Dad-of-4 reveals one ritual every father must do during the birth of their child — and he's not wrong

For decades, countless men in delivery rooms have followed one unwritten rule: stay behind the curtain. However, one father is challenging that norm in a video that has sparked strong reactions and opened up deeper conversations about fatherhood, childbirth, and presence. In a clip shared by Myer Krah II, a father of five based in Atlanta, Georgia–who goes by @here4thedads Instagram–begins his video with a statement, "Unpopular opinion. You need to watch your wife give birth."

Krah talks about the emotional and personal realization that led him to break with what other fathers had told him in the past. He admits he once followed that advice. "The first three (kids) I listened. With that last one, I felt like I was missing something. Like I missed an opportunity," he said. His tone shifts as he explains why he decided to go to "the other side" of the curtain. "So I did it. With my wife," he added. What he witnessed gave him a deeper understanding of her strength and the weight of what women endure during childbirth. "My best friend has had home births, so it was beautiful and miraculous, and I thought he was a hippie," he admits.

But now, he sees it differently. "Going to the other side changed everything," he said in a bit of an emotional state. Further, he added, "People say they would lay down their lives for their kids. I've watched my wife do it four times. To me, that's superhero status." The video resonated with many, garnering nearly 6 million views, with comments pouring in from parents and birth workers alike. @willyssworld said, "These are the men that need microphones! Sending love to your beautiful family, sir!" @ebonyt_phd commented, "'I’ve had four pregnancies with my wife.' This is how you frame the experience. Thank you for sharing!"

@k_vanity added, "As a labor and delivery nurse, I encourage dads to look. I even encourage moms to utilize our standing mirror and witness the same amazement we all get to see! It’s such a beautiful experience. But like he said, try your hardest not to pass out, dads, lol." @quentinrjiles shared, "I watched, held one of my wife's legs, and helped coach her through it. It was beautiful! I gained so much more respect for her as a woman, and it felt great helping my daughter make her way into the world. I would recommend it with a 10 out of 10." While speaking to Newsweek, Krah said that fathers are often treated as "bystanders" in the medical space during pregnancy and birth.

"From the nine months of pregnancy all the way to delivery, dads can feel like they're in the passenger seat, just there to support rather than to be fully involved," he said. Also, he noted that many men avoid being fully present out of fear, squeamishness or concerns about how it might affect intimacy with their partners. But after seeing the full process, his perspective shifted completely. "All I could focus on was my wife’s strength and the beauty of the miracle that is childbirth." Krah hopes his message helps other dads rethink their role. He said, "If we can shift the narrative around fatherhood, we can better support each other in all the ways that truly matter."

You can follow Myer Krah II (@here4thedads) on Instagram for more content on fatherhood.