In the world of surrogacy, moms and surrogates often get the spotlight, and rightfully so. Growing a baby is no small feat. But behind the scenes, there’s another quiet current of strength, sacrifice, and emotional investment that deserves a little love this Father’s Day: the invisible work of the dads.

Let’s start with the surrogate’s husband or partner. He’s not always front and center, but his role is real. He’s the one making extra school lunches, folding towels, driving kids to practice, and holding down the fort during appointments or those extra-tired, hormone-heavy days. He might not have signed up to be pregnant, but he sure did sign up to be supportive. And sometimes, that looks like running a house solo while his wife gives the gift of life to another family. That’s not small. That’s hero-level love.

Then there are the intended fathers. Some have waited years to get here. They’ve walked through loss, disappointment, hard conversations, and mountains of paperwork. Maybe they’re a same-sex couple navigating a system that wasn’t designed with them in mind. Maybe they’re a hopeful dad who never expected to become a father this way, but showed up with open arms and an open heart anyway.

They may not carry the baby physically, but oh boy, do they carry it emotionally. The worry. The wonder. The waiting. And then, when that baby finally arrives, they show up. In the messy, sleepless, imperfect, magical way that dads do.

The truth is, fatherhood doesn’t start in the delivery room. It starts in the quiet support, the late-night logistics, the financial sacrifices, the pep talks, the “we’ve got this” texts, and the steady belief that family is worth fighting for, even when the path is a little unconventional.

So here’s to the dads this Father’s Day. The ones who push strollers and fill bottles. The ones who make pancakes and pick up the slack. The ones who stand behind strong women and beside tiny newborns. The ones who stay up late worrying, work long hours, and cheer from the sidelines.

To the surrogate’s husband: you are part of this miracle more than you know. And to the intended father: your love was felt long before that baby was ever placed in your arms.

To all the Fathers out there, we celebrate you. And we thank you for doing the kind of work that doesn’t always make headlines, but always makes a difference.