Discover How You Can Have A Safe, Full-Term Pregnancy And A Healthy Baby…while minimizing your risk of complications, miscarriage and developmental disorders.

Register for the Healthy Pregnancy Summit and join Dr. Greenleaf along with 20+ pregnancy experts to discover how you can best prepare for your healthy baby.

pregnant woman doctors officeFirst-time parents are often told to expect the unexpected but preventing a preterm birth is one of the biggest concerns for pregnant mothers. While preterm delivery is often construed as a spontaneous event, pregnancy experts report that significant risk factors for preterm labor and delivery can be avoided. From understanding personal risk factors to avoiding activities known to increase odds of preterm labor, leading women’s health expert, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf shares her expertise and advice to help pregnant moms prevent preterm birth.

Dr. Betsy Greenleaf earned her medical degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine/Reconstructive Surgery from the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Leading women’s health expert, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf shares her expertise and over 20 years’ experience caring for pregnant mothers.

While many first-time parents believe that delivering before their baby’s due date is considered preterm birth, the medical community sets distinct terminology to distinguish preterm labor from preterm birth and understanding the difference is paramount to knowing when to seek emergency medical care.

  • Preterm labor by definition must include uterine contractions with the cervix dilating.
  • Preterm birth occurs when a baby is born before they have reached 36 weeks of gestation.

While it is normal to feel some uterine contractions during the later stages of pregnancy, most pregnant mothers may not know if their cervix is dilating. Dr. Greenleaf shares that 12% of all pregnancies in the Unites states end in preterm birth and that 50% of those births are caused by preterm labor. Signs of preterm labor include regular contractions with increasing discomfort and vaginal discharge. Preterm birth accounts for 70% of neonatal deaths. For this reason, it is vital that pregnant moms track all contractions and call their providers if any of these symptoms are present.

Preterm birth can carry a lifetime of health repercussions for the child. “There can be long-term effects, 25-50% of these cases have neurological impairment in those children, they can have developmental impairments and birth defects,” cautions Dr. Greenleaf. Thankfully, if preterm labor is caught early, many medical interventions can occur that will prevent preterm birth or lessen the risk factors for the baby. From routine ultrasounds to measure the mom’s cervical length, reducing stress and continuing to receive dental care throughout pregnancy to giving steroids to the mother to help her baby’s lung develop, lifesaving interventions are available with early detection.

Pregnancy Kitchen logo

Learn even more ways to prevent preterm birth and tips to prepare for a healthy baby.

Register for the Healthy Pregnancy Summit and join Dr. Greenleaf along with 20 pregnancy experts to discover how you can best prepare for your healthy baby.

    • Attendees will have access to watch each session completely free as it airs or viewers can upgrade to the VIP All-Access Pass for lifetime access.
    • This interactive event also includes a Q&A section with opportunities to the ask the experts your personal questions so that your experience is completely tailored to the concerns that matter most to you.
    • Questions? Visit www.healthypregnancysummit.com to learn more.