As a high-risk perinatal nurse, Autumn Mels understood the potential for pregnancy complications better than most… yet she never thought that those challenges could hit so close to home. An unexpected emergency c-section in her own pregnancy left her reeling, struggling to find the resources she needed to process her own and others’ traumas. Now as a maternal health advocate and patient family partner, Autumn is speaking up and speaking out about how obstetric nurses can care for themselves and others as they continue the important work they do.

About MoMMAs Voices
MoMMAs Voices (Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Advocates) is the first-ever maternal health patient advocates program bringing together real patient and family voices. We're made up of dozens of maternal health organizations who represent all types of maternal health conditions, as well as cross-cutting topics like maternal mental health, racial equity, healthcare delivery, and patient-provider partnership. We sit at the center of maternal health improvements, connecting and training patients with lived experiences, providers, quality improvement leaders, researchers, and policymakers to move forward improvements in maternal care. We are a program of the Preeclampsia Foundation.