Jill and Derick Dillard shared details of their son's birth in an intimate interview published Wednesday.

The Dillards welcomed Israel David on April 6, but revealed that Jill's labour began nearly 70 hours prior.

"Jill was telling me, 'I don't know when my labour is going to start. I don't know when to think it is labour and when it is Braxton Hicks contractions,'" Derick told PEOPLE.

"God answered her prayer with her water breaking because that doesn't always happen and then she knew she was in labour."

Jill's mother and older sister, Jana, also helped her during hours of "intense" contractions.

The midwife-in-training has witnessed dozens of deliveries, and prepared for her own by completing a birth plan and Bradley birthing classes with her husband.

The couple initially wanted a home birth, but ended up delivering in a hospital instead. Derick performed hip squeezes during the marathon labour, and helped his wife stay focused during contractions.

"I would say, 'Think about being on the beach on our honeymoon, just think about this one contraction, don't think about the future ones,'" he recounted. "I would tell her not to think about the pain right now."

Jill confirmed that the visualisations helped.

"Derick would say, 'You're going to get to see him, you're going to get to see him, the pain won't mean anything, just one contraction at a time,'" she said. "He did such a great job."

Israel was born at 11:49pm on April 6, and weighed 9 lbs and 10 ounces. The baby has been called "NFL-ready" because of his thick build and 23-inch length.

The birth of Israel will air on May 5 on TLC's "19 Kids and Counting."