Chilbirth in the shadow of war

Gal Barel from Kibbutz Yad Mordechai was one of thousands of displaced persons who were evacuated from their homes on October 7th. Like the rest of Kibbutz Mordechai members, Gal along with her husband Lior and their two-and-a-half year old son, were put up at Resort Hotel Hadera. In her ninth month of pregnancy, she felt unwell and was taken to the Gynecology Emergency Room at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. She was hospitalized in the Maternal-Fetal Department for continued care and monitoring. “The staff embraced me wholeheartedly. All the nurses around me checked to see how I was doing. Even after being discharged, they continued to call me to make sure I was okay. It was clear to me that I would go back to the hospital to give birth to my son,” said Gal.

After being discharged, Naama Glazer Tzabar, a midwife who works in Hillel Yaffe’s delivery room and a CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) therapist, came to the hotel to see her. “While Gal was in the hospital, the social worker, Keren Haliva of the Maternity Division, recognized that Gal was very anxious about the delivery. It was important for me to visit her, talk to her and make her feel more relaxed so that she would be calmer and more prepared for the delivery,” said Naama.

 
Gal and Lior Barel with their new baby at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center

About two weeks later, in Week 40, the time came. Together with her husband Lior, Gal came into the Obstetrics ER with strong contractions. She was taken into the delivery room and about an hour later gave birth to a baby boy weighing 3.306 kg. “Labor progressed so quickly. The midwife, Zehava Sofer, guided me, supported me and thanks to her I had an incredible childbirth experience. Everything went quickly and well,” stated Gal.

Gal was admitted to the Maternity Department and was discharged with her baby to the hotel, feeling well. “I have no words to thank the entire team for their efforts. The outpouring of love and support is not something you can take for granted. It's not easy to go back to a hotel after giving birth. Every woman, especially after giving birth, needs her own space, her home, to rest and regain strength. While it's not the optimal situation, we are optimistic and pray for better, quieter days ahead for all of Israel.”