Name: Audie Diggs | City: Los Angeles CA | IG: @audie_diggs
Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.
My wife and I had just ordered pizza. Once I returned from picking up our order (trying to save money on delivery), my wife shared with me that she thought her water might of broken. She also started she was not sure and figured it was probably nothing. We agreed to call the nurse after eating dinner. We ate our pizza and fell to sleep lol. Two hours later we awoke and realized we hadn’t called the nurse. We contacted our nurse and she advised us to come in ASAP. At the moment it became very real, so we quickly gathered our belongings to head to the hospital. I was nervous, and excited at the same time. I was primarily contemplating my wife’s and daughters safety. Going forward everything from there moved quickly. We went from check-in to the delivery room. We had a few days staying in the hospital’s delivery room. One morning at 3:00am we got the green light that it was go time.
What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.
Haha, I created a birthing playlist for my wife. She gave me freedom to choose the songs. Due to my Christian Faith, I chose all gospel and contemporary worship songs. Our nurse (who was awesome) gave me the side eye and asked did I choose any songs that actually encouraged her to push? Realizing my error I begin singing songs that might encourage her to push. I sang the chorus of Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” repeatedly since I didn’t know most of the lyrics.
Physically I was exhausted and tired, but I was ignoring this because I was focused on making sure my wife felt supported. This was my emotion disposition.. striving to support my wife. While we had an awesome nurse, our Doctor did not make us feel prioritized. My wife being a black woman made me aware of the reality that often black women are not supported to the same degree as women of other ethnic backgrounds. With this mind until my little one arrived I was determined to make my wife feel fully loved, seen, supported and affirmed. I was very excited about my little one’s impending arrival and I figured the best way I could assure her safe arrival to this world is by my prayers, and my effort to love and support her mother.
Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?
Wow, how do I put into words the first time I held my child? Two thoughts crossed my mind…
1. My primary thought was this must be what God feels each time he comforts us as children with tender care and support.
2. I reflected on the song “Just the Two of Us” by Will Smith. He opens the song with the following lyric: “From the first time the doctor placed you in my arms I knew I’d meet death before I’d let you meet harm”.
These were my primary feelings the first time I held her. I have the privilege of seeing what God feels when he holds his children, and I’d die before letting my baby girl experience pain. I also felt a new level of responsibility to my family, to be a good man on their behalf. I realized I no longer had time to waste on nonsense. My time would forever be committed to first loving God with my all, and then loving my family. That moment of holding her for the first time, further clearly defined my priorities.
Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?
Love your significant other well. The best gift you can offer your expecting child is the utmost support to their mother. This will only make the pending arrival of your little one all the more smoother. Remember, that little one deserves your best, so give you best effort. I believe in you and God believes in you. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
