Name: Jason Hall | City: Dallas, TX | IG: @mrlovelivelife
Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.
It was Christmas Day and my wife was experiencing contractions here and there. We thought it was Braxton Hicks, but she was like a week and a half from her due date. We looked in the baby book the hospital gave us and saw she was in pre-labor which could last for hours or days. But then later that night, she was really going through it and was ready to go to the hospital. I thought it was a false alarm. Didn’t even pack a bag, but when we got there, they were like YEP, the baby is coming. All the excitement, nervousness, and fear hit me like a ton of bricks.
What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.
Being in the delivery room had me full of adrenaline! But it was a mix of nerves and excitement. We’ve been waiting for this for about 9 months , but in the back of your mind, you’re thinking of all the things that can go wrong. I was trying to remain calm for my wife’s sake. A lot of prayers! Both out loud and silently. The delivery room also forced me to have patience. I thought the baby would come right after we got there, but it took 17 hours! Truthfully, it’s just a really anxious experience! But in the crux of it, you don’t realize all the emotions your experiencing!
Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?
It’s hard to explain but I’ll put it this way; I had a lot of doubt and fear of what the future Holding my child for the first time is when I released all those emotions! All that fear, nervousness, and anxiety just leaves your body in the form of tears! I couldn’t stop crying. I didn’t know I could love anything that quickly. In that moment, you realize fatherly instincts are real. Holding your child makes you realize how capable you are to do anything!
Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?
Be a part of the process as much as possible! Starting from conception. Go to as many appointments as you can. Ask the doctors questions when you have them. Read on the topic as much as you can. There’s no how to guide on being a father, but reading other’s stories can be beneficial to your journey. Support the mother! Child birth is no easy task. They’ll need your help with literally everything! Hold your child and do skin to skin as much as possible! Trust your instincts!
