Emily Betterton

Exceptional obstetrical care with Dr. Harris Wexler at LewisGale Physicians

In February 2024, Emily Betterton gave birth to her second son, Mason, at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem. At seven pounds, 11 ounces, he was a healthy baby boy, but the miracle of his birth was underscored by the fact that he was conceived in the first place. When Emily’s first child, Walter, was born, she and her husband, Robbie, planned to have another child relatively soon so that the siblings would be close in age. Instead, they were discouraged to find that getting pregnant a second time proved more difficult.

After many months of trying to conceive, Emily turned to the internet to find a new obstetrician and found Harris Wexler, DO,, a highly-regarded OB/GYN with LewisGale Physicians. Recalls Emily, “Dr. Wexler was compassionate and supportive from the first time I met him. Some doctors seemed resistant to running multiple labs to find out why I wasn’t getting pregnant, but he was the opposite. He encouraged me to get to the bottom of the issue, and soon confirmed I had a low egg count.” Emily and Robbie briefly sought the advice of a fertility specialist, but Dr. Wexler continued to encourage them to try to have a natural pregnancy. “We already had one baby, so he assured us that it was possible to have another. He instilled a sense of faith and made me so much less anxious about our situation. It was as if he spoke our pregnancy into existence — three weeks later I found out I was expecting,” remembers Emily.

This pregnancy turned out to be a bit more complicated than her first, though. Emily had some bleeding, but Dr. Wexler put her at ease and it eventually subsided. At four months pregnant, her care team found some concerns during an ultrasound that might affect her baby’s health. All genetic testing was normal and, again, Dr. Wexler assured Emily that these conditions typically resolve themselves. He was correct — by 36 weeks, there was no sign of any health conditions for her new baby.

One week before her due date, Emily woke in the middle of the night and her water had broken. She arrived at the hospital at 3:30am and, while she had a C-section with her first son, Dr. Wexler supported her decision to have a vaginal birth after a C-section, also known as a VBAC, this time. At 11:09am, Mason was born.

“My entire experience at LewisGale was exceptional. My appointments were quick, the staff was so nice and the facility itself was clean and comfortable,” says Emily, adding, “Beyond all of that, though, I believe that Dr. Wexler is the whole reason that Mason is here. I would encourage any woman to seek him out as her obstetrician.”

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Wexler, call (540) 772-5900 or book an appointment online.