New at Hillel Yaffe: A New Tempo for Childbirth

For thousands of years, the main way to ease labor pains was through movement. Movement constantly changes the angle of the pelvis, and thus diffuses the focused pain. Within the framework of her MA studies in Nursing, at the Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences at the University of Haifa, Silvie Ackerman, midwife in the Delivery Room at Hillel Yaffe, who has been working in this profession for 25 years, chose to lead the first project of its kind – integrating the movement of belly dancing as a means of making labor pains more bearable.

“From my continuing and extensive view of the Delivery Room, I understood that women interested in natural childbirth or those during the first stage of labor, before receiving an epidural, need something immediate to ease their pain. Most don’t really remember the movements and breathing exercises they learned in their childbirth preparation course,” notes Silvie.

“One of my hobbies is belly dancing, and I wanted to bring the sense of enjoyment and freedom from dancing to the Delivery Room. As part of the childbirth preparation courses that I teach at the hospital, I teach dance movements. Every woman, without any previous experience in belly dancing, can roll her pelvis and practice at home, choose the music she likes – since it is well-known that music itself reduces anxiety and contributes to improved moods – dim the lights, and thus create a calmer atmosphere. This is a natural and readily available tool, that every woman giving birth has, and that can turn childbirth into a more liberating and pleasant experience,” adds Silvie.

The new service joins the broad basket of services available in Hillel Yaffe Medical Center’s Maternity Division for those interested, such as “zero separation”, alternative medicine without charge in the Delivery Room, the initial well baby clinic service, a therapeutic relaxation garden, and more.

In conclusion, Silvie adds: “Movement is and effective and efficient means of coping with labor pains, and all the midwives encourage using it. I am hopeful that additional hospitals will adopt the method and allow women, particularly those interested in natural childbirth, to try it.”