by Koren Wetmore

More often than not, you'll find that a protruding belly incites unsolicited comments and advice, unwanted touches (especially the infamous "belly pats") and the telling of pregnancy war stories by other mothers who've "been there." But just because you're about to become a mom doesn't mean you 're not entitled to set personal boundaries, says Ginger Gabriel, Ph.D., a family therapist in Lake Gregory, Calif.

Here are some tips to help you make it through these 40 weeks with grace.

Say what?

When you're pregnant, everyone has comments and opinions to offer. They'll tell you how much weight to gain, what foods to eat and how frequently to exercise. (They also won't hesitate to tell you what not to do.) "While it's impossible to keep people from giving you advice, you have the right to ignore it," Gabriel says.

For the best results, prepare your replies in advance. When Loretta Sharpe, a 46-year-old mother of four, was asked repeatedly if her fourth pregnancy was accidental or planned, she developed a convenient comeback. "I would answer, 'Unplanned but not unwanted,'" she says. "Because I was a little older, people wondered if I really wanted this baby. I just prepared myself with a response...

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