Whoever you are, wherever you're from, NPR is here for you.

Our mission is to create a more informed public.

That's why access to NPR's rigorous, independent journalism is free for everyone.

It's public media giving days, the perfect time to give back to the service you rely on.

Visit donate.npr.org.

You know, I felt like I did all the things that you're supposed to do.

I read all of the books and I went to the prenatal classes.

And I felt like pretty well educated, I guess.

And then...

My son arrived.

When he was born, he was five pounds, 12 ounces.

And when they put him on my chest for the first time,

I just said, he's so tiny. He's so tiny. I, of course, like, was overwhelmed with joy and awe

and wonder at this little creature.

That sentiment of like, wow, he's so small and vulnerable,

and now I'm in charge of him really was also very big for me.

The transnational... really was also very big for me. The transition to parenthood is like a really powerful time of growth.

But in any kind of growth, there's a cost to it.

And I just, I felt a lot of worry.

Mother, you promised to have dinner at 6 o'clock.

You need to be around that baby, around the clock.

You're not compensated and all of of a sudden, you're paying.

...