Moving Beyond the 10%: A New Era in Preterm Birth Prevention
July 1, 2026 | #HearFromHer #PretermBirth
For decades, the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in the United States has hovered stubbornly around 10%. Despite advancements in other areas of medicine, prematurity remains the second leading cause of death for neonates, carrying a heavy toll of lifelong health complications, developmental disabilities, and a staggering $25 billion annual cost to the healthcare system.
Listen to the full episode here.
As discussed in the latest Hear From Her podcast, the challenge has always been prediction. “Prior to this, we had very few tools to help predict who is at risk,” explains Dr. Mollie McDonnold, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist. Traditionally, doctors relied on a patient’s history of previous preterm births, but the majority of cases occur in women with no prior history.
The Biomarker Breakthrough
The conversation highlights a shift toward personalized medicine through the use of biomarkers. By analyzing proteins from the placenta via a simple blood draw early in pregnancy, clinicians can now identify high-risk patients with much greater sensitivity than traditional methods.
Listen to the full episode here.
The Power of the “Bundle”
Identification is only half the battle; prevention is the goal. Zhenya Lindgardt, CEO of Sera Prognostics, shares results from the “Prime Study,” which utilized a protocol designed with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. When high-risk women were treated with a “preventive bundle”—consisting of low-dose aspirin, vaginal progesterone, and weekly nurse check-ins—the results were “spectacular”:
- A 20% reduction in severe neonatal morbidity.
- A 52% reduction in births before 32 weeks.
- One out of five babies avoided the NICU entirely.
Listen to the full episode here.
A Tailored Future
The future of maternal health lies in moving away from a “one size fits all” approach. By stratifying care, healthcare providers can funnel intensive resources—like cervical length monitoring and specialized nurse support—to those who need it most, while providing peace of mind to those at low risk. As Lindgardt notes, the goal is to ensure every pregnancy receives the specific level of care it requires to thrive.
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