Father trains to be birth doula after wife’s pregnancy complications

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSHB) - Though doula is a role traditionally held by women, one Missouri father is encouraging other men to train for this supportive role that helps expectant mothers during their pregnancies.

James and Shunquita Hogue became new parents to James II three years ago. They did all the research, and from the start, they wanted a natural home birth. But six to eight weeks before their son’s due date, Shunquita Hogue began to experience pregnancy complications.

“Those complications presented themselves as gestational diabetes. They thought it was preeclampsia, so blood pressure was high,” James Hogue said.

Preeclampsia is a common but serious form of high blood pressure during pregnancy that is 60% more common in Black women, like Shunquita Hogue, than in white women, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation.

“It happens more often than not,” Shunquita Hogue said.

An expecting mother never wants to change her birth plan, but it was the safest option for Shunquita Hogue and her son. It was this experience that showed James Hogue everything a woman struggles with trying to give birth.

“There were moments where there were literal back and forths I had to have with the medical staff to make sure my wife received the care that she deserved,” he said.

James Hogue decided he wanted to ease that burden on other expecting mothers, so he became a trained birth doula, a role traditionally held by women.

“They’re doing the heavy lifting. I don’t want to switch sides or switch roles at all,” he said.

His wife says the decision made her feel “safe” because she and other women would have someone educated to speak on their behalf.

Through his nonprofit Fathers Assisting Mothers, James Hogue is now empowering other fathers to take on this supportive role.

“If you are a partner of a Black woman, you need to definitely be involved to make sure that those needs are being met,” he said.

FAM’s four-week Dad Doula Bootcamp is one of several programs the nonprofit offers to help those who are about to become fathers.

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