UNICEF fatherhood campaign captures men meeting their children for the first time

These poignant photos capture fathers spending their first precious moments with their newborn children. 

Smiling with laughter or solemn-faced with concern, the images reveal the range of emotions experienced by men in the days and hours after their child’s birth. 

The photos were taken by photographer Adriana Zehbrauskas on maternity wards in five countries – Guinea Bissau, Mexico, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Britain. 

Zehbrauskas travelled with UNICEF to capture the images as part of a campaign by the charity encouraging fathers to play a more active role in their children’s early years. 

Among the most moving images is a close-up of the hands of Jim Cherrett as he reaches through an incubator to stroke the skin of six-week-old daughter Piper, who was born premature at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. 

Another shows father Rogelio Cruz Barrera moving tubes out of the way to kiss daughter Ximena after she and her twin were born prematurely in Mexico City.

Meanwhile Supidej Jaithon, 20, of Chiang Mai, Thailand, grins up at his wife after defying his boss’ orders leaving work to visit his newborn son in the hours after his birth. 

The fathers also share their feelings on holding their children – and their hopes for their futures. 

Paul Barnes does skin-to-skin contact with his son Archie, who was born prematurely, in the neonatal unit of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, on 28 February 2018. He said: ‘I’ve been here every day, I’ve been doing skin-to-skin, it helps him relax, it helps his brain function, I feel this connection with him, we are communicating through skin and our feelings, it’s a true bonding experience, so warm’

Jim Cherrett as he reaches through an incubator to stroke the skin of six-week-old daughter Piper, who was born premature at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He said: 'I'm going to be involved in any way I can, cuddles, reading to her, nappy changes, feeds, everything I can do I'll do it'

Jim Cherrett as he reaches through an incubator to stroke the skin of six-week-old daughter Piper, who was born premature at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He said: ‘I’m going to be involved in any way I can, cuddles, reading to her, nappy changes, feeds, everything I can do I’ll do it’

Arif Somsingjai, 30, a construction worker, holds his two-day-old baby boy Karis, his second child, alongside his wife Chayanid Thaopan, 22, at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He said: 'I was happy when I held him for the first time. I think he looks like me. I think it's important that I'm a good father and a good leader of the family'

Arif Somsingjai, 30, a construction worker, holds his two-day-old baby boy Karis, his second child, alongside his wife Chayanid Thaopan, 22, at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He said: ‘I was happy when I held him for the first time. I think he looks like me. I think it’s important that I’m a good father and a good leader of the family’

Rogelio Cruz Barrera holds one of his twins born prematurely, a baby girl named Ximena, at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPER) hospital, in Mexico City, Mexico, on 21 February 2018. He said: 'I think that we dads also have a very important part even though we do not carry the baby in our womb like moms'

Rogelio Cruz Barrera holds one of his twins born prematurely, a baby girl named Ximena, at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPER) hospital, in Mexico City, Mexico, on 21 February 2018. He said: ‘I think that we dads also have a very important part even though we do not carry the baby in our womb like moms’

Juelmo Tchana Ncus smiles as a family member gives him his newborn baby to hold, in Mother Teresa of Calcutta Maternity Hospital in the town of Bula, in the northern Cacheu Region of Guinea-Bissau on 21 March 2018. Juelmo , 31, said he was very happy when he heard his first child was going to be born, and that he was concerned about the health situation of his wife and child. He did not enter the delivery room, but stayed there before and after the birth of his child

Juelmo Tchana Ncus smiles as a family member gives him his newborn baby to hold, in Mother Teresa of Calcutta Maternity Hospital in the town of Bula, in the northern Cacheu Region of Guinea-Bissau on 21 March 2018. Juelmo , 31, said he was very happy when he heard his first child was going to be born, and that he was concerned about the health situation of his wife and child. He did not enter the delivery room, but stayed there before and after the birth of his child

James Bennett holds his one day-old baby James, in a private room in the maternity ward of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in February 2018. He said: 'I'm a civil servant and I've got paternity leave, my work has been supportive as soon. He added: 'I'll settle for healthy and happy for James, everything else is a bonus'

James Bennett holds his one day-old baby James, in a private room in the maternity ward of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in February 2018. He said: ‘I’m a civil servant and I’ve got paternity leave, my work has been supportive as soon. He added: ‘I’ll settle for healthy and happy for James, everything else is a bonus’

Nathan holds his baby Ted, who was born prematurely at 29 weeks, one evening in the neonatal section of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in February. Ted was born in December and he's been in hospital since. Nathan said: 'The first time you hold your new baby is one of the best feelings ever... it feels like you're being given someone you already know'

Nathan holds his baby Ted, who was born prematurely at 29 weeks, one evening in the neonatal section of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in February. Ted was born in December and he’s been in hospital since. Nathan said: ‘The first time you hold your new baby is one of the best feelings ever… it feels like you’re being given someone you already know’

Alex Edmonds Brown holds his son Harley James, on the maternity ward of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in February 2018. Alex, a tank driver, took two weeks of maternity leave when he son was born. He said: 'I go to work and I come here after I finish work and spend the whole evening with him. At the moment I'm just changing him and feeding him. I've been doing the skin to skin contact, and giving him lots of cuddles. It's so incredible to have something so precious so close to you'

Alex Edmonds Brown holds his son Harley James, on the maternity ward of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in February 2018. Alex, a tank driver, took two weeks of maternity leave when he son was born. He said: ‘I go to work and I come here after I finish work and spend the whole evening with him. At the moment I’m just changing him and feeding him. I’ve been doing the skin to skin contact, and giving him lots of cuddles. It’s so incredible to have something so precious so close to you’

Explaining his connection with his daughter, he said: 'Skin-to-skin feels a lot different than just holding a baby for a cuddle, it feels a lot more connected, it seems a lot more tranquil and peaceful, you focus a lot more, and appreciate how tiny they really are'

Explaining his connection with his daughter, he said: ‘Skin-to-skin feels a lot different than just holding a baby for a cuddle, it feels a lot more connected, it seems a lot more tranquil and peaceful, you focus a lot more, and appreciate how tiny they really are’

Paul Barnes, pictured with son Archie, who was born prematurely at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He added: 'I was scared that our time in the hospital would be painstakingly slow, like we were just waiting to take him home, but with the skin-to-skin and the care my days in the hospital fly by'

Paul Barnes, pictured with son Archie, who was born prematurely at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He added: ‘I was scared that our time in the hospital would be painstakingly slow, like we were just waiting to take him home, but with the skin-to-skin and the care my days in the hospital fly by’

Eli Rodriguez Zempahua, 22 with his wife Lucia and newborn baby girl Mage Rodriguez Trinidad at the Zongolica IMSS Prospera Hospital in Zongolica, Veracruz, Mexico

Eli Rodriguez Zempahua, 22 with his wife Lucia and newborn baby girl Mage Rodriguez Trinidad at the Zongolica IMSS Prospera Hospital in Zongolica, Veracruz, Mexico

Yair Cruz, 26, holds his newborn baby girl Mia Gisele, his third child, at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPER) hospital, in Mexico City, Mexico, on 21 February 2018

Yair Cruz, 26, holds his newborn baby girl Mia Gisele, his third child, at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPER) hospital, in Mexico City, Mexico, on 21 February 2018

Gerardo Brito Rodriguez tends to his 13-day-old daughter Diana Brito Muñoz in the neonatal unite at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPER) hospital, in Mexico City, Mexico, on 21 February 2018

Gerardo Brito Rodriguez tends to his 13-day-old daughter Diana Brito Muñoz in the neonatal unite at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPER) hospital, in Mexico City, Mexico, on 21 February 2018

New father Shageldi, centre, carries his baby boy through the maternity unit of the Mother and Child Health Centre in Goekdepe, Turkmenistan, on 30 March 2018

New father Shageldi, centre, carries his baby boy through the maternity unit of the Mother and Child Health Centre in Goekdepe, Turkmenistan, on 30 March 2018

FatherArslan, 38, and mother Alina, 33, welcome Damir, their second child, at the Mother and Child Health Centre in Goekdepe, Turkmenistan, on 30 March 2018

FatherArslan, 38, and mother Alina, 33, welcome Damir, their second child, at the Mother and Child Health Centre in Goekdepe, Turkmenistan, on 30 March 2018

Babies are taken from the Mother and Child Health Centre in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with much fanfare. Mothers and babies change into nice clothes and embellished cars wait for departure from the hospital

Babies are taken from the Mother and Child Health Centre in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with much fanfare. Mothers and babies change into nice clothes and embellished cars wait for departure from the hospital

A young man sits with his newborn baby in his lap, on the edge of a bed where the child's mother is resting at the UNICEF-supported Canchungo Hospital, in the northern Cacheu Region of Guinea-Bissau on 22 March 2018

A young man sits with his newborn baby in his lap, on the edge of a bed where the child’s mother is resting at the UNICEF-supported Canchungo Hospital, in the northern Cacheu Region of Guinea-Bissau on 22 March 2018

New fathers are shown how to correctly hold their newborn babies at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 8 March 2018. Jumphon Parkmnoi, 27, right, said: 'When I learned I was going to be a dad, I was happy. I've been with my wife for 12 years and we didn't have a child. I want to be with the baby and do everything with her'

New fathers are shown how to correctly hold their newborn babies at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 8 March 2018. Jumphon Parkmnoi, 27, right, said: ‘When I learned I was going to be a dad, I was happy. I’ve been with my wife for 12 years and we didn’t have a child. I want to be with the baby and do everything with her’

Sai Tlen, 38, meets his newborn daughter, after his wife is wife underwent a c-section, at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 8 March 2018. He said: 'It is a bit of a shame that my baby isn't that healthy so I have not held her yet. I only touched her a little'

Sai Tlen, 38, meets his newborn daughter, after his wife is wife underwent a c-section, at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 8 March 2018. He said: ‘It is a bit of a shame that my baby isn’t that healthy so I have not held her yet. I only touched her a little’

Somsak Hameyai, 50, bathes his two-day-old son Sailom, his first child, during a bathing class for parents at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 7 March 2018. He said: 'I didn't go into the delivery room because it was a C-section - I was outside. It was a 10pm. I was nervous while waiting because I wanted to see the baby's face. The hospital don't allow visits after 8pm, so I saw my baby the next day. I couldn't sleep all night because I was so excited to see him'

Somsak Hameyai, 50, bathes his two-day-old son Sailom, his first child, during a bathing class for parents at the Regional Health Promotion Centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on 7 March 2018. He said: ‘I didn’t go into the delivery room because it was a C-section – I was outside. It was a 10pm. I was nervous while waiting because I wanted to see the baby’s face. The hospital don’t allow visits after 8pm, so I saw my baby the next day. I couldn’t sleep all night because I was so excited to see him’

Supidej Jaithon, 20, also known as Boss, and his wife Nartanana look at their newborn baby Matt, born a few hours earlier, at Lerdsin Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, on 6 March 2018. The new father said: 'I came to see my baby's face. My boss didn't allow me to take the day off because I had lots of work, but I don't care, my family comes first'

Supidej Jaithon, 20, also known as Boss, and his wife Nartanana look at their newborn baby Matt, born a few hours earlier, at Lerdsin Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, on 6 March 2018. The new father said: ‘I came to see my baby’s face. My boss didn’t allow me to take the day off because I had lots of work, but I don’t care, my family comes first’

The new father said: "I was shocked when I found out my wife [was pregnant], I thought we were very young [...] When the baby moved and I touched, I felt very good that I'm becoming a father'

The new father said: “I was shocked when I found out my wife [was pregnant], I thought we were very young […] When the baby moved and I touched, I felt very good that I’m becoming a father’



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