A past blog post about nuchal cords (when the umbilical cord wraps around baby’s neck) sparked a lot of fear and confusion, especially around the idea that this could “strangle” baby. In this episode, we take a deeper look at what’s really happening; we explore the role of the placenta, common issues that can arise, how nuchal cords and true knots form, and what happens to the placenta and chord once baby is born.
In this episode of Yoga | Birth | Babies, I speak with Dr. Jessica Vernon. Dr. Jessica is is a mom of two and a board-certified OBGYN for over a decade. She is an Associate Medical Director as well as the Director of Mental Health at Oula, a midwifery-led women’s health startup in NYC.
Understanding how brilliantly the body functions during pregnancy can bring so much reassurance. We hope this episode helps you feel informed, grounded, and confident!
In this episode you will learn:
- About Dr. Jessica and what led you to Obstetrics?
- What the role of the placenta and the umbilical cord is, and when they form during pregnancy
- Common issues that can arise with the placenta, such as placenta previa, placenta accreta, or placental abruption
- How placental concerns are typically diagnosed and monitored throughout pregnancy
- Whether Dr. Jessica has noticed an increase in placenta previa in her time as an OB/GYN, and what she thinks contributes to this
- What happens if someone is diagnosed with a low-lying placenta earlier in pregnancy, and if it usually resolves on its own
- How common nuchal chords are, if they are usually dangerous, and how the condition is resolved
- Other umbilical cord concerns, like true knots or cord prolapse, and how they are handled
- How providers monitor the health and function of the umbilical cord during pregnancy and labor
- What happens to the placenta and umbilical cord after the baby is born
- Whether or not there are any red flags during the third stage of labor that require immediate medical attention
- Dr. Jessica’s thoughts on delayed cord clamping and how it impacts the baby
- One final tip or piece of advice Dr. Jessica would like to offer new and expectant parents
- Where you can find her work
**Get the most out of each episode by checking out the show notes with links, resources and other related podcasts at: prenatalyogacenter.com
About Dr. Jessica:
Dr. Jessica Vernon is a mom of two and a board-certified OBGYN with an emphasis on health equity and perinatal mental health. With over a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Vernon has cared for thousands of people throughout their reproductive years.
She has been a voice in the media, contributing to many podcasts and articles related to her specialty, and recently published her first book, Then Comes Baby: An Honest Conversation about Birth, Postpartum, and the Complex Transition to Parenthood.
In her current role at Oula, she is an Associate Medical Director as well as the Director of Mental Health. In this role, she is working to expand access to emotional wellbeing and mental health support for Oula patients.
Dr. Vernon is the former Director of Perinatal Mental Health at NYU Langone OB/GYN where she spearheaded the development of an integrated perinatal mental health program in the OB/GYN faculty group practice, as well as the former Medical Director for Perinatal Mental Health at Hey Jane, where she launched a comprehensive digital perinatal mental health program. She is also a board member of Postpartum Support International (PSI).
Connect with Dr. Jessica:
Oula: Dr. Jessica Vernon, MD
Instagram: @dr.jessicavernon
Check out similar Yoga| Birth| Babies episodes:
- Don’t forget to grab your FREE guide, 5 Simple Solutions to the Most Common Pregnancy Pains HERE
- If you love what you’ve been listening to, please leave a rating and review! Yoga| Birth|Babies (Apple) or on Spotify!
To connect with Deb and the PYC Community:
Instagram & Facebook: @prenatalyogacenter
Youtube: Prenatal Yoga Center
