I agree, SilverTrees. I personally think it's bizarre and I would NOT have taken to it kindly if someone had felt entitled to paw me. Fortunately they did not. I would have been horrified and they would have gotten a swift and decidedly negative reaction.

It is *not* touching the baby. It is touching the woman. If the woman in question feels differently about that, or is ok with it, she can always invite contact. Period.