Shay Mitchell Says Being a Mom Is Like "Having a Heart Live Outside of You"

Shay Mitchell loves being a mom. The Béis founder welcomed her second child, a daughter named Rome, with her partner, Matte Babel, in May 2022. Rome joins the couple's daughter, Atlas Noa, whom they welcomed in 2019.

Mitchell and Babel, who started dating quietly in late 2016 and were officially romantically linked in January 2017, shared the news that they experienced a pregnancy loss in early 2018. "We all have to deal with various struggles and challenges in life. And sometimes it's easier to only showcase the good times on social media, which is what leads many people to criticize it for its lack of authenticity," she shared on Instagram. "Having so many people follow me on Instagram and read my posts is both incredibly humbling and hugely uplifting. The support and affection that so many of you show me lifts me up during even my darkest days, one of which happened last year after I miscarried and lost the child of my hopes and dreams. In the spirit of the new year, I think that we need to remember that we are all on this journey together — in good times and in bad — and to remind ourselves that we seldom really know or understand the struggles and hardships that other people are going through."

Then, in June 2019, Mitchell revealed that she was pregnant again with an Instagram photo that featured her bump and a YouTube video titled "Guess Who's Preggers."

During a May 31 appearance on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Mitchell opened up about motherhood. "I love my girls. I will do anything," she said. "Having kids is truthfully like having a heart live outside of you. Like my heart beats in them, but I also need to continue to do things for myself."

Keep scrolling to see Mitchell's most precious photos of her daughters and to learn more about them.

Rome Babel

Mitchell and Babel welcomed their second child together, a baby girl named Rome, in May 2022. Mitchell confirmed Rome's arrival to People in June, saying, "I feel awesome. I feel really, really good. It definitely takes a village. I'm really lucky my parents are in town and everybody's been really helpful."

She also noted that her daughter Atlas is "loving being a big sister." She added: "She is so excited. She's been incredible. She helps me change diapers and it's good — she loves it."

Mitchell also announced Rome's arrival on Instagram alongside a photo of the two snuggled up together. "Losing the most important person in my life in the same year I welcomed my second daughter has shifted everything for me, but one thing remains steady in my soul," she captioned the post, referencing the recent loss of her grandmother. "I'm certain they spent time together and that brings me peace and joy. We're so happy you're here Rome, named after my best friend, my soulmate, my 'person,' my Grandma Romaine. ❤️."

Atlas Noa Babel

Mitchell announced the news via Instagram that her rainbow baby girl had arrived on Oct. 20, 2019. The sweet announcement photo of Mitchell holding Atlas's tiny hand was captioned, "Never letting go."

Mitchell later shared during a conversation with Ashley Graham that Atlas was born on Oct. 8, 2019, and in an interview with Vogue, she also shed light on how she chose Atlas's unique name. "A close friend of ours was listing off names for her daughter that she had had a year and a half ago," Mitchell said. "Then she said Atlas and I looked at Matte, and he looked at me, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh.' It's just the perfect name; from that day, we knew it was going to be Atlas."

On her daughter's 1st birthday, Mitchell shared Atlas's cake-smash photos with a sweet caption. "The best year of my life spent loving you," she wrote. "Happy Birthday baby girl."

More Pictures of Shay's Daughters