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Israel's first Birth Centre

I have just received word that the first birth centre in Israel has finally opened and that four babies have been born there in its first month. This is fantastic news and so exciting - for the first time, women in Israel will have an alternative to the regular labour ward if they want to give birth in a hospital.

The birth centre is located in the Tel Hashomer Hospital, the largest hospital and the main teaching facility in Tel Aviv. It has taken years of lobbying, organising, building, equipping and staffing to get it established, co-ordinated by a small dedicated team of very committed midwives, led by my good friends Iris and Debbie. It is a private facility, and women will have to pay to use it, but if (as I suspect) it proves its worth and there is enough demand, perhaps Israel will follow the lead of other countries and offer a birth centre as an alternative in the regular public health system.

The centre in Tel Aviv is large, thoughtfully equipped and very woman (mother and midwife) friendly. Last September when I visited Israel I saw the unit as it was nearing completion and was impressed by the facilities they has incorporated into the design.

I especially remember the large hanging rope that was positioned so women could use it in various parts of the room. Women like to grip tightly in the latter parts of labour and a rope makes an effective handhold. Today, I have been presenting the first Active Birth workshop for my year, in Gosford, just north of Sydney, and the knotted fabric “rope” shown in the video we watched (“Inner Strength”) caused one midwife to note wryly that the Infection Control people would be wanting to know how it could be disinfected between each birth! I am sure that the Israelis will keep things in proportion and not let such silly considerations affect the use of their birthing rope. The biggest source of infection in a hospital are the staff, not the furniture or equipment!

I am looking forward to visiting this latest birth centre in June, when I hope to be back in Israel for more workshops. By then they will have a wonderful string of birth stories to be told........

Posted by andrea at February 21, 2005 08:20 PM