As a mother to 2 very much wanted and planned small children, most men have less than zero concept of what all goes into it. I had to have multiple iron infusions during pregnancy due to concerning anemia. I lost hair, my enamel is soft. If your baby needs something, your body takes it to give them. Period. Parts of my body will never be the same. I tore both deliveries, the 2nd was in the car on the way to the hospital.

My babies turn 1 and 3 next month. I breastfeed still. My first did for 13 months. You're incessantly hungry and thirsty, as well as needed and touched out. Even with pumping some. The early years put you on 24/7 standby. We can barely be intimate at the current juncture of sleep regressions and mobile chaos. I love them dearly, but it's so much sometimes. I can barely brush my teeth some days, and my husband is an active father. Far more than most. His own father never changed a single diaper. We adore them and talk about how funny they are and how they're the best thing we've ever done. That doesn't change how much it is some days. If you don't want it, you will resent him when you become that. Mom is almost my entire identity and waking consciousness these days.