New App ‘Pregnant and Black’ Aids Maternal Health

The alarming rates of Black maternal mortality are a crisis that demands innovative solutions. Now, technology is stepping in to help bridge the gap, with a new app called Pregnant and Black (PAB) leading the charge in providing real-time advocacy for Black mothers navigating the complexities of the healthcare system.

Bridging the Advocacy Gap

The app’s creator, Rayna Reid Rayford, shares a personal story of being dismissed by doctors during her own pregnancy, only to have her life saved by a team of advocates upon her return to the hospital. She highlights that this level of support is a luxury many Black women do not have, citing instances where hired doulas were removed from delivery rooms against the mother’s wishes. These are not isolated incidents but part of a documented pattern of discrimination within healthcare.

Tragically, Black women are still three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a statistic that has persisted for nearly a century. As the nation marks the 10-year anniversary of Black Maternal Health Week with the theme “Rooted in Justice & Joy,” tech solutions like PAB are emerging to empower Black mothers.

How Pregnant and Black Works

Launched on April 11, PAB is a free, real-time health navigator designed to connect pregnant women with trained healthcare advocates. These advocates assist in navigating medical systems, provide support during appointments, and ensure that patients’ concerns are heard and documented. It acts as a crucial safety net, empowering women to speak up when it matters most.

An app like Pregnant and Black is necessary because access to information and advocacy can literally save lives. Too many Black women aren’t being heard or taken seriously during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. — LeToya Luckett, Grammy Award Winner & Maternal Health Advocate

Grammy award winner and maternal health advocate LeToya Luckett emphasizes the app’s importance, stating, “Having a tool like this puts knowledge, resources, and support right at your fingertips. It empowers women to ask questions, speak up, and advocate for themselves.” She adds that it also fosters a sense of community, ensuring women don’t feel isolated on their journey.

Addressing Systemic Dismissal

The app directly addresses the persistent issue of Black women’s concerns being dismissed by the medical system. Research and lived experiences show that doctors often question the credibility of Black women’s symptoms, downplay their pain, and ignore their concerns. Pamela Agbu, a Houston-based mother, shared her anxiety, noting that the increased risk she felt as a Black woman was compounded by the knowledge that the system often doesn’t believe her.

PAB is designed to bridge these dangerous gaps. While not replacing healthcare providers, the app offers essential support during critical patient-provider interactions. By providing real-time assistance, PAB aims to reduce the likelihood of symptoms being overlooked, recognizing that sometimes, the difference between life and death is simply being heard.

A Growing Ecosystem of Support

PAB joins a growing number of tech solutions focused on Black maternal health, including apps like Irth, Poppy Seed Health, and Mommy Monitor. These platforms are collectively shifting the focus toward patient-centered and culturally competent care. PAB’s unique emphasis is on advocacy as intervention, intervening at the crucial moments of patient-provider interaction to ensure Black women receive the care and respect they deserve.