I have never been and never will be a mother, but from what I can tell, carrying another human being inside of your own body for nine months is the most metal thing of all time.
But did you know that some animals are pregnant for even longer? Here are some of the longest gestation periods in the animal kingdom.
Manatees: 13 months
Llamas: 12 months
Camels: 14 months
Dolphins: 12 months
Zebras: 12 months
Horses: 11 months
Giraffes: 15 months
Velvet worms: 12 months
Tapirs: 13 months
Black rhinos: 17 months
Orcas: 16 months
Blue whales: 12 months
Donkeys: 14 months
Walruses: 15 months
Narwhals: 16 months
Elephants: 22 months
Frilled sharks: 42 months
Alpine salamanders: 2 years
What is a salamander’s baby doing in there that it takes two whole years to grow? Can you imagine all of the weird cravings that salamander mothers develop after two years of pregnancy? Here’s to you, ladies. You’re all tough as nails.