Meet Rachell Dumas, BSN, RN

We recently connected with Rachell Dumas, BSN, RN and have shared our conversation below.

Rachell, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from survival. It comes from having to rebuild myself over and over again in the face of unimaginable loss.

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to be strong. Resilience was something I had to earn, something I had to create from the pieces of myself that remained after each heartbreak. Nine pregnancy losses will teach you things about yourself that you never wanted to learn. They will break you in ways that you can’t fully articulate. They will teach you how to grieve while moving forward, how to advocate for yourself even when you’re drowning in sorrow, and how to find purpose in places you never imagined.

With each loss, I was met with the same medical indifference…“Sometimes these things just happen.” My symptoms were dismissed, my concerns were ignored, and I was left to pick up the pieces with no real answers. But deep down, I knew there had to be more. I knew that if I didn’t start demanding better care, no one would do it for me. So, I became my own advocate. I researched, I fought for second opinions, I asked hard questions, and I pushed back against a system that so often leaves Black women unheard.

That experience shaped me, not just as a mother, but as a nurse, an advocate, and a leader. It’s why I founded A Light After Nine, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting birthing people navigating pregnancy loss, high-risk pregnancies, and postpartum challenges. Because I know firsthand what it’s like to be gaslit, to be told to “just try again,” and to feel like your grief doesn’t matter. I refuse to let others go through what I did without support, without knowledge, and without a voice fighting for them.

Resilience, for me, isn’t just about survival, it’s about transformation. It’s about taking every moment of despair and using it to create something meaningful. I didn’t just want to survive pregnancy loss; I wanted to change the system that failed me. I wanted to make sure no one else felt as alone, as powerless, or as unseen as I did.

My son is here today because I refused to give up. And now, I use that same resilience to fight for others, to challenge a broken system, and to turn my pain into purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am the founder of A Light After Nine, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming maternal healthcare for those navigating pregnancy loss, high-risk pregnancies, and postpartum challenges. My journey into this work wasn’t just professional, it was deeply personal. After experiencing nine pregnancy losses, I saw firsthand how the healthcare system continuously failed women, particularly Black women, by dismissing their concerns, delaying diagnoses, and offering limited emotional and mental health support. Instead of accepting that reality, I decided to change it.

At A Light After Nine, we provide case management for high-risk pregnancies, patient advocacy training, grief support, and connections to culturally competent providers. We also partner with hospitals and healthcare organizations to integrate trauma-informed care practices and improve maternal health outcomes. Our mission is simple but urgent: No one should have to endure the trauma of pregnancy loss or high-risk pregnancy without support, resources, and a team that genuinely cares about their well-being.

One of the most exciting things about my work right now is our Pregnancy Admission Bundles & Post-Discharge Case Management Initiative. Too often, families facing pregnancy complications or loss receive inadequate care in hospitals, and there’s little to no follow-up once they leave. We’re bridging that gap by implementing workflows that integrate palliative care, mental health support, and long-term advocacy for patients because the care shouldn’t stop when the hospital discharge papers are signed.

I’m also incredibly proud of the impact my story has had. I’ve been able to educate healthcare professionals, policymakers, and maternal health advocates through interactive case studies based on my pregnancy journey. I’ve spoken at major conferences, collaborated with leading maternal health organizations like March of Dimes and Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, and been featured on over 40 podcasts discussing the importance of birth equity and patient advocacy.

Right now, we’re expanding our board of directors and planning several upcoming events, including a Birther Expo, major Black Maternal Health Week initiative and an advocacy campaign to push for paid leave after pregnancy loss. It’s an exciting time for A Light After Nine, and I’m looking forward to growing our reach, amplifying more voices, and ensuring that no one walks this journey alone.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, advocacy, and adaptability. These have shaped my ability to not only navigate my own personal struggles but also build a nonprofit that is making systemic change in maternal healthcare.

1. Resilience: The Foundation of My Journey

Experiencing nine pregnancy losses before finally giving birth to my son tested me in ways I never imagined. But resilience isn’t just about enduring hardship, it’s about how you respond to it. I refused to let my losses define me, and instead, I used them to fuel my purpose. For those early in their journey, my advice is simple: Allow yourself to feel the weight of your challenges, but never let them break your spirit. Resilience is built in the moments when you choose to rise, even when the world feels like it’s pushing you down.

2. Advocacy: Speaking Up When It Matters

Throughout my pregnancy journey, I was medically gaslit, dismissed, and deprived of options that could have saved my pregnancies earlier. It wasn’t until I became my own biggest advocate, learning medical terminology, pushing back against dismissive providers, and demanding better care, that I saw change. This is why I now train others on how to advocate for themselves in medical spaces. If you’re early in your journey, start by educating yourself and using your voice. Your health, your career, and your success depend on your ability to advocate for your needs and ensure they are met.

3. Adaptability: Navigating the Unexpected

When I set out to become a nurse, I never imagined my path would lead me to starting a nonprofit, speaking at national conferences, or pushing for policy changes in maternal healthcare. But life will throw unexpected challenges your way, and success requires the ability to pivot and adapt. Whether it’s in business, healthcare, or personal growth, the key is to be open to change and embrace it as part of your journey. Don’t be so fixated on one plan that you miss out on an even greater purpose.

Advice for Those Early in Their Journey
• Resilience is built through action. When things get tough, focus on what you can do next rather than what you can’t change.
• Learn to advocate for yourself early. Whether it’s in the workplace, in healthcare, or in relationships, your voice is your power.
• Stay open to unexpected paths. Sometimes, the detours lead to the most fulfilling destinations.

No matter where you are in your journey, remember this: You are capable of turning pain into power, struggles into strategies, and setbacks into success.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My number one obstacle is breaking through systemic barriers in maternal healthcare to create lasting change for Black women and birthing people facing high-risk pregnancies and pregnancy loss.

The maternal health crisis, especially for marginalized communities, is deeply rooted in medical bias, lack of advocacy, and inadequate support systems. I’ve personally experienced these challenges: being medically dismissed, denied critical interventions, and enduring nine pregnancy losses before finally having my son.

To resolve this, I am actively working on multiple levels:
• Advocacy & Policy Change: I collaborate with organizations like March of Dimes, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, and the Georgia Maternal Health Task Force to push for better maternal care policies.
• Education & Awareness: Through A Light After Nine, I train healthcare professionals on trauma-informed care, educate birthing people on self-advocacy, and provide mental health and postpartum resources.
• Systemic Innovation: I am developing high-risk pregnancy admission bundles, integrating palliative care workflows into hospitals, and working on wearable monitoring devices to improve outcomes for high-risk pregnancies.

The challenge is enormous, but I refuse to accept the status quo. Every mother deserves dignified, informed, and compassionate care, and I am committed to making that a reality.

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