If asked to describe what you think a doula looks like, the first image that likely comes to mind is some sort of hippie, Erykah Badu-type burning sage around your home. But more than anything, you’d probably be willing to bet it all on the fact that a person responsible for providing physical and emotional support for a mother through childbirth is a woman.
But one Kansas City dad is on a mission to change that stereotype and empower other fathers to be trusted sources of support for their partners during that critical time.
James Hogue’s journey started four years ago as he and his wife Shunquita planned to have their son James II at home. But the couple was forced to change their plans and give birth in a hospital when Shunquita was diagnosed with preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
Although they had to pivot from their original plan, Hogue says the training he received with their doula while preparing for their home birth helped him be a positive source of support for his wife in the hospital – something she appreciated.
“It was in that transition from home to hospital that I saw how important it was for me to be informed,” Hogue told The Root. “I’m so grateful for the doula and childbirth education that we had. She walked us through every scenario so that when we had to pivot, it wasn’t a complete change or shock to our system. We were aware of the different scenarios that could come about.”
But Hogue didn’t just want to help himself — he wanted to use what he learned to ensure every expectant father he knew was prepared, particularly as Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women according to the CDC. This staggering statistic drove Hogue’s decision to become a certified doula.
In 2022, he took his mission a giant step forward and launched his nonprofit Fathers Assisting Mothers (FAM), an organization focused on helping arm expectant fathers with the knowledge and resources they need to help their partners through childbirth. Their Dad Doula Bootcamp is a four-week course taught by experienced professionals that covers everything from conception to postpartum care.
“This part of my life was birthed out of the experience that my wife went through when we gave birth,” Hogue said. “I had a lot of friends who were getting ready to have children. They asked me questions, and I was able to begin to lead and walk with them based upon the experience we went through.”
Hogue’s work is important, especially because not many Black men are doing it. According to Zippia.com, less than six percent of certified doulas in the United States are men and less than ten percent are Black. But he is passionate about his mission to improve pregnancy outcomes for Black families across the country.
“I’ve yet to meet a guy who didn’t want to get involved, he just may not know how,” he said. “Not many people or organizations are speaking directly to dads in a way that they can connect with and understand. But if fathers are aware of some of the warning signs to watch for, they can serve as first responders who advocate for their partners.”