Ep. 311: Breakthroughs in Preterm Birth Prevention with Zhenya Lindgardt

Ep. 311: Breakthroughs in Preterm Birth Prevention with Zhenya Lindgardt

Author: HeHe Stewart January 15, 2025 Duration: 41:02
HeHe welcomes Zhenya Lindgardt, President and CEO of Sera Prognostics, to discuss the critical issue of preterm birth, its rising incidence in the U.S., and innovative solutions available today. Zhenya explains the definition and statistics of preterm birth, and introduces the Preterm test, a blood test that predicts the risk of preterm birth as early as 18 weeks of gestation. The conversation also covers the effectiveness of Sera Prognostics' intervention bundles, improvements in pregnancy care, and the importance of innovation in maternal health. Listeners will learn about the accessibility and process of the Preterm test and the overall goal of making this technology widely available to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.   Understanding Preterm Birth Advancements in Preterm Birth Testing Interventions for High-Risk Pregnancies Clinical Trials and Results At-Home Testing and Accessibility Innovation in Maternal Health Guest Bio: Zhenya Lindgardt is an accomplished leader in healthcare innovation, currently serving as the President, CEO, and Board Director of Sera Prognostics, Inc. and CEO of The Commons Project Foundation. As the leader of Sera, Zhenya is revolutionizing the maternal and infant health space by addressing the preterm birth crisis with cutting-edge science. With a rich background including senior roles at Uber Technologies and a 19-year tenure at Boston Consulting Group, she has demonstrated expertise in driving growth and fostering innovation. Her contributions span multiple therapeutic areas and focus on leveraging data to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. INSTAGRAM: Connect with HeHe on IG  Connect with HeHe on YouTube   https://www.facebook.com/serapregnancy https://www.instagram.com/serathepregnancycompany?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== https://www.linkedin.com/company/sera-prognostics BIRTH EDUCATION: Join The Birth Lounge here for judgment-free childbirth education that prepares you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!   Download The Birth Lounge App for birth & postpartum prep delivered straight to your phone!   LINKS MENTIONED: Websites: Sera | The Pregnancy Company PreTRM® Premature Birth Risk Blood Test from Sera March of Dimes Report Card CDC NYU article about racial disparities in pre-term birth rates What is causing the rise in pre-term birth?   Diagnostics: AVERT Trial Press Release: Sera PreTRM® Test Prevention Strategy Demonstrates 18% Reduction in Severe Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality in Newly Published AVERT Trial | Sera   AVERT Trial Data: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/14/1462

Hosted by birth and newborn expert HeHe Stewart, The Birth Lounge Podcast creates a thoughtful conversation around the many paths through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. This podcast moves beyond simplistic advice to explore the wide spectrum of normal experiences, offering evidence-based insights alongside real stories from parents. HeHe, who founded Tranquility by HeHe Maternity Concierge, guides these discussions with a blend of professional knowledge and deep empathy, aiming to demystify the process and empower your choices. Each episode serves as a gathering place-a safe space where clinical expertise meets lived experience, covering topics that span education, family dynamics, physical fitness, holistic health, and parenting young children. You’ll find a supportive resource here, one that acknowledges the variables and nuances of bringing a child into the world and navigating the postpartum chapter. Tune in for honest dialogues that honor different perspectives, providing companionship and reliable information for your own journey. The goal is to leave you feeling more prepared, less alone, and confident in your unique path through parenthood, all within the supportive community of this podcast.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 432

The Birth Lounge Podcast
Podcast Episodes
21: Free Friday Talk: Building Your Postpartum Village [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:50
Happy Friday! Today, I’m exploring the importance of the village after having a baby and how to successfully build your tribe. I dive into why we can’t seem to ask for help these days and give the steps you can take to h…
20: The Impacts of Fear Based Care with Shana Dewitt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:26
Fear based care in America has been dictating women’s births for years. Healthcare professionals are fearful of repercussions and this leads to the use of fear based education when providing care to patients. Ergo, birth…
19: Friday Free Talk: Mindset and the Energy of Birth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:48
Today, I'm sharing a bit about my path with the energy piece of Tranquility by HeHe and how it shapes the approach we use. I'm diving into the energy of birth and how to shift your mindset to set you up for your ideal bi…
18: The Benefits of Milk Baths with Carli Ambrose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:24
Milk baths are often thought of as either aesthetics for pictures or maths made of breastmilk for babies. Today, HeHe sits down with Carli Ambrose, Founder of Milk Bath Goddess, to discuss the benefits for adults and par…
17: Friday Free Talk: 8 Questions to Ask your Doula in an Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:03
Happy Friday! Let's dive into choosing the perfect birth support for you! Have you considered having a doula at your birth? ..but have no clue how to choose a "good one." In this episode, I share my formula of questions…
15: Hormones, Nutrition, and Infertility with Kelly Agnew [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:54
In this episode, HeHe chats with Kelly Agnew all about hormones, nutrition, and infertility. We discuss what foods can help with balancing hormones and setting your body up for pregnancy. Kelly gives away her thoughts ab…
14: Friday Free Talk: Parents with Anxiety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:08
In this episode of Friday Free Talk, I'm talking about why I support parents with anixiety. It is something that I come across often so I decided to sit down to think about why and what made me so organically prepared fo…
13: Being Mindful in Motherhood with Sarah Bivens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:28
Today we are taking a stroll down mindfulness lane. HeHe and Sarah dive into what self-care looks like in motherhood. We talk about why it's so important to set time aside for yourself, why communication can make or brea…
12: Free Friday Talk: Doulas Without Babies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:50
In this episode of Friday Free Talk, I dive into the stigma that in order to be a good doula, you must have children yourself. "Do you have children?" is a questions that is often asked in the birth world and there can d…