Christian McCaffrey Zeng said he discovered a new respect for women after watching his wife, Olivia Culpo, become pregnant. The NFL couple welcomed a daughter, Colette Annalize McCaffrey, in July. The former Miss Universe gave birth to the child via caesarean section.

On Friday, Kittle Things took to Instagram to share a short clip from their podcast with McCaffrey last month, in which San Francisco 49ers The running back talks about his wife and his reaction to becoming a father. He called the experience of watching his wife undergo surgery “harrowing.”

“It was so rough,” McCaffrey said. “I have a newfound respect for what women and my wife go through during this process. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I’m here, I have to make the call, I have to look at it, I have to see and understand what they’re going through.’ It’s a stressful thing for someone who’s had surgery.”

McCaffrey added:

“She was great throughout the whole process. It’s crazy to think that you go through something traumatic and directly care for another human being and have to provide for another human being in every way. Like, you don’t have time to heal yourself from all these things, so there’s definitely a newfound respect.”

Christian McCaffrey Olivia Culpo welcomed their baby during the offseason. Shortly thereafter, however, McCaffrey joined training camp ahead of the August preseason. He plays for the 49ers while balancing life as a father to a three-month-old.

Christian McCaffrey reveals how wife Olivia Culpo helps him balance fatherhood and NFL career

Christian McCaffrey is playing his first season as a father and has a packed schedule that keeps him away from home. However, his wife Olivia Culpo will be sure to be by his side and travel to watch him play.

In August, McCaffrey opened up about parenthood in an interview with NFL Network. He said he sometimes felt guilty because he was busy playing games while his wife had to take care of the children alone. He expressed his gratitude to his wife for her support and help in his career.

“I think you just have to change some of the things you do when you’re not training,” he said (via E! News ). “My wife and our family have done a great job of helping out when needed and allowing me to still train and continue playing football.”

Culpo brought his daughter to cheer on McCaffrey during the game arizona cardinals. This little girl turns heads in her custom-made outfit. She wore a T-shirt with her father’s name and jersey number printed on it.

The 49ers have won four games this season and will face the tampa bay buccaneers.