Demystifying Induction & Cesarean with OB Hospitalist Dr. Jennifer Lincoln

One in three births in the US starts with an induction. Another one in three is a cesarean. And yet most people walk into those experiences confused, scared, or feeling like the decision just happened to them. This episode is here to change that.Dr. Jennifer Lincoln is a board-certified OBGYN, OB hospitalist in Portland, Oregon, and one of the most trusted voices in evidence-based birth education online. She's the author of the brand-new The Birth Book: An OBGYN's Guide to Demystifying Labor and Delivery (out March 2026) and has spent her career making sure people walk into birth feeling informed — not afraid.Emily and Jennifer have the honest, warm, non-judgmental conversation that so many people wish they could have with their own provider. Nothing is sugarcoated, and nothing is left out.In this episode:Why social media birth content is often the worst-case scenarioWhat an induction actually looks like, step by step (hint: it can take days, and that's normal)The ARRIVE Trial:  what it actually showed, what it didn't, and the critical caveat almost nobody mentionsHow to know when to trust a provider's recommendation vs. when to ask more questions (and the magic questions to ask)The truth about Pitocin, hemorrhage risk, and why the uterus gets tiredAdvanced maternal age: what the data actually says and when age alone is a reason for inductionA walk through what happens in the OR from the moment the C-section decision is made to when you're sewn back upWhy cesarean recovery is a full year, not six weeks, and what to do differentlyThe fundal massage nobody warns you aboutPostpartum mental health after an unexpected cesarean — what to watch for and why Jennifer brings it up in the discharge conversationResources mentioned:📖 The Birth Book by Dr. Jennifer Lincoln — available wherever books are sold (audiobook available, read by Dr. Lincoln herself)Dr. Jennifer Lincoln online: drjenniferlincoln.comFollow Dr. Lincoln: @drjenniferlincoln on Instagram and TikTok📍 Live event: Dr. Lincoln's book signing, June 14th, 4:15 PM at Vancouver Community Library, hosted by Childbirth Allies! Click the link or search "Childbirth Allies Jennifer Lincoln" on Eventbrite to register!The Ninni pacifier — use code BEWELLBABY for 10% off Helpful framework from this episode:The BRAIN acronym for decision-making in labor: B — Benefits R — Risks A — Alternatives I — Intuition N — Nothing (what if we wait?) Connect with Be Well Baby:📲 Instagram: @BeWellBabyPDX 🌐 bewellbaby.orgMore About Your HostDr. Emily Spaeth, PT, DPT, IBCLC, is the founder of Be Well Baby® in Portland, Oregon. She leads a team specializing in home visits for the trickiest perinatal cases. She also mentors perinatal providers navigating complex clinical work. Mom of 3, passionate about helping families and clinicians move from surviving to thriving.