Rachell Dumas
RN
Presenter's Bio:
Rachell M. Dumas is a registered nurse, maternal health advocate, and mental health speaker who has built her life’s work around supporting families through some of their most difficult challenges. As the founder of A Light After Nine, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families facing infertility, pregnancy loss, and maternal health struggles, Rachell’s mission is deeply personal—rooted in her own experiences of enduring eight miscarriages and a stillbirth over a four-year period. Through her journey of loss and healing, she found the strength to advocate for mental health awareness, particularly around the emotional toll of pregnancy loss and infertility.
In addition to her work with A Light After Nine, Rachell founded Onward Healthcare Solutions and Education, LLC, where she consults with healthcare companies on infection control, compliance, and COVID-19 preparedness. As a trusted healthcare professional, Rachell has been a key voice during the COVID-19 pandemic, assisting organizations in developing safe and compliant practices. Her expertise and efforts to end the spread of COVID-19 have been featured in prominent media outlets including NPR, 11Alive, WABE, and StartTV, where she has shared her insights on healthcare preparedness and infection control.
Rachell’s professional background and media presence have established her as a leader in both maternal health advocacy and healthcare consulting. Her goal is to not only support families through their mental health and maternal care struggles but also to improve healthcare systems and preparedness in the face of public health crises. She uses her platform to emphasize the importance of mental health, particularly in communities of color, and the role that healthcare workers play in creating lasting change.
Rachell’s dedication to breaking the silence around pregnancy loss and promoting mental health care has made her a sought-after speaker and media figure, and she continues to inspire others through her story of resilience, advocacy, and healing.
Reshaping Maternal Mental Healthcare: How Effective Support Contributed to a Successful Birth After 9 Pregnancy Losses
Course Summary:
This live virtual session will explore the often-overlooked mental health struggles associated with pregnancy loss, infertility, and maternal health challenges. After enduring eight miscarriages and one stillbirth, I understand the immense emotional toll these experiences take on mental well-being. This session will provide healthcare professionals with tools to address the psychological effects of pregnancy loss and infertility, focusing on emotional resilience, trauma-informed care, and how clinicians can better support patients through these deeply personal challenges. Drawing on the work of scholars such as Joan Didion's exploration of grief in The Year of Magical Thinking, and Dr. Pauline Boss's concept of ambiguous loss, this session will also delve into how the grief of pregnancy loss often exists in an ambiguous, unrecognized space. Incorporating ideas from Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability (Daring Greatly) and the importance of empathy in healthcare, we will explore how professionals can reshape the conversation around loss to better meet the mental health needs of those navigating these struggles.
