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Kansas City Dad Doula Says It’s Time for Fathers to 'Step Up and Be Present' During Childbirth

Kansas City, Missouri, dad James Hogue is one of a handful of men trained to be a doula. After watching his wife deal with the complicated delivery of their son, he now teaches expectant fathers how to prepare for the birth of their children. Hogue says it's time for fathers to 'step up and be present.'

However, she began experiencing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, both common conditions in Black mothers, and ultimately the decision was made to have Shunquita deliver at a hospital. And to help with the challenges faced by teen fathers, DadPrep Academy is a specialized 12-week program designed to equip young dads with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the major life change ahead of them. “Just thinking about how, in my family’s lifetime, there has been direct change from that, to not being allowed in the delivery room to now with me training fathers on how to be active doulas or support people for their partners,” James says.

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