- Title: ISRAEL: Israeli midwives deliver success story
- Date: 30th December 2011
- Summary: VARIOUS OF BABIES IN NURSERY VARIOUS OF MOTHER, ARIJ RAFIDI, HOLDING HER BABY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MOTHER, ARIJ RAFIDI, SAYING: "I'm feeling very well because the midwives were so good. The midwife who helped me, she is called Iman Daher, she was great. And Dr. Marwan also came and they were so good, and patient with me and it was a completely natural birth and I didn't
- Embargoed: 14th January 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel, Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Health
- Reuters ID: LVACC8HHDDZFLW2BCNCMUNPYSWKL
- Story Text: When midwife, Mariam Shibly, started working five years ago at Nazareth hospital in Israel, she admits that she didn't have the most-up-to date health information but she was helping mothers and their babies.
But all that changed when the hospital -- set up 150 years ago with support from the Scottish charity, Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society -- introduced a teaching department for midwifery in 2007.
Staff at the hospital were initially skeptical about the department -- it's the only hospital in Israel to have a teaching department for midwives.
But, as Shibly says, the idea has been a runaway success.
"Eighty percent of births in the Nazareth hospital are natural births, not caesarean section operations. Eighty percent of them gave birth under the supervision of midwives, not doctors," says Nurse Shilby.
. "The doctor only intervenes if there is a danger to the mother or the baby. But eighty percent of births are in care of the midwife and it is the midwife who assists the women through their births," she continues.
For many expectant mothers, this maternity ward provides support and care at a high enough level that they are willing to travel longer distances for it.
"The midwife at this hospital has been monitoring this pregnancy throughout, she is present here. And her treatment of me has encouraged me more and more to come here- the hospital is in Nazareth and I live in Haifa. But I have decided to come her because of the treatment here, because of the warmth provided and this is of utmost importance to a pregnant woman, it's what she looks for," says expectant mother, Nida Nijim .
Midwives at the hospital are trained on high-quality maternal and child health services to promote positive household and community related behaviours.
Midwives such as Shibly learn about antenatal care, and mother and childcare through training courses.
Dr. Bshara Bsharat is of the opinion that emotional and community care and support throughout a woman's pregnancy are essential for a happy and healthy birth.
"Midwives have existed for many years, even before there were doctors, however, in recent times, despite things being so new and modern, we need to encourage natural child birth so as not to end up, like other places, relying on medical and surgical intervention. The new ward for pregnant women, which we opened recently, we opened because we felt that pregnant women need emotional and community care and support; this care and support helps them very much when it comes to giving birth," says Dr.Bshara Bsharat.
Expectant and new mothers at this hospital rely heavily on the care and nurture provided to them by their midwives.
"I feel so good because midwife Iman Daher helped me to give birth. Dr. Marwan also was observing. Everything was natural and I didn't need anything that was not natural," said Arij Rafidi, as she cradled her baby.
Bsharat says the introduction of the course has reduced the number of women being admitted to hospital before labour is in full swing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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