Mother's Day extra special for first-time Napier mum

New mother Shareen Sultana, of Napier, with her baby daughter Saaiha. Photo / Warren Buckland.

It's Mother's Day tomorrow and for one Napier family the birth of a baby daughter just days beforehand will make it an extra special anniversary for years to come.

Sharmeen Sultana gave birth to Saaiha Khan at 2am on May 8, about 10 days earlier than expected due to gestational diabetes and blood pressure issues, which required her to be induced, Sultana said.

Packing up to leave the hospital yesterday afternoon she said it was an awesome Mother's Day gift.

"Now we are taking our first sweet baby girl home - I had a caesarean so I don't know what we will be doing on Mother's Day, mostly relaxing and recovering."

With her daughter's birthday so close to the annual Mother's Day celebration, Sultana said her daughter would probably be unlikely to overlook the day in future years.

"She will always remember her mum and her birthday together, and next year we will definitely be celebrating."

Celebrated in countries around the world, Mother's Day recognises the role women play in caring for and raising children.

In New Zealand, Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday in May each year, and according to some originated in ancient Greece during the festival of Cybele, a Greek goddess and mother.

The ancient Romans also celebrated, giving gifts during the Matronalia holiday.
In the 16th century, Christians in Britain and Ireland would visit their "mother church" each year on the fourth Sunday of Lent - Mothering Day, when mothers and their offspring would be brought together.

Aside from the commercial uptake of the occasion, there were various ways to show an appreciation for mothers and mother figures on Mother's Day around the world.

Mother's Day was an annual public holiday in countries such as Costa Rica (August 15), Georgia (March 3), Samoa (second Monday of May), and Thailand (August 12).