InstagramWith Jill Duggar enduring 70 hours of labor, there was only one thing that Derick Dillard could do to help: keep everyone in the delivery room as calm as possible.
The new father opened up about the difficult journey leading up to baby Israel's arrival and how he was able to keep his wife focused and in good spirits.
The TLC reality star shared that he serenaded his wife with some of her favorite spiritual songs and read Bible verses in between her contractions.
"I was nervous," Derick told People magazine, adding, "I didn't want to show that or make her more fearful."
Jill also turned to God to get her through the multi-day ordeal, "I was praying to God to give me strength. I was really scared and nervous, but I was praying."
Jill's mother, Michelle Duggar, also revealed how difficult it was to see her daughter in such pain.
"There were times I looked into her eyes during contractions where I wanted to cry. I know how horrific it is to go through that, and I did everything I could not to break into tears," Michelle explained.
The 19 Kids and Counting star was advised to have a C-section, even though she had originally hoped for a natural birth.
"She had labored for so long. There's no shame in that, there's no shame in not progressing, there's no shame in getting a C-section," Derick said.
The new mother gushed that even though her labor was dramatic and often times frightening, she wouldn't have changed a thing.
"I love our birth story because it bonded us so well. I still haven't changed a single diaper. Derick has been changing them all."