recently joined Lisa Brady on the “The FOX News Rundown” podcast to discuss the rising trend of medical tourism. One of the biggest risks, she said, is the lack of safety regulations in popular destinations like Mexico and Turkey.
As demand spikes in these medical tourism “mills,” there have been reports of non-medically trained staff performing procedures like hair transplants.
Most people opting to pursue “medical tourism” are chasing budget-friendly price tags. (iStock)
“I’ve heard that they [international clinics] are even recruiting people who maybe were taxi drivers and then putting them through their own training program … to become hair transplant technicians,” Nazarian said. “That’s how high the demand has become.”
In the U.S., medical school graduates are granted a “physician and surgeon” license, which means doctors — including pediatricians or OB-GYNs — can legally perform cosmetic surgeries, even if they didn’t receive specialized training for those procedures during residency, Nazarian noted.
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Instead of pinching pennies, the doctor recommended paying whatever amount is necessary to ensure quality treatment.
“People think of it as, you know, going to the mall. … It’s surgery, and surgery has risks,” she said. “You need to be with someone who not only can perform a beautiful surgery, but who can handle possible complications well.”
“You need to ask them: ‘What was your residency training in? And if you wanted to, would you be allowed to do this procedure in a hospital?’”
Aftercare is another critical factor in the success and safety of a cosmetic procedure, as the doctor emphasized that 20% of a surgical result depends on post-operative care.
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This can be difficult or even impossible to manage when a doctor is in a different time zone, she cautioned, or if the clinic disappears shortly after the procedure.
Nazarian also noted the importance of addressing the psychological component of plastic surgery, noting that no procedure will fix underlying unhappiness. The doctor said she uses screening questionnaires to ensure that patients are truly seeking self-improvement rather than a “cure” for deeper issues.
International surgeries, such as hair transplants in Turkey, can cost as little as $4,000 to $5,000 compared to $20,000 to $30,000 in the U.S., but often come with extreme risks. (iStock)
“If you’re not already generally very content with your life, a knife in my hand is not going to bring you there,” Nazarian said.
“The analogy I always give is you don’t want a paisley couch — you want a neutral couch and you can put paisley pillows on it,” she said, noting that a procedure should “make you look normal, God-given, athletic. And then you can change your clothes when the trends come and go.”
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Samuel Golpanian, M.D., a double board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, said he has also seen an increasing number of patients undergoing cosmetic procedures abroad, sometimes with “devastating consequences.”
“The key is being extremely careful before embarking on this journey.”
“I’ve seen a wide range of complications, including infections, poor wound healing, significant scarring and tissue necrosis (skin death),” he told Fox News Digital. “These complications often lead to prolonged pain, ongoing medical problems, and significant additional costs to repair the damage.”
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Golpanian said he’s treated patients who received unsafe or non-medical-grade injectable materials, which can lead to serious long-term health issues.
One surgeon said he’s treated patients who received unsafe or non-medical-grade injectable materials, which can lead to serious long-term health issues. (iStock)
“I’ve also seen damage to underlying structures, asymmetry and results that are extremely difficult — sometimes impossible — to correct.”
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“That said, I’ve also seen some good outcomes, so it’s not all bad,” he noted. “The key is being extremely careful before embarking on this journey.”
Quick tips for safe ‘medical tourism’
Fully vet the surgeon. “Most surgeons will provide information about their education and training, but it’s important not to accept these claims at face value,” Golpanian said. “Verify them directly by contacting the institutions where they trained.”
Ask for references from prior patients. Ideally, it’s best to get references from U.S.-based patients who can speak candidly about both their experience and their results, the surgeonsaid.
Think beyond the cost. Golpanian emphasized the adage “you get what you pay for.” “Cost should take a back seat to experience, training, judgment and proven results,” he advised.
Be cautious about relying on before-and-after photos. These can be selective or even enhanced, Golpanian warned.
Keep aftercare in focus. “Make sure the practice emphasizes comprehensive follow-up care and has a clear, realistic post-operative plan in place.”
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