LATEST ARTICLES

Tevin Eversley Shares His Dads In Delivery Story

Name: Tevin Eversley | City: Brooklyn NY | IG: @Funeral_Tev

Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.

Well the day I realized that my son Zion was ready to enter the world I was full of joy & excitement. I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time. With me being a entrepreneur while running multiple businesses it feels amazing to come home to my mini me. He definitely helps me escape all of the stress that comes with life. One day I definitely look forward to handing my company over to him.

1FAIpQLSdnT1tP1M72tAAU1QpelSeG60EWqRVIqdst5Kr3CZPuJZebjg Mwad D5r8Qee0yozkYa 1940356694 8B1977C9 19C2 4E37 B197 67C7D9711DA1

What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.

Physically I was ready to hold him and shower him with nothing but love & affection. Mentally I wanted to make sure that my girlfriend was as safe as possible throughout her delivery. I was on top of everything in the delivery room. I asked many questions and kept her informed on everything that was happening. All of my emotions hit me when I heard him crying after the doctor took him out. Tears of joy ran down my face!. That was definitely the best day of my life.

Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?

Honestly there is no words to describe that feeling. It just made me feel complete if that makes any sense.

Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?

My advice for fathers that are expecting would be to just be there for the entire experience. It brings you closer to your mate. Go to all of the doctors appointments & be the best support system. Child birth is definitely a life changing experience!.

Interested in joining our Dads In Delivery campaign? Click here.

Conscious Lee Shares His Dads In Delivery Story

Name: Conscious Lee | City: Oklahoma City OK | IG: @theconsciouslee

Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.

Honestly it was a gradual realization from the time my wife told me we were pregnant 3 whole months into being married. At first the news made me feel proud because for the first time in my life the idea of pregnancy didn’t frighten me and though we were still broke, it was exhilarating feeling to know i was becoming a father. When my first born was ready to come into this world, all of the romanticized ideas of fatherhood was shaken with a reality check. Literally in the hospital after being there for over a day waiting on increase dilatation, a 50 hour labor that turned into a scheduled c-section for my wife. I felt anxiety, vulnerable, helpless because it wasn’t much I could do to help my wife with the abrupt news of a c-section as well as the pain she experienced up to the point.

8F55FBDF 0628 4E55 9E06 BAC68913ACF6

What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.

The complexity of feelings at that moment was hard to explain or even articulate now but my daughters birth was the first time I ever cried tears of joy.

Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?

I couldn’t believe I was a father and I was wrapping my mind around how I had contributed to creating another human.. lol I felt like whatever was coming with my baby girl being in the world, I’d be ready because her presence made me feel protective and brave!

Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?

Therapy, therapy, therapy… that little hurt boy inside of all deserves to heal and a lot of the childhood trauma, trials and tribulations as well as insecurities will be triggered or come up eventually in fatherhood. Therapy is great first step on uncovering, acknowledging and healing trauma that impacts us as men and fathers.

Interested in joining our Dads In Delivery campaign? Click here.

Wallace Holyfield Shares His Dads In Delivery Story

Name: Wallace Holyfield | City: Dallas, TX | IG: @holyfieldcanhelpyou

Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.

I was a lot of different emotions. I was happy, afraid, excited, proud… so many emotions. The main thing I was thinking is that I would be the father I always wanted for my child. I remember looking at the Cosby Show and seeing how great of a father he was and I always wanted that. I wanted my Dad to be there to teach me to play sports and be at the games cheering me on like k in the movies. I wanted to be proud to tell all my friends that was my dad when we were out or show family pictures and i did t have it so now i had to chance to make sure mines would plus more.

C95CDF17 6A2F 4211 B4C0 BB98A7AD95FF

What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.

Wow, I remember when my daughter came into this world ironically “My Girl” by The Temptations was playing and they put her in my hands and She wasn’t crying. I was. She actually opened her eyes and saw me and I started crying even harder and went and sat down and started singing to her. Easiest the happiest moment in my life, I knew i would do anything. to make sure the world was hers.

Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?

That feeling is only comparable to the time i have done it with each of my children. It’s empowering knowing this bundle of joy came from you and they are depending on you to be great. It’s like the feeling you got when your parents were their most proud of you but times 100.

Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?

My advice to expecting fathers is, you won’t be perfect but you WILL be perfect for them. Be for your child what you didn’t receive from the parent you wanted. Grow – Learn – & Teach constantly but most importantly have fun because it’s a journey. There will be moments your children forget that will stay with you for a life time so even though they grow fast make sure you raise them slow.

Interested in joining our Dads In Delivery campaign? Click here.

Johnie Palmer Shares His Dads In Delivery Story

Name: Johnie Palmer | City: Dallas, TX | IG: @Johnie_the_realtor

Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.

I can’t lie, I was extremely nervous and scared. I was 25 at the time and my life was totally different then it is now. I didn’t know how this person that was a street dude, was going to turn out to be a dad because I grew up with no dad. He killed himself when I was around 9 months so in my head I knew I would never let my daughter go without having a dad in her life.

Screen Shot 2022 01 11 at 8.31.22 AM

What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.

I was really nervous in the delivery room. I know for sure I was sweating. I was just praying that everything with smooth with no complications. It was tough watching my daughters mom go through the pain she was going through. But when I heard that first cry, I knew everything was ok and my baby girl was here. I could breath again.

Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?

It was such a joyful moment holding my daughter for the first time. It was like a love that I had never felt before. All I wanted to do was love and kiss on her. It definitely brought tears to my eyes.

Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?

Embrace the journey. From start to finish. From the time your lady starts to show to the time you see your baby in the delivery room for the first time. Don’t take these moments for granted because before you know it they will have grown so fast right before your eyes. Always be a huge part of there life and show them what a real father’s love is suppose to feel like. They need us.

Interested in joining our Dads In Delivery campaign? Click here.

Bryan Evans Shares Dads In Delivery Story

Name: Bryan Evans | City: Garland, TX | IG: @Bryan_x1719

Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.

I’m going to take it back to my first born Xavier. This was nothing like I have experienced before, I was at work an previously just had a false alarm so my job was on edge about letting me leave early again. But this time it felt different, my lady called me saying she was having signs and have already called the Hospital once and they said she was just having regular contractions and to go through the pre-labor motions. She was scared to call them again at this point I knew something was wrong as this was the actual Due Date January 8th 2017. So I called up to the hospital explaining the situation and told them we are on the way! Left work drove 30min. To get my lady and drive 30min back to the hospital we were going to have our child. Once we got there they said we will have this baby and broke her water during the long process the cord was actually wrapped around him 3x. So this caused for a emergency C-Section which we had talked about and prepared for just didn’t know it would happen.

Screen Shot 2022 01 10 at 7.08.59 PM

What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.

My physical state I had to stay strong for my lady because I was her rock if I broke down she would break and I couldn’t have that as she already has high anxiety. My mental state was all over the place I wanted them both to be safe and emotionally once my son was born and I heard him cry I broke down with tears of joy.

Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?

When I held X for the first time I was unexplainable. My heart was full and the life I had previously once lived I knew i had to change for the better.

Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?

First time fathers all I would say is try not to over think it. Just go with the flow and handle everything as it comes. Us as men try to have a plan and when that plan doesn’t go accordingly we tend to panic a bit. With bringing a child into this world and being there for your child anything planned with certainly turned into unplanned so we must adapt to the situation in front of us without showing a change of energy.

Interested in joining our Dads In Delivery campaign? Click here.

Jamiyl Samuels Shares His Dads In Delivery Story

Name: Jamiyl Samuels | City: Springfield Gardens, NY | IG: @jamiylwrites

Take us through your thoughts the moment you realized your child was ready to come into this world.

As my wife stood expecting our first child I wondered how I would be as a father? How would I feel? How would I respond to the responsibility?

Sure the decision to make a lifetime commitment to one person is a life-altering event, but the birth of a child changes your whole outlook on life. Nine months of anticipation, anxiety, doctor’s visits, sonograms, morning sickness, cravings, fatigue, mood swings, and a baby shower lead to the unbridled joy of hearing the first cry of your newborn.

Screen Shot 2022 01 10 at 6.51.34 PM

At times I still can’t believe I am a father. It is the ultimate act of selflessness to put someone else’s well-being before your own. I soaked up every minute of impending fatherhood. The day we found out the sex of the child was especially nerve-racking. For years Tracy-Ann talked about wanting a girl as the first child. I didn’t care what sex the child was as long as it was healthy. Well, that was only 90 percent true. While I wanted a healthy child, I secretly, or not so, desired a son.

From the time my father walked out of my life, I told myself I would be a better one to my child. As early as 14 years of age I would often daydream of the day I would have my own children, even writing down their names (I wanted four, but then again I didn’t have to give birth to them). From the time of Trey’s conception sometime at the end of June 2006 (although I cannot remember the exact day I remember the act and failed use of the withdrawal method), the subsequent 36 weeks or so was filled with trepidation. Once my wife Tracy-Ann confirmed a seed was planted, we only told a handful of immediate family: my mother, my sister, my mother-in-law, Tracy-Ann’s grandmother and that might have been it. We wanted to make sure we got through the first trimester this time. Trey was not ready to come into the world as scheduled. 36 weeks had come and gone and Tracy-Ann was not even dilated. There were the requisite false alarms, one that had me scrambling from my hotel job as soon as I started my shift. After another few days with no signs of dilation, the decision was made to take the baby out by Caesarean section. Once a definite date was set the anticipation began.

The days leading up to the due date were filled with sleepless nights, last-minute shopping and preparation for the birth of our child. I set up my paternity leave (I didn’t know that existed for men until I was told of the option) from work and I was ready. Packing the hospital bag really brought it home that I was going to be a father in less than 24 hours. I looked back on everything in my life leading up to this point.
“Would I be a good father?” I thought.

Was I prepared mentally, physically, emotionally and financially for what was about to happen? All the preparation in the world can be done for an event, but you will never know how it will turn out until it happens and you are thrown full force into the fire.

All the diapers given as gifts from the baby shower will eventually run out. What then? You can cram for a test and find out what you studied is not on the exam. What then? You make an educated guess. Life is not going to go according to your plan.

Preparation is good, but it is how you adjust and adapt to the changing situation that will define you. I believe this ideology applies to parenthood as well. I stopped worrying and overanalyzing. I felt when the baby entered the world we would go from there.

What were your physical, mental, and emotional feelings while in the delivery room as your child was entering the world.

I made the conscious decision to be in the delivery room for Trey Amani’s birth. I wanted to be the first person my son laid eyes on when he took his first breath in the world. I was given a powder blue cap and blue gown to cover my clothes with. I was so excited I started taking pictures of myself. I placed the digital camera on a table and set the timer for ten seconds, running to pose before the camera flashed. My smile was a mile wide and I felt the sudden urge to buy cigars.

I ran to Tracy-Ann’s bedside, her belly still protruding from under the hospital attire she was given. I continued to take self-portraits of her and myself. My jubilant camera work irked my wife, who didn’t like taking pictures unless she was well dressed. A clear cap and hospital garb was not her ideal uniform for self-portraits, but she decided to grin and bear it because of how giddy I was.

The delivery room was not like I imagined it, seeing so many on television shows like The Cosby Show and soap operas like All My Children and General Hospital. The room was like any other except for the scale used to weigh the newborn in one corner next to a small table. There was a bed in the middle of the room where Tracy-Ann was already on. Her body was split in half by a powder blue curtain. From the bosom down her belly was exposed and she was surrounded by doctors and surgeons in white uniforms. A male doctor, not the lead surgeon, let us know what to expect once the baby was out. As he spoke, my mind began to race a mile a minute. I began to get the nervous feeling anticipation brings. I was a few short moments from seeing my newborn son.

“What would he look like,” I thought to myself. Looking back, and I may get struck down for this, at the time I secretly hoped the baby wouldn’t be ugly, a punishment for making fun of so many babies who were less than attractive. I had so many things running through my head that I was ready for it to be over.

Describe what it felt like holding your child for the first time?

At 1:50 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, the 10th of March 2007 to be exact, my life changed forever. That sunny day in March, Trey Amani Samuels was born in New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Greenberg Pavilion making me a father for the first time.

As they cleaned the blood off of Trey (that was one of the names I wrote down so many years ago) and he weighed in at just below seven pounds, it was time to make good on the promise to myself. “Here he is,” said a nurse holding the smallest, precious pink-colored package. We had come face to face with our boy staring back at us with what seemed to be jet black eyes. He looked like an alien to me at that moment. Just as swiftly as he appeared, he was gone; off to get cleaned up. I looked back at Tracy-Ann still feeling the shock of officially becoming a father.

“Dad, get over here,” called one of the nurses.
I immediately jumped up, believing that I was to remain behind the curtain the entire time. I saw two nurses, one with glasses and another without (it was the only way I could differentiate between the two as they both had on all white from head to toe), bringing Trey to a table next to the scale.

“Where’s your camera?” the nurse without glasses quipped. “You gotta be on the ball, dad. This is the time to take pictures.”

Indeed the shutterbug had put his camera away believing I could not take pictures in the delivery room. I don’t know why I thought that, seeing so many shows where proud fathers videotape the birth of their children. Given the go-ahead to take pictures I immediately pulled out my digital camera and, with the record function, captured Trey’s first real cry. I was emotional, though I did not shed tears. My voice cracked as I whispered his given name out. Once I held my son for the first time I fell in love with him even more. When it was time for Trey to go to the nursery I made excuses to go and look at him. Every cry I heard reminded me of his. I never went to the bathroom so many times.

Do you have any advice for fathers who are expecting for the first time?

Embrace the moment. Take pictures and get involved in every aspect from the ultrasound appointments, doctor visits, baby shower gift selection. It is a time never to be forgotten.

Interested in joining our Dads In Delivery campaign? Click here.