Lately, I've sort of been feeling like I want to have a baby.

My entire life, I have either disliked or run from children. At dinner parties, if I see one coming, I'll sneak into the bathroom or whatever is closest with a door. (Actually, the best was when my brother and I both locked ourselves in a bathroom until we deemed enough time had passed for a child of its age to probably lose interest in us and wander off.) ...I don't like them. I have no maternal instincts. I have no idea how to interact or what to say to them. For instance, when I do say something, I speak above their intellectual level, I guess, and they look at me like I'm an alien. Et cetera.

So why the ***k do I feel like it's time for me to have a baby? Is this just my "biological clock" ticking away, telling me I'm in rip-roarin' form to start cranking out a kid? I am 24. Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?

I just recently got married, and of course this also brings up all kinds of cultural and stereotypical topics about having kids, even though I've never wanted any. So, this could be a factor - peer pressure, or subconscious pressure from the long-stated order of 'marry, kids, house' etc.

I am taking birth control pills. Could this have anything to do with it? If anything, based on side-effect listings, it seems like it would have the opposite effect.

As a side, IF I ever decided I want children, I'm 97% sure my husband would want to, provided the setting was sound (he loves kids), but he is content having none. We've had many conversations before marriage, of course - that's a big deal. So I'm not being pressured or anything.

Anyone else had this happen? Maybe I just need to buy a dog. >.<