• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
  • Family

Dad's visit to see daughter after she gives birth goes viral

2:11
Dad's visit to see daughter after she gives birth goes viral
Courtesy of Deborah Gilbert
ByYi-Jin Yu
Video byNidhi Singh
September 21, 2023, 5:07 PM

No matter how old a daughter is, sometimes, she'll forever be "daddy's little girl."

That's what Deborah Gilbert said she realized when her father came to visit her in the hospital after she gave birth in August. The 28-year-old shared a TikTok video from the visit, showing her husband holding her daughter, her mom next to them, and to her left, her dad, holding and tapping her hand affectionately.

Her video has since captured the hearts of millions on TikTok, amassing over 3 million likes and over 12,000 comments.

Deborah Gilbert's dad sat next to her after she gave birth to her daughter in the hospital.
Courtesy of Deborah Gilbert

Editor’s Picks

Father-daughter duo inspires others on social media with affirmations

  • Jun 21, 2023

Father-daughter duo’s twist on wedding dance goes viral

  • Dec 20, 2022

We wanna dance like this 61-year-old dad and his daughter when we grow up

  • Jul 31, 2020

"My parents, of course, were the first to visit me," Gilbert, who lives in Singapore, told "Good Morning America."

"I realized my dad was just sitting beside me and then he was just holding my hand," she continued. "And I thought, 'Oh my God,' because I looked over to my husband and my husband was holding his daughter and I looked over to my dad and he was holding me and I just thought, 'This is such a full circle moment.'"

Deborah Gilbert and her father in a photo from her childhood.
Courtesy of Deborah Gilbert

Related Articles

MORE: Dad and daughter show off special handshake after school

With her newborn daughter commanding a lot of attention, Gilbert said she noticed her dad was instead, paying a little more attention to her.

"The fact that in that moment, he was not fussing over the baby, he was just kind of sitting beside me, I just felt so warm, like I'm his little girl," she said.

Gilbert's daughter Maeve is her parents' first grandchild.
Courtesy of Deborah Gilbert

Related Articles

MORE: Daddy-daughter duo's 'Love Story' reaction video goes viral

Gilbert said her dad is usually "quite shy" but his presence was reassuring.

"I think dads play such a crucial role in daughters' lives and just seeing it play out, like, I see like the fact that there's a dad in my life that my husband can model off," Gilbert said.

Editor’s Picks

Father-daughter duo inspires others on social media with affirmations

  • Jun 21, 2023

Father-daughter duo’s twist on wedding dance goes viral

  • Dec 20, 2022

We wanna dance like this 61-year-old dad and his daughter when we grow up

  • Jul 31, 2020

Up Next in Family—

Doctor delivers 2 sets of twins on his 34th birthday

April 14, 2026

'Duck Dynasty' star Sadie Robertson Huff opens up about 8-month-old daughter's choking incident

April 13, 2026

Wife remembers husband who died saving kids from rip current

April 8, 2026

Parents of 3 open up about facing cancer together at the same time

April 8, 2026

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News