In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Kayleigh sits down with Dr. Arianna Cassidy, maternal-fetal medicine physician at UCSF, to unpack one of the most complex and high-risk conditions in pregnancy: placenta accreta.

Placenta accreta spectrum disorders have been rising alongside C-section rates, yet remain widely misunderstood. Dr. Cassidy shares her personal journey into medicine, her role in building UCSF’s multidisciplinary accreta center, and why the care for these patients must go beyond surgery and survival.

Together, they explore:

🩸 What placenta accreta is, why it happens, and the growing risk factors
🏥 How specialized accreta centers save lives, and why not every hospital is equipped for these cases
💔 The psychological toll of living with an accreta diagnosis, even with the best surgical outcomes
🧠 The gap between medical “success” metrics and the lived trauma of patients and families
👩‍⚕️ Why postpartum follow-up and validation are just as critical as delivery planning
🤝 How supporting providers’ trauma can improve outcomes for patients

This episode is both educational and deeply human, shedding light on a rare but devastating condition while advocating for systemic change in how we approach high-risk obstetrics and the emotional wellbeing of both patients and providers.

Resources & Links

💜 Connect with Kayleigh: @thebirthtrauma_mama
🌐 Learn more at Holding Hope Perinatal
📖 Explore patient resources: The Accreta Foundation

Guest Bio:

Dr. Arianna Cassidy is a perinatologist, an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. She cares for patients with pre-existing medical issues that can affect pregnancy as well as conditions that can develop during pregnancy. She also cares for patients who require complex surgery during pregnancy or need C-section births. She has a special interest in placental conditions, particularly placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder (in which the placenta grows into the uterine wall).

Cassidy's research focuses on understanding PAS and improving the care of pregnant patients who develop it, including looking at how providers from relevant specialties can work in concert to prevent, detect and address abnormal development of the placenta. She also studies COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy, the intersection between maternal-fetal medicine and family planning, and quality improvement measures.

Cassidy earned her medical degree at UCSF, where she also completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine.

For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.