Following the overwhelming response to the Hailey Bieber episode, SHE MD sits down with Sera Prognostics CEO Zhenya Lindgardt and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tiffany Inglis for a powerful, science-backed conversation about preterm birth, maternal health, and the pregnancy blood test most women, and most doctors, have never heard of. They unpack how a simple test taken between 18 and 20 weeks can predict and help prevent preterm birth in women who would otherwise be considered "low risk."

This conversation goes deep into the science behind the PreTRM test and the two proteins it measures. The doctors explain why other current screening methods miss nearly 80% of women who will go on to deliver prematurely, and how the preTRM® test is changing maternal care from reactive to preventive. They break down the role inflammation and placental health play in pregnancy, and how the preventive protocol used in the PRIME study helped reduce early preterm births by 56%. They also dive into the emotional, physical, and financial toll of NICU stays, disparities in maternal healthcare, and why women need better access to personalized pregnancy care.

This episode is ultimately about agency: knowing your individual risk, advocating for the care you deserve, and shifting maternal medicine from reactive to preventive. Whether you're pregnant, planning to be, or supporting someone who is, this conversation delivers the science, the resources, and the mindset shift that could change the trajectory of a pregnancy and the lives that depend on it.

Learn more here: https://pretrm.com/?utm_source=shemd&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=founders_ep

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What You’ll Learn

What the PreTRM blood test is and how it predicts your individual risk of preterm birth
The difference between high-risk and "low-risk" pregnancies (and why most women who deliver preterm were never previously identified as “high risk”)
How a simple test at 18 to 20 weeks can change the trajectory of a pregnancy
Why current screening tools like cervical length and patient history only catch about 20% of preterm cases
The two proteins the test measures and what they reveal about placental health
The simple preventive protocol that works: vaginal progesterone, low-dose aspirin, and weekly check-ins
The landmark PRIME study results, including a 56% reduction in early preterm birth and 20% fewer NICU admissions
How preterm birth affects babies, families, and the healthcare system long after delivery
Why women's health innovation has lagged decades behind oncology and other fields
The disparities Black and Hispanic mothers face, and how the test performs across populations
How to access the PreTRM test even if your doctor doesn't offer it yet
How to advocate with your insurance for coverage of preventive maternal testing
The "three-legged stool" of pregnancy health: physical, behavioral, and social factors
Why stress, trauma, and emotional distress can directly impact pregnancy outcomes
The future of personalized, preventive maternal care and what every pregnant woman deserves

Key Timestamps

0:00 Welcome Zhenya Lindgardt & Dr. Tiffany Inglis

1:05 Why Preterm Birth Can Happen to Anyone

2:51 How They Met and The Story Behind Sera Prognostics

5:39 What Counts as a Preterm Birth?

6:49 The Dangerous Complications of Early Delivery

9:11 How the PreTRM Blood Test Works

13:35 What Happens After a High-Risk Result

15:08 The Science Behind the Proteins

16:16 The PRIME Study Results Explained

18:39 Why Most Doctors Still Don’t Use This Test

20:25 The Emotional & Financial Cost of NICU Stays

23:09 Why Some Women Face Higher Risk

24:39 How Pregnant Women Can Access the Test

25:54 The Stats Every Expecting Mom Should Know

33:14 The Future of Preventive Maternal Care

36:17 What To Do If You Live in a Rural Area

Key Takeaways

Women are driving the future of maternal health innovation
Anyone can be at risk for preterm birth, even in a "low-risk" pregnancy
Prevention is more powerful than reaction
Knowledge is power, knowing your risk lets you act on it
Your body sends signals long before symptoms appear
A simple blood test can change the trajectory of an entire pregnancy
Stress, trauma & emotional health directly affect pregnancy outcomes
Every pregnancy is different and deserves personalized care
Women's health innovation has lagged for decades, advocacy is how it changes
It takes a woman to solve a woman's problem
Don't wait for symptoms to ask the hard questions
The cost of inaction is enormous, financially, emotionally & physically
Insurance coverage lags behind science, but you can push for it
Asking your doctor questions is the most powerful tool a pregnant woman has

Guest Bio: Zhenya Lindgardt

Zhenya Lindgardt is the CEO of Sera Prognostics, a women’s health biotechnology company focused on improving pregnancy outcomes through predictive diagnostics. Under her leadership, Sera has advanced groundbreaking research in maternal health, including the development of the preTRM® test, a first-of-its-kind blood test designed to identify a woman’s risk for spontaneous preterm birth before symptoms begin. Passionate about preventive and personalized maternal care, Zhenya is committed to expanding access to innovative tools that empower women and improve outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide.

Guest Bio: Dr. Tiffany Inglis

Dr. Tiffany Inglis is the Chief Medical Officer of Sera Prognostics and a board-certified OB-GYN with extensive experience in maternal healthcare, patient education, and pregnancy risk management. Before joining Sera, she worked in clinical practice and healthcare innovation, developing programs focused on improving outcomes for pregnant women through early intervention and personalized care. At Sera, Dr. Inglis helps lead research and education surrounding the preTRM® test and advocates for a more proactive approach to maternal health.

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