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In Northern Israel, Midwives Prepare Expectant Mothers for Birth during War
(Times of Israel) Diana Bletter - As Hizbullah continues to fire daily barrages into northern Israel, expectant mothers are concerned that a full-blown war may prevent them from reaching a hospital in time for delivery. To help them prepare for an emergency birth at home, a volunteer project in the Western Galilee and the Golan Heights called First Contractions was begun in April, matching expectant mothers with volunteer midwives who live near them. Sponsored by Magen David Adom, the Israel Midwives Organization, and the Jewish Federations of North America, First Contractions has enrolled 60 midwives, among them Jews, Arabs, and Druze. In Israel, midwives are registered nurses who study for six years to treat women during pregnancy and for six weeks after giving birth.