It's such a special milestone in life to be able to give birth to a child, so I wanted to be sure to write out my son's birth story while it is still fresh in my mind. This is the story of how Riley Sameer came into the world.

Tuesday June 18, 2019
I wouldn’t say that labour started on Tuesday, but things were definitely happening! I wasn’t sure exactly how I was feeling, but I was having a lot of discomfort and pressure to the point that I couldn’t stand up. This lasted about an hour, but from then on I could feel that the baby had shifted.
Thursday June 20, 2019
On Thursday I had an appointment with my OB and he said that the baby was “in position” and could come at any time. I was already 3 cm dilated so he was guessing I would go into labour or baby would arrive within the next 48 hours! He is a seasoned Obstetrician so I was hoping he was right, but he said to call Monday morning for an U/S if nothing had happened yet. I decided to get a stretch and sweep procedure done which can help move things along, especially since I was already dilated.

We had plans to have dinner at my in-laws that night, and I was feeling very uncomfortable the whole time and did not have an appetite at all. I did feel like things were starting to happen but didn’t want to set off any false alarms. I just kept hinting at my husband that we needed to go home in case I was really going into labour. Sure enough once we got home I could feel the first contractions starting around 8:30pm.

Things continued through the night and started to increase in intensity around 2:00am. It seems that’s when  really started and around 4:30am (Friday June 21) I was having regular contractions. I didn’t get much sleep through the night, not necessarily due to a lot of pain, but just the anticipation, knowing that labour had started and this was really happening! We had been nervous about the timing of the birth, due to the fact that my husband only had a specific timeframe off from work, and I really wanted him to be home to support me through the labour and birthing process. I was so relieved when my labour started right on my due date!
By 7:00am sh*t started to get real and I was having stronger contractions, but they were still pretty spaced out, so I was able to cope fairly well (so different from my first labour experience!). At 11:00am I had my first intense contraction and I realized we should probably start considering going to the hospital, since it seemed that things were progressing quickly. I tested positive for the Group B Strep test, so was told I shouldn’t wait too long to go to the hospital so that I could get at least 2 doses of antibiotics if possible before the baby was born. At 12:00pm we decided to call my mother-in-law to come over to watch our daughter and I’m so glad we didn’t wait any longer. The contractions were still about every 9-10 minutes apart, but the intensity was definitely increasing.

When we got to the hospital at 1:30pm I was assessed and was already 5cm dilated. I was so thankful to be admitted and to know that we were going to meet our baby soon! The first couple of hours were very uneventful, and I was worried that things had slowed down. The contractions were strong and intense, but still far enough apart that I could manage and get rest in between. The nurse asked if I wanted an epidural before the Anesthesiologist went to the OR to prep for a C-section, which would be about 45-60 minutes wait. At this point I was feeling pretty good and strong, and I could possibly go without at this point. I declined the epidural, and not even 10 minutes later my contractions got super painful and very close together. I was having contractions almost one after another, so as soon as one would start to slow down I could feel another one coming on.
The nurse suggested I try the bath for some relief while I waited for the epidural and at this point I was willing to try anything that could help. I didn’t find it was helping and the pain was so intense so the nurse called to see if the Anesthesiologist could come any sooner. By some miracle he could, so she rushed me out of the bath and ran me down the hall back to my room as quickly as possible to get prepped. The contractions were so close together that I was having a hard time sitting still enough for him to do the freezing and epidural, but we got it done. I was so thankful to hopefully start getting some relief! Unfortunately that relief never came, since it was too late and the epidural didn’t work! I am proud of myself for getting through such pain without medication, and how I was able to channel all that energy into pushing. I felt very much in control of my body without the epidural and was able to self-direct my pushing which was amazing. I think I pushed only about 6 times and our baby boy made his entrance into the world! It was such a feeling of relief that I wasn’t even concerned about what the sex of the baby was, I just wanted to see him!




Riley Sameer was born on June 21, 2019, at 6:51pm. He weighed 8 lbs 8 oz! I still can’t believe I gave birth to such a big baby!


My labour and delivery was completely different from my daughter, and I am grateful for the experience that I had this time around. I think it also helped knowing what was ahead of me and being able to prepare mentally for it. I am thankful for my L&D nurse who advocated for me and encouraged me through each step. She went over every detail of my birth plan when we arrived and made sure that we were able to get the best care according to those requests. One of my big concerns going into this delivery was that I wouldn’t just be a “learning opportunity” for someone, as I had felt with my daughter’s birth. I hated having so many people in the room just observing and even practicing their skills on me. This time I was able to just have my husband, midwife, nurse and doctor in the room to help me deliver and I felt much more at ease knowing I was in good hands.

We are still adjusting to life with a new baby and very active two year old, but we are so thankful for our baby boy and I can't wait to watch him grow. 

We decided to make last minute plans for Maya and I to meet my husband in West Palm Beach, Florida, as he was there for 2.5 weeks for work. It was a whirlwind trying to get both of our passports within 6 days of our planned departure date, but we did it!
I was feeling pretty confident about everything up until the moment that my sister-in-law dropped us off and waved one last goodbye. I was suddenly on my own and felt a wave of emotions. I took a moment to compose myself, and we headed through customs. Thankfully, Pearson Airport (Toronto) has special check-in lines and U.S. customs for those traveling with small children, which made it much easier when traveling as a single parent. The staff was very patient as I nervously loaded my things onto the security belt, took off my shoes, and all while balancing a curious baby who was eating a sticker that she pulled off the check-in tag from her stroller.

I was glad I kept my packing to a minimum, because it made things a lot easier making my way through the airport. I brought one bag to check, my purse and a diaper bag. I could bring the stroller through security and all the way up the door of the plane, which was so helpful, so that I didn't have to carry everything on my own.

We booked our seats ahead of time and spent the extra money on priority seating for parents with children. I would highly recommend this for anyone traveling with kids as it gives you much more space to move around, and some airlines provide a bassinet for your baby to sleep. The priority boarding was great as it gave me time to settle in, and a flight attendant went over the safety and emergency procedures with me one-on-one since it was my first time flying with a baby.

The flight went really well and Maya did great! Even the other passengers around us commented on how well she did. I was relieved that we made it safely and we were able to spend some time with my husband.

As the days passed, the forecast for Hurricane Irma became more intense and we were worried about getting out on time before it Florida. Our flights were booked for Thursday evening, which they said would still be safe to leave, and my husband was able to leave early and get a flight out the same night from Miami. We figured we would be ok, but as the storm was approaching we were getting nervous that our flights might get cancelled. As we were checking in we were told that my flight was delayed 1.5 hours, but since my husband had to leave to catch his flight in Miami, we didn't have any other choice but to wait around at the airport. Time passed and I was getting eager to get home, and then an announcement was made that there was another delay, and our 7pm flight that was pushed to 9:30pm, would now not be leaving until 12:00am. I was nearly in tears when I walked up to the gate attendant to get some understanding as to why our flight kept getting delayed. Of course I knew there was nothing she could do to make the flight leave on time, but I was so frustrated and just wanted my baby to get some proper rest without getting woken up by the noise of a very busy terminal! I forgot to mention that the waiting area was packed with crying children, pets (large and small) barking at each other, and many tired and frustrated people trying to escape the Hurricane. I swear half of Ft. Lauderdale was waiting in that terminal!
The flight was delayed again until 1:00am, but I was still hopeful that we would make it out of Florida before the storm. Thankfully we did, but it was definitely a nerve wracking wait and not something I wish on anyone traveling alone with a baby.

Being a mother is the most exhausting, exciting, and as cliche as it sounds - rewarding experience. My husband and I are constantly amazed at how much this little human has changed our lives and our hearts. I have written about my journey to motherhood, so I wanted to share some thoughts 6 months into this new gig.

The Dirty Truth
When it comes to housework, my house is definitely not as clean as it used to be and my clean laundry usually sits in the basket for a few days before I finally fold and put it away. Personal hygiene is a whole other story! I'd consider it a productive day if I actually brush my hair and put on mascara, and I currently only have one shaved leg because my daughter woke up from her nap in the middle of my shower yesterday.
It's funny how my standards have been lowered now that I am a mother, not because I don't care, but because my daughter is far more important than housework and shaved legs.


Motherhood has changed me in ways that I didn't expect it would. It has changed the way I see myself, the way I relate to others, and how I react to situations around me.
My husband says that I am a "no bullsh*t" kind of girl, which I am okay with. There is nothing more important to me than the well being of my family, and if anyone tries to mess with that, I am not afraid to say something. There is this innate instinct to protect those that I love, and it has become even more apparent now that I am a mother.

There is a lot of talk about breastfeeding as a new mom.
Questions like, "How is your baby breastfeeding? Did he/she have any problems with latching? How often does your baby feed?" You may notice that the questions are usually about baby, and not how mother's may be doing with it.
Just like every woman has their own birth story, each will have their own experience with breastfeeding as well. I think it's important to nurture conversations with mother's about their postpartum health and how they are coping with things such as breastfeeding, so as part of the Honest Company's Judgement-free feeding campaign, I'm sharing my personal experience with breastfeeding.
I grew up in a community where breastfeeding is "the norm", and women sit together in a room and have conversations over tea while breastfeeding their child. Being the private person that I am, the thought of having to do this when I became a mother was anxiety inducing (and still is). Would I have to become one of those women, sitting on the couch socializing with her boob out for everyone to see?! I feel like our society puts so much pressure on mother's to "be free" because breastfeeding is natural and should just be this amazing experience for mother and baby, and shouldn't need to be covered up or confined to a private room. But what if I am just not that kind of woman? What if I want my privacy and alone time with my baby while breastfeeding? 

Breastfeeding has brought out so many different emotions for me. To be completely honest, it was a part of motherhood I really wasn't looking forward to from the beginning. I know the benefits it has for baby (and mom), so it was never really a question as to whether or not I would do it, I just wasn't really looking forward to having a baby hanging off of my breast for the next 6-12 months. In a way, I was dreading it.

That first day and night in the hospital everything went pretty well, and I was feeling pretty good about the whole breastfeeding thing. The next few days, my nipples became very raw, were bleeding, and I couldn't even face the water in the shower because I was in so much pain. I remember texting a friend, "when will it stop feeling like my nipples are being murdered every time my baby feeds?!". I knew it was normal, so continued to push through the pain. 

The day my milk came in was horrible! It happened overnight, so I woke up at 5am to engorged breasts and my baby was unable to latch. She was hungry and crying, and I was in pain and didn't know what to do. I sat in bed with a manual pump, and was able to pump a bottle for her and get some relief for myself. That day was our first doctor's appointment, so thankfully I could speak with her about what to do with my insanely engorged breasts. We decided to head straight to the store afterward to buy an electric breast pump, and it was the best decision we could have made! We got home and my husband set it all up for me, and I sat on the couch getting milked like a cow. I remember sitting there with tears streaming down my cheeks, partly from hormones and also just thankful to be getting relief after hours of pain and distress. I figured if I could get through that day, I could do this.

I have had a few episodes of blocked milk ducts due to an overabundant milk supply (according to the telehealth nurse), and I've had days where I wanted to throw in the towel, but I've managed to keep pushing through. My daughter is now 3 months old and I can say that I am finally feeling more confident and okay with breastfeeding. It's still not something that I really enjoy, but I am carving my own way as a woman and mother.

Breastfeeding doesn't come with a manual that you can follow. Though there are tons of books you can read, classes to attend, and lactation specialists to see, your body and baby are unique and each mother has to choose what works best for her and baby.

If you read my Baby Registry post, you'll see some of the same items, however, there are definitely things that I have tried and don't like as much as I thought I would.


1. Electric Breast Pump
The day my milk came in was horrible. It happened overnight, so I woke up at 5am to engorged breasts and my baby was unable to latch. She was hungry and upset, and I sat in bed with a manual pump for 30 minutes in order to pump a bottle for her and get relief for myself. The next day we bought the Medela pump in style breast pump which has been one of the best investments we have made. 

2. Lanolin Nipple cream
I was recommended the Lansinoh Lanolin nipple cream from many mom's and found it really did help in those first few weeks as my body adjusted to breast feeding every couple of hours. It doesn't change the fact that it feels like your nipple's are being murdered while baby feeds, but it does protect them from severe cracks.

3. Disposable nursing pads
I tried these organic washable breast pads, but found that they would stick to my skin and was painful to peel off of my already tender breasts, and they also didn't have any shape. I now use the Lansinoh disposable nursing pads, which I like the best out of any I've tried. They are thin and lightweight, but absorb very well and keep your skin dry no matter how full they get!

4. Nursing tank
I spent the first few weeks at home in this Medela nursing tank. It's super soft, breathable and wireless, so can be worn day to night. It also has tummy slimming stretch which helps you feel more comfortable when you still have that post-partum belly to dress.  

5. Slip on shoes
This one might sound strange, but in my last month of pregnancy, bending over to tie my shoes became a struggle! I know some women also experience swelling in those last weeks as well, so a comfy pair of shoes is great. I bought a similar pair to this, and have been thankful to have them in this first month as well during my recovery period. 

Being a new mom, I am always learning! Now that we have made it through the first month, I thought I'd share my must-have's for you first time mom's that are preparing for a new babe. 


1. Lots of receiving blankets!
This is something that I did not have enough of. In my naivety, I didn't realize how much I would use them and how quickly they get dirty.

2. Sleeping sack
We tried the traditional swaddling, but she hates having her arms tucked in in any way, so thankfully I had this NB sleeping sack. It also makes night time diapers changes really easy.

3. Bouncy chair
We received the My Little Lamb bouncer from our registry, and I don't know what I would have done without it. The first few nights at home were tough, and she ended up sleeping in over for part of the night since it was the only thing that would settle her.


4. Snot sucker
I am not usually one to fall into the trap of "fad" items, but after trying a different snot sucker that did not work at all, we ended up buying the very popular Nose Frida snot sucker. It's amazing! It lives up to the hype and though the price was a bit ridiculous, we use it all the time.

5. Dock-a-Tot
Speaking of fad items, let's talk about the Dock-a-Tot. It's a product that I had seen all over instagram and mom blogs, and I really wanted it! Then I looked at the cost and we decided we would make due with the bassinet we already had. After a few weeks of restless nights trying to get baby to sleep after feedings, we decided to bite the bullet and get the Deluxe model. Let me just say that the extra hours of sleep we are getting is worth every penny!

You can see my Registry must-have list here. Stay tuned for my Mama must-haves!