How Samira works

A private journal for early parenthood, made together.

Made by a parent whose baby spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), for every family. If your baby is in the NICU, learn about NICU Mode.

Two people, one journal

You each get the same daily question.

Invite your partner with a link or by email.

Your first memory

What was the last book you read with Fia and what was it like?

Kathy

We read the animal book after Fia’s bottle. I held her on the couch while Jamie read. She wasn’t looking at the pages much, but she kept turning towards him when he made the noises. By the last page she was asleep on my arm.

Jamie’s view

What was the last book you read with Fia and what was it like?

Jamie

The animal book again. I read it to Fia on the couch tonight, with Kathy holding her. I tried a different voice for each animal. She stared at me through the cow page and then started yawning. I finished the book anyway. We took a couple of photos before we moved her.

When everyone has answered

What was the last book you read with Fia and what was it like?

Jamie

Kathy

Questions chosen for your family

Samira uses your baby’s age and the questions you like or pass on to choose what to ask next.

It also takes into account important dates and whether you’re using NICU Mode, so the questions fit where your family is now.

Choose when your question arrives. You can pause questions anytime.

Add your own memory

You can write anything. Or take a photo to remember a small detail.

You can speak instead of typing. If you edit a memory later, Samira keeps the earlier version too.

Now and then, a “From your story” card on Today brings back an earlier memory.

We gave Fia a bath in the little tub tonight. Jamie held her while I washed her, and she kept kicking water over the side. I’d left her pajamas in the bedroom, so Jamie wrapped her in the striped towel while I went to get them. She had her bottle straight after.
September 13

Fia beside Snuffy at 0 days old — 0 days old

Fia beside Snuffy at 2 weeks old — 2 weeks old

Fia beside Snuffy at 3 weeks old — 3 weeks old

Watch your baby grow

Photograph your baby beside the same toy, object, or hand to see how they grow over time.

Each photo shows your baby’s age on the day you took it, in weeks, months or years.

Choose your growth photos and make a card or a set of slides to share with family and friends.

A finished growth photo card showing Fia beside Snuffy over three weeks — Share with family and friends

Your baby’s sky

Every landmark and growth photo becomes a star in the constellation of your baby’s sky. Tap a star to see its memory and photos in the Sky. Tap + to add a new landmark.

Book

Your photos and words become a book. Choose what goes in, preview it, and print it at home.

Each month can open with one of Samira’s seasonal drawings.

Professional printing is coming soon.

Jamie

Kathy

NICU Mode, if you need it

Made by a NICU parent, for NICU parents.

There are steps forward and steps back in the NICU. There’s a lot to take in, and keeping a journal can feel like one more thing to do... or just impossible.

Save a photo or a few words as you go. You don’t have to make sense of it all now. You can come back to those memories when you’re ready, or share them with your child one day.

Samira is for early parenthood, with or without a NICU stay. You can turn on NICU Mode in Settings.

Kathy and Jamie looking in at Fia in her incubator

In NICU Mode, there are added landmarks for NICU days, like First touch, Off CPAP, or NG tube out.
If your baby was born early, add the due date or weeks at birth to see their adjusted age on Today.
In NICU Mode, “Little things to keep” has ideas for keepsakes, like a name card from the incubator.
In NICU Mode, Support opens peer groups for NICU parents. You’re not alone.
In Support, you’ll also find ideas for things you could bring into the NICU.
Once a week, Samira asks whether your baby is home.

After you save “Went home!”, Samira starts counting your days home and marks a few milestones. One is your NICU Equinox: the day your baby has been home as long as they were in the NICU.

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Your journal is private and your information belongs to you.

You can download your whole journal and all your photos anytime.

Who do you want to write your journal with?

Start on your own, or invite one person to write with you.

Join the waitlist