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, a condition the CDC cites as the most common pregnancy complication.

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.

“I felt super loved and secure with him there by my side,” Shunquita told PEOPLE. “Whatever needs I had — words, lights, music — were met. And he was my advocate in the hospital.”

Reflecting on his experience, Hogue realized the education he received could benefit other fathers, 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.

“Knowing how difficult it is for Black women in particular, and the disparities are clear, I wanted fathers who are well-informed so they can be their first line of defense,” he told PEOPLE. “I knew we needed to step up and be present.”

In 2022, James 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.

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 Hogue is passionate about his mission to improve pregnancy outcomes for Black families across the country.

“If a father is trained and aware of what’s happening and knows how to advocate, we can reduce some of these disparities,” he said.