People are annoyed that Meghan Markle constantly cradles her baby bump, here’s an explanation for it.

Since the Duchess of Sussex’s pregnancy was confirmed by the palace, the bulk of her public appearances have included pictures of her holding her hand on her belly, cradling her baby bump.

It’s a routine she’s developed after the pregnancy announcement made headlines during the royal tour of Australia in October — most notably at Monday night’s Fashion Awards, where she was seen affectionately cupping her expanding belly.

Twitter users were able to point out Meghan’s behaviors right before the awards show, but Monday night reaffirmed how sensitive social media users are when it comes to the first-time mother’s habits. “We know you’re pregnant,” one person wrote. “Stop cradling your bump, it’s not going to break off.”

“Why can’t she just be normal, particularly at official events?” “She’s still flaunting herself, and it’s gross and repulsive,” said another.

While many jumped to her defense, urging her to be proud of the “blessing,” the duchess may be rubbing her belly for a reason. Katherine Graves, the founder of KG hypnobirthing, clarified that her actions “would have a profound impact on her child.”

‘Touching and reassuring the baby is a good thing for both mom and baby, and it’s important for the baby’s bonding and well-being, as well as preventing postnatal depression and encouraging a safe relationship for both,’ she said.

“It has been shown time and time again that babies recognize what they learned in the womb since they are born,” she said.

According to the Daily Mail, Graves assists in the teaching of midwives at the Lindo Wing, where the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to all three of her children and where Meghan is due to give birth this spring.

Meghan’s actions may also be a result of this. “Meghan may feel more protective of her baby at public events and therefore cradle her bump more than normal,” said Liz Halliday of Private Midwives to the Daily Mail.

“In certain cases, mothers may believe that stroking their bump calms the infant, and Meghan may be consciously or sub-consciously trying to do this at public events,” she said.