@eloiselovesbooks thank you for this! I am currently 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby boy and this entire article FREAKED ME OUT! I had to send it to all my Mama friends and they said there are so many things that they didn't find as hard that were mentioned here, and that a lot of her experiences are simply not universal...more of a projection. I understand the importance of "preparing" for baby, but really, mamas out there, does anything really prepare you??!! Can a list like this of "what nobody tells you" really accurately prepare you for the roller-coaster that is birth and life with a newborn? I want to hear good stuff too!!!! Like your lovely list. Thanks again :)