Category Archives: life

So, my sister lives in New Jersey, and last year she got engaged. So, we traveled out to celebrate with her with my 8-year-old, 3 yr old, and 3 month old in tow. We made a 4-day trip out of it, complete with an engagement party, eating out in NY City, shopping and sightseeing. On the day we were to travel back home, storms were coming through, and Newark airport was already cancelling flights for later that evening. My husband and I had to get home; we were both on call the next day. So, we called the airline and tried to get on stand-by. Well, no luck on the phone, they advised us to get to the airport to try and get an alternate flight. Ok, well with 3 kids, that was not going to happen quickly. We began racing around my sister’s place, grabbing toys, and blankets, and bottles. We entrusted our oldest, our son, to grab the presents for the engagement and pack them in the suitcase, BIG … Continue reading

It was a moment I think any woman has had. I looked into the mirror, and thought “God how did this happen?” “Is this really me?” I should not have been looking in the mirror, I had a newborn, and I had a miracle. I should have been sleeping, but no I was inspecting, judging myself. I looked like the Pillsbury dough girl. My breasts were leaking, my belly was like pizza dough, and I was wearing a pad the size of Columbus. Would I ever return to “normal?” Why didn’t anyone tell me this was going to happen? Why hadn’t I read this in a textbook? It’s simple, if women shared this secret, maybe others would not join them in this role of motherhood? So, most of the questions I get in the office are about bodily changes of pregnancy. So, let’s talk about them… Skin- skin changes a lot in pregnancy due to the hormonal changes; moles and freckles may darken. Some women will develop skin tags, or … Continue reading

My name is Somi Javaid and I am a mother of 3 and a practicing Obstetrician/Gynecologist. I hope to share and make you laugh with my pregnancy/motherhood blog. I had just given birth to my first child and I fell in love. I looked into his eyes and I was hooked. Nothing else in the world mattered at that moment and time stood still. I know it sounds so cliché, but it is so true. It’s amazing, that moment is so serene in my memory. Yet, motherhood has been anything but. I swear there is a secret pact that exists among mothers to not “clue-in” those women who have not yet have children. I am writing this to break that pact and to reveal that motherhood is first having to admit that we are human and that we are from from perfect. I was a fourth year medical student when I gave birth to my son, and my husband was already a physician. Needless to say, we thought we had … Continue reading

Dr. Somi explaining which food and drinks to avoid during the holidays if you are pregnant.

So the father to be is running around throwing bags into the car as his pregnant wife, in labor is screaming at the top of her lungs. They share a harrowing, death defying drive into the hospital, where she almost delivers her baby in the waiting area. She is rescued in the nick of time, and handed a perfect baby in a blue or pink blanket. So, we have all seen these scenes in popular movies, but patients ask what happens on Labor and Delivery, what’s it really like? I am not going to lie; I have had crazy moments on labor and delivery. That is part of the fun; I have delivered babies in the hospital lobby, on the floor, in the bathroom, and even talked a father through a delivery on the phone. What to pack; it’s simple. Two outfits for baby, blankets, diapers, wipes. You will be given bottles and formula if you are bottle-feeding. If you are nursing, most hospitals have pumps and nursing gear. Bring … Continue reading