At 30 weeks pregnant with her first child, Rayna Reid Rayford was in excruciating pain. Yet, her concerns were dismissed when she went to the emergency room.
Told that she was merely dehydrated and that the discomfort was “normal” for pregnancy, Rayford followed the doctor’s advice. But the pain worsened, and her desperation led her back to the ER a week later—this time, with a family of medical professionals at her side.
What happened next would change her life and the lives of countless other Black mothers.
“I said, ‘I don’t have 10 more weeks of this,'” Rayford recalled, her voice heavy with the memory. “I was wheeled into the ER screaming, thinking I was having contractions. I knew something was wrong, but they told me it was the same thing again, just dehydration.”
Family advocates
It wasn’t until her family intervened—five doctors in the waiting room—asking critical questions and demanding action, that she was finally diagnosed with acute necrotizing appendicitis. The surgery that followed likely saved her life and that of her daughter, a painful ordeal that underscored a harsh reality.
“If my family hadn’t been there advocating for me, I would’ve been sent home, and I most likely would’ve ruptured. I’m very grateful that I’m here today, but not every Black woman has that kind of support or access.”
– Rayna Reid Rayford
“If my family hadn’t been there advocating for me, I would’ve been sent home, and I most likely would’ve ruptured,” Rayford said. “I’m very grateful that I’m here today, but not every Black woman has that kind of support or access.”
Giving back
This moment of personal trauma led to a breakthrough that Rayford is now using to help others: Pregnant and Black (PAB). This mobile platform connects Black mothers with culturally competent care, healthcare advocates and life-saving resources. The app, set to launch later this year, aims to provide Black women with support during critical moments, whether in an emergency like Rayford’s or just navigating routine appointments.
The maternal health crisis facing Black women in the U.S. is dire. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, although the CDC reports that four out of five pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. This disparity is what fuels Rayford’s mission.
“So, I would say that advocacy chose me,” Rayford said. “I started Pregnant and Black because I was fortunate to have my family advocate for me. But the reality is that most Black women don’t have that. My goal is to put that support in their pocket through an app.”
The mobile platform will allow users to chat, call, or video chat with healthcare advocates, helping to bridge the gap between Black mothers and medical professionals. Through this service, Rayford hopes to not only save lives but also restore dignity and joy to Black maternal health, a time that should be transformative, not traumatic.
Houston mother Renee Lewis says she would’ve loved an app like Pregnant and Black when a doctor sent her home at 24 weeks.
“I told the hospital over and over that something was wrong and the doctor basically told me it was in my head and sent me home,” Lewis said. “My baby came that night.”
Changing the narrative
“I want to change the narrative,” Rayford said. “Pregnancy and childbirth for Black women shouldn’t be about fear. We should be able to experience joy during this time. And that’s what we’re aiming to bring back with this app.”
The app’s forthcoming release comes at a crucial time when health equity and justice are central to national conversations. Rayford’s work sits at the intersection of tech, health justice and community empowerment, providing a modern form of resistance and liberation for Black mothers.
“We know that right now, Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth,” Rayford said, noting the alarming statistics. “That’s a real gap we can work to fill. I want Pregnant and Black to be a solution—a tool for saving lives, but also a way to create that community of support.”
Through her personal journey and entrepreneurial spirit, Rayford is challenging systemic disparities in maternal health while ensuring that Black mothers have access to the resources and care they deserve. The success of Pregnant and Black is not just about technology—it’s about hope, empowerment and justice for a community too often overlooked.
For more information or to sign up for updates, visit www.pregnantandblack.com or follow Pregnant and Black on Instagram.
