Giving birth or adopting a baby is a big deal. So is becoming a step-parent to an older child. Whether it’s your first child or fifth, the magic that happens when you welcome a new child into your heart and your family is incredible. It’s also incredibly hard. .. but a supportive partner can make it easier.

Mothers have a hard time bragging about themselves, but when we see ourselves through our partners’ eyes we can see how strong we are. That’s why we love it when celebrity dads marvel over the women who made them fathers and support them on their postpartum (or post surrogacy or adoption) journeys.

Check out these heartwarming stories of super supportive celebrity partners.


Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

After witnessing the birth of his daughter Tiana in 2018 , Johnson found himself changed for the better. “I was raised and surrounded by strong, loving women all my life, but after participating in baby Tia’s delivery, it’s hard to express the new level of love, respect and admiration I have for [wife Lauren Hashian] and all mamas and women out there,” the former WWE star wrote before giving some advice to other men out there.

“Word to the wise gentlemen, it’s critical to be by your lady’s head when she’s delivering, being as supportive as you can.. holding hands, holding legs, whatever you can do,” he wrote. “But, if you really want to understand the single most powerful and primal moment life will ever offer – watch your child being born. Its a life changer and the respect and admiration you have for a woman, will forever be boundless.”

Dywane Wade

NBA-star Dwyane Wade is so supportive of his wife Gabrielle Union, and his support was so important as the couple struggled through IVF treatments and eventually turned to surrogacy.

“I’m watching her do things to her body and to herself that it’s getting to the point where it’s not healthy,” he told Oprah of the couple’s infertility struggle after their daughter Kaavia was born through surrogacy. “And as I always told her: ‘I want this baby just as much as you do, but I married you, and you are the most important thing to me.’ So it came to a point where, you know, I started to feel a certain way about that because I didn’t want something to happen to her.'”

Because of Wade’s support, Union was able to make the choice to pursue parenthood in a way that did not continue to harm her body or her mental health.

Wade has also publicly commended Union on how she has been able to be a forgiving partner and an incredible step-mom to his older kids.

“I put you in an impossible situation and somehow you helped me come out of it stronger,” Wade wrote in a Mother’s Day post. “Thank you for the Mom that you already are to our miracle, Kaavia. Thank you for stepping in and raising those boys just like they were your own. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for the daily photo shoots. Thank you for FUN. Thank you for. Adventure. Thank you for keeping it sexy. Thank you for pushing me to be a better businessman. Thank you for helping me become a better son.”

Andy Grammer

After welcoming their second child in April 2020, Grammar praised his wife Aijia Lise on Instagram, writing: “I watched my GODDESS of a wife @aijiaofficial labor for 18 hours and deliver her like a champion. I caught her with my own two hands in the tub and it was a profoundly beautiful experience. I am so blessed.”

Steve Kazee

Two months after Steve Kazee and Jenna Dewan welcomed their son, the actor raved over his personal superwoman in a post for Mother’s Day. “At first glance this may seem like a strange picture to choose to show my love and appreciation for you on this Mother’s Day but upon closer inspection you can see why it is the absolute perfect picture for the occasion,” Kazee captioned a picture of Dewan pumping. “Here you are at 9pm after a long day of feeding one child and wrangling another. Here you are pumping even more milk. Here you are after two months of doing that same thing every single day. Here you are exhausted and delirious. Here you are not knowing what day it is. Here you are under a quarantine in the middle of a global pandemic. Here you are in the middle of true adversity.”

Kazee continued: “And…here you are…smiling. Like you always do. It’s no surprise to me. This is how you do everything. You smile and you make everything around you better. You have given me the most wonderful little boy I could have ever asked for. You have given me the most amazing (soon to be) step daughter. You have kept me smiling through all of this even when I struggle the most. These are extraordinary times and you are a shining example for the rest of us, especially me, of what to strive for in this life. You are an incredible mother. Our children are lucky to have you. No matter what this world brings you are always ready for it. Always with grace. Always with a smile.”

Alex Rodriguez

While Alex Rodriguez and his fiancée Jennifer Lopez don’t share biological kids together, the two are both proud parents from previous marriages. Rodriguez and Lopez have both been open about their journey to blending their families, and there’s no doubt that the singer’s motherly ways have positively impacted the former MLB player’s life.

In a post for Mother’s Day 2020, Rodriguez honored Lopez, writing: “For me, #MothersDay is just another reminder of how amazing Jennifer is with our kids EVERY DAY. And that’s never been more apparent than during these last couple of months at home. Watching her be a loving mom to all of our kids has been an experience I will never forget. This time at home has been challenging for so many. The hardships and uncertainty have changed how we all look at things as we search for a new normal. But in many ways it also has brought all of us closer together as families and that is a true blessing. I hope the same is true for all of you.”

Ryan Reynolds

During an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers , Ryan Reynolds gushed over how wife Blake Lively was able to keep her sense of humor during labor with their first child, daughter James. “She was a mercenary,” he said. “She was pretty much making jokes the entire time.”

At his Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony in 2016 Reynolds said to Lively: “You make everything better—absolutely everything in my life better. You’ve given us two of the most incredible children that I could ever hope to have. You’ve made me the father of my dreams when I thought I only had fun uncle potential.”

Prince Harry

Hours after Meghan Markle gave birth to baby Archie, Prince Harry shared a sweet message with the world. “I’m very excited to announced that Meghan and myself had a baby boy early this morning, a very healthy boy,” he told reporters outside the hospital. “Mother and baby are doing incredibly well. It’s been the most amazing experience i could ever have possibly imagined. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension but we’re both absolutely thrilled and so grateful for all the love and support from everybody out there. It’s been amazing.”

Eric Decker

Eric Decker has praised his wife, singer Jessie James Decker, on multiple occasions for carrying their three children. “Mommy sure knows how to grow some babies!!” he wrote in April 2018 following the birth of their youngest child, Forrest.

On Mother’s Day 2018 he wrote : “The abundance of love you give these babies makes me wanting more! Ha. Our kiddos are happy, silly, sweet, smart, confident and beautiful because of you @jessiejamesdecker .”

John Legend

John Legend is always ready to rave over wife Chrissy Teigen. He once snapped a photo of himself sitting next to Teigen while she pumped in the car on the way to dinner, writing: “I know it’s Father’s Day and all but my wife is pretty awesome. She’s taking me to dinner but still on mommy duty.”

His support for Teigen should be a model for all other dads. When she had postpartum depression he knew she needed help before she did and helped her get it.

“John was there when the doctor gave the diagnosis and, of course, he already knew,” she said in 2017.

And when the couple lost their third child, Jack, in 2020, Legend was by his wife’s side in the hospital throughout the final days of her complicated pregnancy.

Seth Meyers

Meyer’s wife Alexi Ashe was “incredibly calm” as she birthed their son , Axel, in the lobby of their New York City apartment in 2018, he recalled during an episode of his late night talk show. “Just the speed in which she took this guy and had him on her, and I was watching,” he explained. “The kid’s gonna be fine forever because of her. She’s really amazing,”

[Editor’s note: While this article is about heterosexual relationships, we support the continuation of efforts that support all families, including parents in same-sex and gender non-conforming relationships. We also acknowledge that single parents work exceptionally hard to ensure that their children have the best outcomes and that the absence of a father or partner does not automatically preclude children from healthy and happy lives. We stand behind all families.]