Shay Mitchell introduces daughter to the world, and opens up about mom-shaming

Shay Mitchell welcomed her first child with boyfriend Matte Babel in October, and gave fans a sneak peek of her newborn with her labour video diary. Now Mitchell has released her first official photos with her daughter, and announced the worldly name she and Babel chose for her: Atlas Noa.Speaking with Vogue Magazine, Mitchell opened up about the joys of parenting and the mommy-shaming she has already been subjected to since giving birth. Three days after Mitchell shared her first picture of Atlas on social media, she and Babel attended friend and fellow Canadian Drake’s 33^rd birthday party. The reaction online was swift, with many assuming Mitchell had left her newborn at home three days after giving birth. “It concerns me that people are so quick to pass judgment on others, especially without knowing any facts, and behind the protection of the screen,” Mitchell told Vogue. “My daughter had been born for several weeks, and when Matte and I chose to take our night out, which was an hour and a half, it surprised me that people chose to be so reactive and aggressive and assume the absolute worst about us—and more so me.”Fans of Mitchell’s popular YouTube channel likely aren’t surprised by the You and Pretty Little Liars star's choice of name for her daughter. A frequent traveller, Mitchell says she and Babel are excited to see the world with their daughter and fell in love with the name as soon as they heard it. “A close friend of ours was listing off names for her daughter that she had had a year and a half ago. Then she said Atlas and I looked at Matte, and he looked at me, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” says Mitchell, who admits that she and Babel lied when asked by friends if they had chosen a name. “It’s just the perfect name; from that day, we knew it was going to be Atlas.”Surrounding herself with friends and family, Mitchell says that she’s lucky to have a big support system as she enters this new chapter of her life. Referencing her PLL co-star and new mom Troian Bellisario, as well as friends from her native Vancouver (Mitchell and Babel now live in LA), the actor says that finding time for self-care has also been a big part of adjusting to her new normal. “It’s putting on a nice nightgown if I’m staying at home, which is most of the time now,” Mitchell says. “As much as it is hard because you just want to put on that old T-shirt that’s right next to the bed, I really do try, I have a shower, I put on a beautiful lotion and a nice robe, just something that makes me feel like myself; and then I can continue throughout the day.”

 

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Atlas Noa, In my 32 years of life I thought I had seen a lot of places, experienced a lot of things, met a lot of people and felt love...then came you. Truth is I had no idea I was capable of loving anything like this before you arrived. You wonder if that’s just something people say, but it’s as if the chemical makeup of my entire body and soul changed the minute we met. I wake up each day (and also every 2-3 hours ;) still in awe that you are mine, and I am yours. I’m still learning about you and I’ll never grow old of watching you slowly wake up, catch a glimpse of me or your dad and focus intently, almost as if to say “I know you.” Just know, sweet girl - Whatever you choose to do in this world, whoever you choose to love, wherever you choose to go, I will always be your biggest fan. I am already so proud to be your Mama. PS. The days of dressing you up as burritos and other snacks has only just begun.

A post shared by Shay Mitchell (@shaymitchell) on Nov 6, 2019 at 1:48pm PST

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