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.

“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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Melissa Rudy is the health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]