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Heartwarming Images: New Dads React To Meeting Their Babies For The First Time

Because we thought you needed a chance to "squeeee" this morning.

When it comes to labour and giving birth, dads seldom get a look in.

But while mum is huffing and pushing, often something very special is happening in another part of the room.

Sitting, waiting, wishing. Soon to be a father. [Dave Young/Rex Features]
Sitting, waiting, wishing. Soon to be a father. [Dave Young/Rex Features]

With a nine month incubation period, pregnant mothers have quite a long time to get used to the idea of having a baby.

Hormonal changes in their body help them to prepare for birth and aid in the process of bonding and nesting.

But for dads, the situation is usually a little bit different.

Despite going through the motions of readying their family for a new addition, it often isn't until the moment that the tot arrives, that it dawns on a guy that he's just become a dad.

These moments make for some pretty epic reactions!

Photographer Dave Young decided to make it his business to capture this magical moment.

Life is Wonderful, Enjoy! [Dave Young/Rex Features].
Life is Wonderful, Enjoy! [Dave Young/Rex Features].

He set up camp in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for four days during the month of April, snapping fathers' reactions as they happened.

The resulting images of fear, joy, ecstasy, surprise and tears are quite something.

He also recorded the first message that these new dads wished to impart to their babies.

Awww.

[Dave Young/Rex Features]
[Dave Young/Rex Features]

Father: Aman Ahmad

Baby: Khalid

First Message: "Family is everything to me. You are the beat in my heart and the air in my lungs."

The whole photoset is just really beautiful.

Rarely do we see such images of heartwarming vulnerability.

[Dave Young/Rex Features].
[Dave Young/Rex Features].

Father: Kennedy Culliford

Baby: Ava Grace

Message: "Changed my f*@king world."

[Dave Young/Rex Features].
[Dave Young/Rex Features].

Father: Reda Ali

Baby: Omar El Sayea Ali

Message: "Love family and life!"

[Dave Young/Rex Features].
[Dave Young/Rex Features].

Father: Az Mohamed

Baby: Sumaya

Message: "Be happy. I will always love you."

The photos were commissioned for The Book of Dads, a special charity Father's Day edition of The Book of Everyone and 50 per cent of the proceeds will go towards supporting Borne, which supports premature birth.

To see the rest of the photos made available by Dave Young, have a click through our slideshow below!